Diagnosis and Treatment

Ovarian Cancer- Diagnosis and Treatment Diagnosis
Diagnosis of ovarian cancer is difficult to detect because the ovaries are not only surrounded by tissue but also found deep in the pelvic cavity. Not only this, but the symptoms of ovarian cancer are fairly similar to regular abdominal pain which in many cases lead patients to believe that nothing is wrong with them. Many women experience bloating and abdominal pain which is why they tend to overlook the possibilty of their symptoms being more serious than menstrual cycle side effects. Since the early symptoms of ovarian cancer are so common the patient neglects to see the doctor about their problems until it spreads to the abdomen. Statistics say that only 25% of patients detect their cancer within the early stages leaving the vast population of ovarian cancer patients discovering their cancer in the regional stage.
There are basically two ways for a doctor to determine whether or not a patient has cancer. The first way is through a surgery called a biopsy, also known as exploratory laparotomy. In a biopsy, the doctor takes a sample piece of tissue from the patients body and later examines under the microscope. This way, the doctor is able to tell whether or not the cancer is present within the patient. The second exploratory method is called, laparoscopy. Laparoscopy is a small incision made in the stomach. A hollow tube is placed inside the incision of the abdomen in which the doctor is able to make a further diagnosis. The doctor is required to run several tests before performing either exploratory methods. They include the following:

Physical Exam- this includes a pelvic exam where the doctor is able to feel around your pelvis in order to find any irregular cysts or growths in the pelvic area.
CAT Scan- X-ray of the body
Ultrasound- Creates an image called a sonogram which is used to determine whether the growth is a cyst.
Pap Smear- Check the cervix for any cancerous cells.
Color Doppler Imaging- Another form of ultrasound but this kind is more targeted toward blood flow of the ovaries.
CA-125 or CA-125 II Assay- A tumor marker.

Diagnosis- Main Points to Remember

Early diagnosis is a crucial step in increasing an ovarian cancer patients survival rate.
Ninety percent of the ovarian cancer patients detect their tumor or cyst within the first five years.
Seventy-five percent of the ovarian cancer population are diagnosed when regional or distant spread of the disease is present.
Diagnosis is difficult because the ovaries are so deeply hidden in the pelvic cavity surrounded by tissue
Symptoms oftentimes do not arise until the tumor has enlarged.
Detection is so difficult to pinpoint because the symptoms tend to be vague and many women find the pain to be tolerable and therefore avoid seeing the doctor.
Symptoms include all of the following: pelvic pain, abdominal discomfort, lower back pain, constant bloating, frequent urination, digestive problems including a loss of appetite, gas, and constipation.
Vomiting and significant weight-loss are also significant signs in detection.

Treatment
    There are three options for treating ovarian cancer; surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Surgery is used when the cancer cells are present within the tissue. The surgeon simply removes all the cancerous tissue and any tissue surrounding it that may have been infected by it. This style of treatment is only really used in the early stages of diagnosis. This is true because when the cancer has spread, it is extremely difficult for the surgeon to locate and remove all the cacerous tissue. Surgery is considered the primary method because it the most common solution in dealing with ovarian cancer.
    Radiation therapy is used when the cancer has reached a more severe stage and it has spread throughout the abdomen in several areas. Radiation therapy can be given through external beam radiation which done through an X-ray or through intraperitoneal radiation therapy. Intraperitoneal therapy is done basically through an application into the pelvic and abdominal cavities of a liquid which contains radioactive phosphorus. The liquid coats all the affected areas and hopefully kills of the cancer cells.
    Chemotherapy is the aftermath treatment of surgery. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill off any unwanted cancer cells left after surgery. These drugs are given either directly through a vein or by placing the drugs directly into the pelvic and abdominal cavity.