The female reproductive system comprises of two ovaries. Each of them lies at both sides of the uterus. It assists in producing the eggs and hormones like progesterone and estrogen. Recently, a number of women are suffering from cancers in ovaries. Ovarian cancer occurs when any cell of your ovaries starts developing abnormally. These cells multiply within themselves faster and form an ovarian tumor. If you take it lightly and do not receive proper treatment, it might take the shape of fearful ovarian cancer. However, as per the recent pieces of studies, the ovarian cancers can even expand at a distant portion apart from your ovaries like at the end part of your fallopian tubes.
In most cases, cancer in ovaries tends to shows the signs lately after being spread at the abdomen and pelvis area, which is considered to be the chronic stage. When the ovarian cancer steps in the late stages, it becomes hard to cure it. However, if you are able to diagnose it in the early stages, you can conveniently fight against the life-threatening disease availing of several advanced therapeutic options.
Cancer that develops in ovaries can be of several types. Most commonly the types that are noticed in the case of ovarian cancer include ovarian sarcoma, epithelial ovarian cancer, stromal cell cancer, germ cell cancer, SCCO, etc.
Over the past decades, Africa has been through several types of cancers. Among all, ovarian cancer is chiefly observed in African women. Due to the lack of the proper infrastructure in medical camps and poor treatment facilities, a lot of deaths regarding the disease are reported as well. However, as India is leading to cancer treatment globally, many Africans have got the opportunity of receiving world-class treatments here.
The initial symptoms of ovarian cancer might appear vague and you might mistake it with other common disorders. That is where the trouble begins. However, the most visible early signs of cancer include rashes, back pain, irregular menstrual cycle, and painful intercourse. Nevertheless, with the development of the disease, the symptoms are more prone to be seen. The signs that generally appear with the advancement of the disease include:
However, as all these symptoms appear to be normal, most of you tend to suppress them. But if these symptoms last longer, make sure to consult a specialist immediately. With the increase of the tumor's size, the symptoms start becoming intense.
The reason for developing ovarian cancer is still unknown. The only fact that several pieces of researches state are the abnormal gene mutation is responsible for generating cancer. However, certain factors or attributes might increase your chance of meeting this deadly disease. Those include:
The age might be a crucial fact in the case of getting ovarian cancer. Although women of all ages might be the prey of the disease the elderly women aged between 50 to 60 years are more likely to catch the disease.
A study proves that women having two or more family members who have experienced cancer in ovaries can suffer from the disease. However, the heredity cases in ovarian cancer are least visible.
A very little percentage of ovarian cancer can occur due to the inherited gene mutations. The genes that might enhance the risk of developing cancer involve BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Along with all these, you can also come in the risk zone if you have got your menstruation earlier or late from the usual age.
The ovarian cancer stages are determined by investigating how far cancer has spread. Cancer in ovaries are divided into four main stages and each stage has its separate sub-stage including
The first stage of cancer involves three different sub-stages:
• Stage 1A: in this stage, the ovarian cancer is restricted in a particular ovary
• Stage 1B: In the next stage, the cancer is prone to spread from one ovary to the other one
• Stage 1C: in the final sub-stage of Stage 1 the cancer cells expands in the outer parts of both the ovaries.
During the next phase, the cancer cells are spread in the distant part of ovaries affecting the pelvic areas. The second stage comprises of two sub-stages:
• Stage 2A: In Stage 2A, the cancer cells reach the section of fallopian tubes as well as uterus.
• Stage 2B: After affecting the fallopian tubes and its nearby nodes, it stretches to the rectum or bladder part.
Stage 3 ovarian cancer is vital and can lead you to death risks if not treated rightly. It subsequently has three sub-stages.
• Stage 3A: In the first substage of this stage the cancer cells climb beyond the pelvis area and expand in the entire abdomen.
• Stage 3C: Complicacy starts occurring in this stage when the cancer cells slowly move towards the outer part of your spleen and liver.
Stage 4 of ovarian cancer is the worst phase that comes with two sub-stages 4A and 4B. In this advanced stage, the tumor tends to metastasize and spread at the parts of the liver and lungs.
Upon getting the above-mentioned symptoms, your first task is to consult a physician to undergo a primary health checkup. After doing the tests and examinations, if you are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, opt to go contact the best oncologist to receive the best ovarian cancer treatment. Regardless to mention, India is considered to have one of the best treatment programs globally for treating cancer. The oncologists from India are highly skilled and can recommend the ideal treatments. Health centers like BLK, Artemis, Medanta, Fortis, etc are renowned for treating cancer. Because of such amazing arrangements for treating the disease at an affordable expense, cancer affected Africans have considered visiting India every now and then.
There are chiefly two ways of treating ovarian cancer- therapeutic treatment and surgery. The type of treatment provided to the patient entirely depends on the type and stage of cancer. Initially, the doctors prioritize the option of surgery. If you can detect cancer early when it is in the form of a tumor, removing the ovaries might completely cure the threatening disorder. The procedure is chiefly known as hysterectomy. Sometimes, hysterectomy includes abolishing both the ovaries along with the close by lymph nodes, fallopian tubes, and pelvic tissues.
However, detecting the location of all the tumors is sometimes challenging. But the Indian doctors are enough experienced. They take on several investigating procedures and tests to find out the cancerous tissue before engaging in the surgery.
Another treatment that the doctors avail in case of emergency is therapeutic treatments to spoil the cancer cells. The therapies that are available in India include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, etc.
Ovarian cancer is considered as the deadliest among all gynecologic cancers. Its success rates depend on the type of treatments provided to the patients. Women who are diagnosed with the advanced stages of cancer are less likely to be cured. However, if it is detected in the earlier phase, with the help of the surgical treatment cancer can be cured up to 80% with the least per cent risk of reoccurrence.
In the advanced stages, with IP chemotherapy, there are 50% chances of surviving for the following six years. Stromal cancer and germ cell cancer have better chances to be cured than epithelial cancer.
This is an intense form of cancer that creates a challenging situation before a large number of women in Africa every year. If you are in the risk zone, make sure to take essential steps right away to avoid complicacy.