What does ovarian cancer look like. What does ovarian cancer look like on ultrasound?

According to statistics, ovarian cancer ranks second among oncological diseases of the reproductive system of women after uterine cancer. Ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose: as a rule, a multi-stage study is required to determine the nature of the neoplasm (benign or malignant) and the type of tumor. What symptoms accompany a woman when diagnosed, how to treat ovarian cancer and where are diseases treated in Moscow?

Ovarian cancer is the occurrence of a malignant tumor in the ovaries, which can have a variety of cystological structures. According to statistics, mortality from this oncology ranks 5th among the causes of death of middle-aged women. Every year the number of patients and deaths from ovarian cancer is growing. This is primarily due to the fact that the disease is difficult to diagnose on early stages.

If you or your loved ones need medical assistance, please contact us. The specialists of the site will advise the clinic where you can receive effective treatment:

Stages of cancer

There are four stages in the development of ovarian cancer.

First stage

The first stage is characterized by the localization of the neoplasm within the ovaries. There are three stages within the first stage:

IA. The tumor is located in one ovary, does not extend to the outer surface. The capsule is complete.

IB. The tumor affects both ovaries. The rest of the features are preserved.

IC. A tumor from one or two ovaries comes out, the capsule ruptures, malignant cells penetrate into the free fluid abdominal cavity or are found in the peritoneal wash.

Second stage

In the second stage, the tumor begins to affect the pelvic region or metastases form. There are also three sub-stages:

IIA. The appearance of metastases or the spread of a tumor in the area of \u200b\u200bthe uterus or fallopian tubes.

IIB. The exit of the neoplasm to other areas of the small pelvis.

IIC. Malignant cells affect the uterus, pelvic organs, are found in the free fluid of the peritoneum or in peritoneal washings.

Third stage

In the third stage, one or two ovaries are affected, metastases form outside the pelvis.

IIIA. At this stage, metastases are microscopic in size, the lymph nodes are healthy.

IIIB. Metastases reach a size of about 2 cm, the lymph nodes are still not affected.

IIIC. Metastases spread to the abdominal cavity, their diameter is more than 2 cm, retroperitoneal or inguinal lymph nodes amazed.

Fourth stage

Metastases are widespread in distant areas.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer

In the early stages, there are no symptoms of the disease, tumors can be detected incidentally during vaginal and rectovaginal examinations. As it progresses, symptoms appear that can often be confused with other diagnoses. This is fraught with the fact that while the patient is being examined, for example, by a gastroenterologist, the cancer continues to progress.

REFERENCE! Women at menopause and premenopause, nulliparous women, women with early menstruation, diagnosed with infertility and irregular menstrual cycles are most at risk.

Women often report the following symptoms:

Severe abdominal pain;
Fast saturation;
Digestive problems (bloating, flatulence, constipation);
Pain with accumulation of gases;
Aching pain in the lower back;
Paleness of the skin;
General weakness of the body;
A sharp weight loss with the same appetite;
Enlargement of the abdomen;
Unusual discharge from the vagina with an admixture of blood.

Diagnosis of ovarian cancer

75% of clinical cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the later stages. Early detection of cancer is possible only if a woman is regularly observed by a gynecologist. Then the doctor can examine the size, shape and consistency of the ovaries and uterus, but even then a small tumor may not be noticed.

A smear from the vagina also does not always allow to detect a neoplasm in the first stages.

The most reliable methods for diagnosing ovarian cancer at the initial stage are ultrasonography (ultrasound) and a blood test for the CA-125 protein.

REFERENCE! These two methods make it possible to detect a neoplasm and establish its localization and size, but do not allow determining its nature (benign or malignant).

If cancer is suspected, a biopsy is then ordered. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the stage is determined surgically. Laparoscopy or robotic laparoscopic surgery methods are suitable for this. The survey includes several stages:

Inspection and palpation of peritoneal surfaces, peritoneal organs and small pelvis;
The intake of fluid from the internal cavity of the body.

Early stages require omentum removal and tissue sampling lymph nodes(pelvic and para-aortic).

If advanced stages of cancer are suspected, CT and MRI are appropriate, followed by surgical staging.

Treatment of ovarian cancer

The choice of treatment method depends on the degree of development of the disease and the type of tumor. The age of the patient and her desire to have children in the future are also taken into account. Usually, the treatment of ovarian cancer should be based on the following rules:

Complex;
Immediate;
Long-term follow-up at least once a year.

The three most commonly used treatments for diagnosis are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. As a rule, methods are combined with each other.

The most popular surgical manipulations are the removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) or the removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy). The exceptions are stage I non-epithelial malignancies and stage I unilateral epithelial cancer in patients of childbearing age who are set for subsequent pregnancy and childbearing.

ATTENTION! With hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, they try to remove as much as possible all damaged and involved tissues.

Surgery is not indicated for advanced cancer if the patient has one or more of the following:

Multiple metastases in the liver;
Enlarged hepatic lymph nodes;
Enlargement of the lymph nodes of the adrenal glands;
Diffuse disease of the mesentery;
Severe or chronic lung disease detected.

For these patients, chemotherapy is the most effective treatment. Sometimes surgery is possible after it.

REFERENCE! In a number of clinical cases, after chemotherapy, the signs of disorders completely disappear (tumor markers are normal, no neoplasms were detected), but in 50% of patients with stage III and IV disease, residual tumor is observed.

The chance of recurrence after one course of chemotherapy is 60-70%.

Irradiation is rarely the main method of treatment, more often auxiliary. The goal of radiation therapy is to kill residual cancer cells or shrink the tumor.

The cost of treatment in clinics and centers in Moscow

The cost of ovarian cancer treatment in the capital's private medical institutions depends on many factors. For example, the status of the clinic, the stage of the disease, the number of consultations, the selected methods of diagnosis and treatment, and others.

So, each visit to an oncologist will cost 1200-4000 rubles, depending on the qualifications of the doctor, drawing up a general treatment plan - from 1000 to 2000 rubles. Diagnostic measures are charged according to the price list of the clinic and cost from 500 (X-ray) to 5000 rubles (MRI, biopsy).

Surgical treatment of a tumor is estimated at 18,000-50,000 rubles, a course of chemotherapy, depending on the drugs, the number of sessions and other features, is 50,000-400,000 rubles, and radiation therapy is up to 50,000 rubles.

In general, you need to understand that treatment in clinics and centers in Moscow is expensive. In some cases, one course of chemotherapy will not be enough, so a second course of treatment will be needed. However, the level of training of metropolitan specialists, the quality of medicines and equipment is in no way inferior to European or Israeli ones.

Benefits of Paid Ovarian Cancer Treatment

The main advantage of paid cancer treatment is time saving. With such a diagnosis, every day counts, and there is no time to stand in line, look for medicines and wait for an operation. In a paid clinic, it is enough to sign up for a consultation with a doctor for the current or next day, undergo a diagnosis and begin immediate treatment. In paid clinics, all medicines are always available.

An important factor is comfort and coziness. Clean hospital corridors, bright and spacious wards, comfortable couches - all this adds not only an aesthetic advantage, but also improves the patient's psycho-emotional state.

Also, more qualified doctors work in paid clinics, who constantly study and gain experience on internships in the best foreign medical institutions with first-class specialists from Europe, the USA, and Israel.

Moscow's private clinics use advanced treatment methods and techniques, and use the best foreign equipment, instruments and preparations.

In addition, it is important for a paid clinic to leave a positive impression so that the patient can recommend the center to friends or come back here again if any ailment touches him again. Thus, private clinics become competitive, their own flow of clients appears.

Clinics in Moscow where cancer is treated

Research Institute of Neurosurgery. Academician H.N. Burdenko RAMS

The medical center has been operating in many areas for several decades. Among them, a special role is assigned to the treatment of cancer. Here the patient is accompanied from the moment of the initial consultation until the end after rehabilitation period. Treatment is carried out in three directions: chemotherapy, neurosurgery, radiation therapy. After discharge, the patient can apply for re-diagnosis in order to exclude relapse. It is possible to stay in the hospital for the recovery period.

The choice of treatment method is carried out at the medical consultation. After discharge, the patient receives written recommendations.

Russian Cancer Research Center. N.N. Blokhin RAMS

Over the 50 years of its existence, the center has managed to accumulate extensive experience in the treatment of oncological diseases. The institution uses advanced and minimally invasive methods of therapy with the help of modern equipment. Among the employees are academicians of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, doctors of sciences and professors - more than 3,500 people.

The center meets European standards, specializes in unique innovative technologies and is one of the largest cancer clinics in the world.

Here they provide assistance to patients who have just discovered a tumor, and also carry out re-treatment with primary ineffective therapy.

Clinical Hospital of the Office of the President

The institution is considered one of the best in Russia and the world, and also has the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

The Clinical Hospital is constantly improving the techniques and methods of treatment, using advanced medical achievements and many years of experience of first-class doctors in its work. On the territory there is a hospital, a modern center laboratory research, maternity hospital, several diagnostic departments, and also provides ambulance services medical care and emergency hospitalization.

MNI Cancer Institute named after P.A. Herzen

Patients within the walls of the institute are in very comfortable conditions. Specialists use the best achievements of medicine in their work, which allow diagnosing and treating tumors with high-precision and effective methods.

The clinic is multidisciplinary, has its own round-the-clock hospital with friendly and experienced staff.

Clinical Center of Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov

The largest medical multidisciplinary center, which is one of the three largest hospitals in Europe and has a staff of 5,000 people.

The clinic operates in accordance with the most advanced developments in medicine, diagnostics and technology, including endovideosurgical and robotic surgical interventions.

Other centers and clinics where cancer is treated in Moscow

European clinic. Advanced medical methods are used to treat any cancer at any stage.
Cancer Center "Medicine 24/7". Round-the-clock hospitalization of patients without a queue.
EMC Institute of Oncology. The best and most accurate methods for diagnosing and treating cancer are used.
Cancer Center Sofia. In the center, cancer is treated according to the advanced schemes of Israel, the USA and Europe.
Treatment and rehabilitation center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Provides best practices diagnostics and treatment of European cancer.

Treatment options for ovarian cancer

Surgery

The volume of the operation is determined based on the vastness of the affected area. The most common surgical procedures:

Uterus removal;
Removal of one or two ovaries;
Removal of fallopian tubes or fallopian tubes and uterus.

The operation is carried out with general anesthesia. The specialist must clean the affected tissues as much as possible in order to prevent the re-growth of the tumor.

REFERENCE! After surgery, the woman loses fertility.

If removal of the entire tumor is not possible, resection is performed - the neoplasm is partially removed. Residual cancerous tissue is removed with chemotherapy or radiation.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves taking medical preparations- orally, intravenously or into the abdominal cavity. The method is effective in the late stages of cancer, when the tumor has gone beyond the ovaries.

Most effective drugs: carboplatin, paclitaxel, topotecan, liposomal doxorubicin, docetaxel, paclitaxel, gemcitabine, bevacizumab and combinations of cyclophosphamide with bevacizumab or gemcitabine with cisplatin.

Chemotherapy is also combined with surgery.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy with biological agents for ovarian cancer is under study.

Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy is used as an auxiliary method if metastases or cancer cells remain after surgery and / or chemotherapy. Irradiation is performed outside or the source is injected into the tumor itself or not far from it.

Palliative care

Palliative care is aimed at alleviating the suffering of a woman who has an inoperable tumor and other methods have failed, with multiple metastases and in the last stage of cancer. The main task of therapy is to relieve the pain symptom and prolong the life of a woman.

Thermoperfusion

Thermal perfusion is a thermal effect on damaged tissues. It's relative modern way cancer treatment, because only the affected areas are affected, and healthy tissues are not affected. Heat destroys the protein structure of cancer cells, in addition, makes them vulnerable to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Cyber Knife, Gamma Knife, Da Vinci Robot

These are advanced methods of treating ovarian cancer, which are mainly used abroad (for example, in Germany). The essence of each of them is a point effect on damaged cells.

How long do you live after ovarian cancer?

Survival after cancer treatment depends on the stage at which the disease was detected. The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is:

At the first stage: 70-90%;
At the second stage: 50-70%;
At the third stage: 20-50%;
At the last stage: up to 20%.

A woman usually finds out that she has such an ailment, usually already when it becomes too late to do anything.

Ovarian ultrasound procedure and decoding for cancer

ultrasound - effective method ovarian cancer diagnosis

Most often, this disease is diagnosed using ultrasound of the pelvic cavity and abdominal cavity. This examination uses special sound waves, with which you can get an image of the organs inside the body. This method actually determines where the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes are located and shows their shape and size.

The most informative are transvaginal and transabdominal types of ultrasound. During a transabdominal ultrasound examination, a specialist conducts a sensor over the area located between the pelvic bones and in the abdomen. The gel is rubbed into the skin in order to make the image of the affected organ clearer.

Transvaginal ultrasound is different in that the sensor is inserted into the vagina of the patient who came to the appointment. Usually such a study is fairly painless, but sometimes a woman may feel a little discomfort. On average, the duration of an ultrasound is 20 to 30 minutes. It all depends on which part of the body will be examined.

During such a study, the specialist determines the structure of the ovaries, their size, and how they are located relative to the uterus.

Normally, they should be on the sides of the uterus. As for the size of the ovaries, they must meet the following parameters (this applies only to patients of reproductive age):

volume from 5 to 8 cm;
thickness from 0.1 to 0.2 cm;
length from 0.25 to 0.4 cm;
width from 0.15 to 0.3 cm.

Signs of ovarian cancer on ultrasound are diverse. The development of cancer can be suspected using special ultrasound markers:

The ovaries are abnormally sized with pronounced asymmetry. In this case, their contour is significantly enlarged and it can only be partially determined.
Postmenopausal patients have a formation on the damaged organ, which resembles a cyst or follicle in its shape.
The affected area is characterized by increased blood supply.
The retrouterine space has a lot of free fluid, the presence of which is in no way associated with ovulation.

If a specialist determines at least one of the above signs during an ultrasound examination, then he will prescribe a special medical observation. It lies in the fact that the doctor will monitor how the ovaries change for 4-8 weeks.

If more than two such signs are revealed, the patient is immediately sent for a consultation with a gynecologist-oncologist. After that, the specialist will prescribe a woman an examination of the thyroid gland, mammary glands, lymph nodes and organs located in the abdominal cavity. All these procedures are necessary in order to identify whether there are metastases in the listed organs.

Causes of ovarian cancer

There is still no exact cause of ovarian cancer, but there are suggestions

The exact causes of this disease are still unknown. But experts name some types of circumstances that can provoke ovarian cancer in women.

These include:

hormonal factor. Reliable information has long been found that this disease is associated with changes in the hormonal background and the number of births a woman has undergone. It is generally accepted that during each ovulation (that is, the release of the egg), ovarian tissue is damaged. After all this, healing begins. During this process, cells are actively dividing. And the more often they do it, the greater the risk that the process will get out of control.
Since there is no ovulation during pregnancy, while taking contraceptives and breastfeeding, it is these factors that help to significantly reduce the risk that a woman will develop ovarian cancer. But as for the first menstruation, which began very early, the presence of one, and not several births, and late menopause, they are risk factors during such diseases.
This is due to the presence of frequently recurring ovulation. This list also includes infertility in women and prolonged stimulation of ovulation. Appoint a replacement hormone therapy there is a sense during the early menopause. After the onset of 55 years of age, women are not prescribed such treatment.
hereditary predisposition. A very small percentage of tumor formations is associated with disorders in genetics (approximately 2% of all cases of ovarian cancer).
There are 3 types of syndromes during which the risk of developing cancer is significantly increased: Lynch syndrome 2, familial ovarian cancer, and familial breast and ovarian cancer. Each of all these syndromes is manifested by cases of cancer of the uterus, breast, ovaries and intestines in women who are the closest relatives (sisters, grandmother or mother). If the family history is unfavorable, then specialists conduct a study of genes that are provocateurs of the appearance of tumor formations on mutations.
Food addictions. Very often, malignant tumor formations in the ovaries affect women who live in developed industrial countries. The United States of America and Europe are leaders in mortality and morbidity from such an unpleasant disease. At the same time, in some Asian countries and in Japan, the number of women affected by such diseases is much lower. This is due to the fact that patients with ovarian cancer at one time ate a large number of fats. Although most scientists do not believe that such food habits are the cause of this cancer, some still attribute the passion for animal fats to a factor that provokes ovarian cancer.
Harmful impurities (including asbestos). This risk factor, although it has existed for a long time, is still poorly understood. We are talking about the use of talc for hygienic purposes. Studies have shown that some of the examined women were found particles of talc, which is used in deodorants and powders. This substance is very similar to asbestos, which is considered a trigger for this disease. But the exact results of such studies have not yet been obtained.
Irradiation of organs located in the small pelvis. In this case, ovarian cancer in women appears if they were treated with other tumors with radiation.

Signs and stages

Symptoms of ovarian cancer

Symptoms of the appearance malignant tumors in the ovaries are rather nonspecific. Basically, they are very similar to clinical picture diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or bladder. Often, it is for this reason that an incorrect diagnosis is made, and therefore, the wrong treatment is carried out.

Ovarian cancer is characterized by the following symptoms:

Persistent weakness in a patient.
Discomfort and pain that are localized in the pelvic region.
Often bloated and distended abdomen.
Even after very small portions of food eaten by a woman, she has a feeling as if she had overeaten.
Constant urge to urinate.
Decreased or lost appetite in the patient.
Frequent indigestion of the stomach (in the later stages of such an oncological disease, it becomes chronic).
Strongly dizzy.
The woman is often sick.
The patient begins to quickly gain weight, or vice versa, loses weight dramatically. At the same time, the level of physical activity and eating behavior does not change.
Pain in the lower abdomen and lower back.
Pain is felt during intercourse.
The waist increases significantly in its volume.
Anemia develops in the later stages of ovarian cancer.
Plus tissue syndrome appears. It is determined only during the examination or special examinations.

Syndrome of pathological secretions. In this case, there are traces in the feces or urine. This symptom is not permanent. It depends only on where the metastases are located and how they are distributed.

More information about ovarian cancer can be found in the video.

Ovarian cancer develops in four stages:

The first is characterized by the fact that the pathological process can be limited to two or one ovary.
In the second stage, the tumor spreads to the fallopian tubes and, in fact, to the uterus itself. In addition, other organs that are in the pelvis are affected.
The third stage is characterized by the development of intra-abdominal metastases. They begin to go beyond the pelvic region, while penetrating the liver and lymph nodes.
The fourth stage of ovarian cancer is characterized by the presence of distant metastases, which are located in the lungs, liver and other organs of the diseased woman.

Treatment and possible complications

Surgical treatment of ovarian cancer

This disease is treated with surgical methods(Pangisterectomy is performed, that is, removal of the uterus with appendages) combined with radiotherapy and polychemotherapy. If the tumor has a localized form in the first or second stage, then the uterus is removed along with the appendages and the greater omentum is resected.

If the patient is elderly or has a severely weakened condition, then subtotal resection of the greater omentum is performed, as well as supravaginal amputation of the uterus. During such an operative intervention, an audit of the paraortal lymph nodes is carried out. In addition, a woman with ovarian cancer is referred for histological examination.

Later stages of this disease (third and fourth) require cytoreductive intervention.

During it, the tumor mass is removed as much as possible, and subsequently chemotherapy is carried out. If the patient has an inoperable tumor, then only a biopsy of the tumor tissue is done.

The greater the stage of such a disease in a woman, the higher the risk of complications. They are relapses. Sometimes a second operation is required. A multiple tumor may appear, which occurs immediately after the treatment. In this case, the operation is not performed. Another complication is that new tumor formations may be insensitive to agents previously used in the patient. In this case, they begin to try new combinations of drugs.

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Photo of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is an aggressive and dangerous disease that occurs most often in older women. Radical surgery and chemotherapy can cure ovarian cancer only in cases where cancerous tumor cells have not yet spread through the lymphatic and circulatory systems throughout the body.

Consider photos and images of the varieties and stages of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian tumors are classified according to the histological structure and localization of malignant processes.

All information on the site is for informational purposes and is NOT a guide to action!
Only a DOCTOR can make an EXACT DIAGNOSIS!
We kindly ask you DO NOT self-medicate, but make an appointment with a specialist!
Health to you and your loved ones! Do not give up

Serous carcinoma

Serous carcinoma is often bilateral - that is, it affects the left and right ovaries at the same time. At the first stage, this tumor gives almost no symptoms and can be detected during a routine gynecological examination.

Serous carcinoma grows relatively quickly and invades neighboring organs. These tumors cause rapid seeding of the peritoneum and metastasis.

endometrioid

Endometrioid carcinoma, as its name suggests, is associated with the endometrium, the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. Tumors of this type can be benign, but in order to find out, you need to either biopsy the tissues or remove the neoplasm.

The clinical course of tumors of this type is relatively slow, which gives more chances for early detection disease and successful treatment. After surgical removal of endometrioid malignant tumors, chemotherapy is usually prescribed. This type of ovarian cancer is not sensitive to radiation.

Photo: Endometrioid carcinoma (type of cells when analyzed for histology)

Mucinous

A mucinous tumor is an aggressive neoplasm - the sooner such a tumor is removed, the more favorable the prognosis will be.

Such tumors occur in 10% of cases of ovarian cancer and can reach large sizes (up to 50 cm). Symptoms of the disease are typical.

clear cell

Clear cell tumors of the ovary are quite rare (in 1-3 cases out of a hundred). Clear cell carcinomas are among the least studied forms of ovarian cancer. These tumors are aggressive and rapidly metastasize.

Treatment outcomes for such a tumor are often unsatisfactory because clear cell carcinomas are rarely diagnosed in the first stage and have an increased chance of recurrence after primary treatment.

stages

Ovarian tumors, like all cancers, have 4 stages of development.

1 stage

The initial stage proceeds without pronounced symptoms. The tumor does not spread outside the organ and is small in size. There are no cancer cells in body fluids.

Patients do not feel signs of deterioration in health, only in some cases there is discomfort in the lower abdomen or lumbar region. In the first stage, tumors may be discovered by chance during an ultrasound or CT scan. internal organs.

Treatment of ovarian tumors in the first stage has the most favorable prognosis. Radical surgery (removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes and the ovary itself) provides a complete cure (lifelong remission) in 80-90% of all cases.

2 stage

In the second stage, cancer spreads to tissues and organs adjacent to the ovary.

2A, in which the tumor has spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes;
2B, in which the malignant process spreads to other organs of the small pelvis - bladder, rectal intestine;
2C - spread of cancer cells into the abdominal cavity.

In the second (sometimes third) stage, ascites usually develops - filling the abdominal cavity with fluid, which leads to an increase in the abdomen. There are other signs of the tumor process - pain in the lower back, not yet intense and not constant.

Another characteristic symptom of stage 2 is vaginal bleeding. They may not be related to the menstrual cycle, but in some cases lead to an increase in blood volume during menstruation. Sexual intercourse at this stage also causes pain and bleeding. Tumor growth leads to intestinal disorders- constipation, diarrhea, flatulence.

The prognosis for stage 1 ovarian cancer is covered in this article.

3 stage

In stage 3, cancer cells invade lymphatic system and cause hardening and soreness in the lymph nodes. The process of metastasis to distant organs also begins.

This process is facilitated by ascites and seeding of the abdominal cavity with cancer cells that enter the intraperitoneal fluid due to rupture of the ovary.

All symptoms at this stage (especially pain, bleeding and ascites) become pronounced. Often it is at this stage that women finally turn to the clinic, but due to metastases, the treatment has an unfavorable prognosis with a rather low survival rate.

Only 30% of women after removal of the tumor of the 3rd degree of cancer and subsequent chemotherapy live longer than 5 years. In other cases, relapses occur within a year, which lead to death in a matter of months.

4 stage

At stage 4, the tumor reaches its maximum size and metastasizes to distant organs. The liver, lungs, stomach, bone tissue are affected, less often the brain. At this stage, women experience severe pain that can be localized in any part of the body, and not just in the pelvis and lower back.

Patients experience weight loss with a simultaneous increase in the abdomen, lack of appetite, weakness, fatigue, signs of severe intoxication of the body caused by tumor decay, fever, frequent urge to urinate, and digestive disorders.

Treatment of stage 4 cancer is palliative. A complete cure of the disease is unlikely - doctors can only temporarily stop the spread of metastases.

Everything about the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer is written here.

Ascites in stage 3 ovarian cancer is quite common. Read more here.

Until recently, ultrasound was the main method for diagnosing ovarian cancer. It is still relevant at the present time, but in most modern clinics, along with ultrasound, they also perform computed tomography and positron emission tomography. On ultrasound images, both the tumors themselves and lesions of nearby organs are clearly visible.

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The information on the site is provided for informational purposes only, does not claim to be reference and medical accuracy, and is not a guide to action.

Do not self-medicate. Consult with your physician.

Ovarian cancer - symptoms and diagnosis

Today, ovarian cancer ranks first among oncological diseases of women. At the first stage, it does not differ in special signs and symptoms, so the woman does not seek a diagnosis from a specialist. Statistical data claim that the first signs of the disease are diagnosed only in a third of patients. At the same time, the prognosis remains positive, only in the case of early diagnosis. For this, the ultrasound method is used, which is supplemented by other general analyzes.

Symptoms of the disease

Ovarian cancer does not have any special symptoms, so it is quite difficult to recognize it without a specific diagnosis. For example, some signs can be confused with a malfunction digestive system or bladder. In some cases, the diagnosis is false precisely because of the similarity of symptoms.

Most often, ovarian cancer manifests itself in a woman in the form of the following symptoms:

in the stomach there is a constant feeling of heaviness and bloating, which is characteristic of overeating;
the woman experiences the urge to urinate more often than previously observed;
a feeling of discomfort and pain is present in the pelvic area;
excessive flatulence;
nausea;
the stomach cannot fully digest food;
most characteristic symptom- frequent urination;
ovarian cancer is also characterized by a sharp increase in waist circumference;
loss of appetite;
the weight of a woman increases for no particular reason;
during sexual intercourse, pain often occurs;
pain in the lower back and abdomen.

Some of the women noted the presence of non-specific symptoms such as bloating, lower back pain, and a large accumulation of gases. In the later stages, there is an aggravation of the main symptoms, which manifests itself in the form of anemia, an increase in the volume of the abdomen, cachexia.

The main symptom of the presence of a tumor in the ovaries is the “flattering” syndrome. At the same time, a woman constantly has abundant discharge, in which blood is periodically present. Ovarian cancer is characterized by such a symptom with a large tumor size.

ovarian cancer ultrasound

In order to diagnose the disease at an early stage, the method of examining the ultrasound of the vagina is used. In this case, the malignancy of the formation is additionally determined, the size is measured and the number of chambers is determined. This is what ovarian cancer looks like on ultrasound.

The study of the vagina of a woman only through ultrasound is considered ineffective, since it has low specificity and does not prove that the formation is not a simple cyst. With color Doppler scanning, ultrasound increases the likelihood of determining the benignity or malignancy of the process. The survival prognosis for ovarian cancer is much higher, so every woman should regularly undergo a preventive examination by means of ultrasound.

Treatment of the disease

To eliminate ovarian cancer, you can choose one of the following treatment options: surgery or chemotherapy. One of the options can only be selected after passing complete examination and vaginal ultrasound. The prognosis depends on the stage of the disease, as well as the spread of metastases to neighboring organs.

The doctor may choose one of the options for cancer treatment, which relies on the management of the following tactics:

surgical intervention to remove the tumor, after which it is necessary to undergo a course of chemotherapy;
if the disease is in the fourth stage, then chemotherapy is prescribed at the first stage, and only after that it is advisable to carry out surgical intervention;
today it is very rare to find forms of the disease that can be eliminated only through chemotherapy. Most often, this method alone is used only in case of contraindications against surgical intervention;
Radiation therapy is used not only to eliminate the tumor, but also to eliminate metastases that are in some other organs of a woman.

To choose a further course of treatment at the first stage, it is important to conduct an ultrasound scan. Based on its results, the doctor will be able to determine the stage of the disease, as well as make a prognosis.

Oncologists believe that every woman with such a diagnosis should be operated on without fail. After the rehabilitation period, in order to eliminate remissions, it is important to regularly undergo a preventive ultrasound examination. Today there is no exact method that would accurately determine the malignancy and size of the tumor without surgery. That is why doctors recommend to play it safe. Therefore, all other methods can be read only as an addition to the main one.

Consequences and prevention of the disease

A recurrence of the disease can occur 1.5-2 years after surgery and removal of the tumor. Most often, cancer develops in the area between the uterus and the rectum.

When diagnosing recurrent cases of the disease, the following important factors should be considered:

the type of previous operation and the amount of tissue removed;
results of a histological examination, a remote tumor;
during what period of time the human body was exposed to chemotherapy;
whether the reception hormonal drugs in combination with chemotherapy.

Only on the basis of all these data it is possible to draw a conclusion about the need for further treatment and choose the right course.

In order to avoid the appearance of tumors, a woman should follow the following simple rules:

completely abandon bad habits such as alcohol, smoking, drugs;
all sexual infections and diseases must be recognized and treated in time;
healthy diet;
if a woman has a predisposition to this disease, then for preventive purposes, an examination should be carried out once every three months;
if there are some symptoms and suspicions, you should immediately seek the advice of a specialist.

ovarian cancer on ultrasound

In the structure of malignant diseases of the female genital organs, ovarian cancer accounts for only 26.4%. But in terms of quantity deaths This disease is the leader among oncological diseases of the genital organs.

As with other oncological diseases, the causes of the pathology are still controversial in the scientific world. Of course, the risk factors contributing to the development of the disease are well known: unfavorable heredity, exposure to harmful substances, certain viral infections, the age of the woman, etc. However, how many people, faced with adverse factors daily, remain healthy, or vice versa - the disease is often diagnosed in a patient who does not have a history of any risk factor.

The origin of the disease may be

primary - the tumor is classified as malignant from the very beginning
secondary - a malignant formation develops at the site of a benign
metastatic - a malignant neoplasm is formed as a result of the spread of tumor cells from other places.

Symptoms

About 70-80% of malignant neoplasms at the initial stage do not have any specific signs, the disease is asymptomatic and the disease is often detected at a late stage. And if symptoms do occur, they can be so minor that they are not given due attention. In addition, a third of patients report general symptoms during the disease: weakness, fatigue, flatulence, heartburn, nausea. Such patients can be observed for some other disease, unaware of the impending problem: unrecognized cancer, treatment not started on time lead, if not to death, then to complications of the disease. That is why early diagnosis is one of the priorities in oncology.

Recognition of a malignant disease today is carried out by several methods. These include:

Study for tumor markers
Ultrasound procedure
Computed and magnetic resonance imaging
Laparoscopy

However, the most accessible and highly informative diagnostic method is ultrasound. Ovarian cancer on ultrasound can be detected at an early stage.

The method is based on the principle of echolocation, when the sensor emits a signal for a very short time, and the rest of the time it receives the emitted signal. Therefore, this method is harmless not only for an adult, but also for a child. Research is carried out in three ways:

You can not only detect ovarian cancer on ultrasound, but also determine the size and location of the tumor, its structure, the presence of peritoneal infiltration, ascites, metastatic lesions of the lymph nodes and liver, involvement of the greater omentum in the process, and much more.

After surgery, the ultrasound method is recognized as the leading method in detecting recurrence of the disease. The smallest size of the infiltrate during relapse, visible with ultrasound, is 0.5-0.8 cm. However, this method does not claim to be the only accurate one. The final diagnosis is established only after additional examinations, which include various methods.

Timely diagnosis determines the success of treatment. Unfortunately, today in 80% of cases the diagnosis is established at the stage of tumor spread, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of treatment. In general, ultrasound improves the quality of diagnosis at the initial stages of the disease, reduces the time of examination, minimizes the use of invasive methods and other expensive diagnostic measures. Survival, the most acceptable methods of treatment, the success of the procedures depend on a thorough examination.

Ovarian cancer on ultrasound description

How does ovarian cancer manifest itself?

Urogynecology and pelvic surgery

Preparing for the operation

Proctogynecology

Operative gynecology

Oncogynecology

Urology

How common is ovarian cancer?

In the structure of oncogynecological morbidity, uterine ovarian cancer ranks third. At the same time, the highest incidence is recorded in developed countries. The detection rate of ovarian cancer in Russia at preventive examinations low, only 2%. In 35 - 40% of patients, I - II stages of the disease are detected, and in 60 - 65% - III and IV stages. The maximum incidence is observed in postmenopausal women, aged 60-75 years.

What are the risk factors for ovarian cancer?

Risk factors for cancer of the uterine body include: early onset of menstruation, late menopause (after 52 years), lack of childbirth. 10% of patients with ovarian cancer have a burdened family history and congenital genetic disorders are detected. The most common genetic disorders are mutations in the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes. A history of breast, uterine, and colon cancer also increases the risk of ovarian cancer.

What are the characteristics of hereditary ovarian cancer?

Most often, hereditary ovarian cancer is associated with mutations in the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes. The main features of BRCA-positive hereditary ovarian cancer are: serous cancer, high grade of malignancy, high response rate to platinum drugs, relatively high overall survival.

How does ovarian cancer manifest itself?

Ovarian cancer in the early stages also has no specific symptoms. The most common situation is the detection of a volumetric formation in the ovary during examination by a gynecologist or during ultrasound of the small pelvis. The multi-chamber nature of the formation, thickened septa, the presence of a solid ("tissue") component in the composition of the formation, parietal papillary growths in the cystic chambers or on the surface of the formation, the presence of blood flow in the partitions and the tortuous nature of the vessels, the presence of free fluid in the abdominal cavity - these are the ultrasound signs, which make the doctor-specialist in ultrasound diagnostics suspect the malignant nature of the ovarian tumor and refer the patient to a gynecologist or oncogynecologist. In the presence of the above described characteristics of an ovarian tumor, it is necessary to take a blood test for the CA-125 tumor marker. Although the content of the tumor marker above 35 U / ml is observed in 80% of patients with ovarian cancer, nevertheless, the analysis does not have 100% specificity and sensitivity in relation to malignant ovarian diseases. The blood levels of the oncomarker CA-125 may be higher than normal in endometriosis, inflammatory diseases adnexa of the uterus, as well as with non-gynecological pathology (hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, peritonitis, pleurisy, pericarditis). The mandatory examination plan for ovarian tumors (especially bilateral) includes esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy, which are performed to examine the upper digestive tract and large intestine. The need to perform these studies is due to the fact that in 5-12% of cases, ovarian tumors are metastatic, and the most common sources of metastatic ovarian tumors are tumors of the stomach and large intestine. In the presence of ascites (free fluid in the abdominal cavity), it is possible to perform a puncture of the posterior fornix of the vagina under ultrasound control and to take fluid for cytological examination in order to verify the oncological process.

In 60 - 65% of cases, common stages of the disease are detected. The most frequent complaints of patients are an increase in the size of the abdomen, discomfort, a feeling of heaviness and periodic pain in the abdomen, and a decrease in appetite. An increase in the size of the abdomen can be associated either with the growth of the ovarian tumor itself, or with ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity), which often occurs with a widespread lesion of the abdominal cavity. Considering the non-specific nature of the complaints, patients often go first not to a gynecologist or an oncogynecologist, but to a general practitioner, gastroenterologist or surgeon. Sometimes, in the event of an emergency (torsion or perforation of an ovarian tumor), the diagnosis is established only during surgery.

What to do if you suspect ovarian cancer on ultrasound?

If a volumetric ovarian mass with the ultrasonic characteristics described above is detected, as well as with elevated values of the CA-125 tumor marker, a consultation with an oncogynecologist is necessary to determine further tactics for examination and treatment.

What examination is necessary for suspected ovarian cancer?

If a woman of reproductive age is found to have a volumetric formation or a cyst in the ovary, it requires dynamic observation for 1–2 menstrual cycles, because most ovarian cysts in women with a preserved menstrual cycle are functional. Functional cysts include follicular cysts and cysts corpus luteum. These cysts can form in different phases menstrual cycle, completely regress within 1-2 menstrual cycles and do not require any therapeutic interventions. With the persistence of a volumetric formation in the ovary for several menstrual cycles, it allows us to exclude its functional nature and draw a conclusion about its tumor genesis. The revealed volumetric formation of the ovary in a woman of postmenopausal age is never functional. In this case, ovarian tumors are benign, borderline and malignant. The malignant nature of the disease allows us to suspect the ultrasound signs described above, an increase in the level of the CA-125 tumor marker in combination with the described complaints. In the future, it is necessary to perform an abdominal ultrasound and radiography chest or, more preferably, MRI of the pelvis and CT of the abdomen and chest.

Based on the survey data, access and the scope of surgical intervention are planned. Operations for ovarian tumors can be performed by laparoscopic or open laparotomic access. The choice of access is determined by the stage of the disease, the age and somatic status of the patient, and many other factors. Often, at the stage of preoperative examination, it is not possible to obtain cytological or histological confirmation of the malignant nature of the ovarian tumor. In such a situation, during surgery, it is necessary to conduct an urgent histological or cytological examination of the surgical material (performed within 20-40 minutes during the operation) to confirm malignant or benign ovarian tumors and determining the adequate volume of surgical intervention.

For the treatment of malignant tumors of the ovaries, the surgical method of chemotherapy is used. The treatment of each patient is planned individually and based on the examination data, the stage of the disease and taking into account all prognostic factors. With highly differentiated ovarian cancer stage IA - IB, it is enough only surgical treatment. At the same time, in young patients with stage IA highly differentiated ovarian cancer who have not realized their reproductive plans, it is possible to perform an organ-preserving operation - adnexectomy on one side (removal of the appendages with a tumor), biopsy of the second ovary, resection of the omentum. But this volume of the operation is “conditionally radical” and is performed only if the patient wants to have children in the future. In all other cases, combined treatment is required (usually surgery and chemotherapy).

Operable patients at the first stage of treatment are subject to surgical treatment. The goal of surgical intervention is the maximum removal of all macroscopically detectable tumors in the abdominal cavity, since the effectiveness of further chemotherapy and the prognosis of the disease are determined by the size of the residual tumor after surgery.

In patients with the initial stages of the disease, when the pathological process is limited to the ovaries and small pelvis, hysterectomy with appendages and adequate surgical staging (abdominal fluid washes for cytological examination, resection of the greater omentum, polyfocal biopsy of the peritoneum, selective lymphadenectomy) are performed. The need for surgical staging is associated with the predominantly intra-abdominal nature of the spread of ovarian cancer. And only with surgical staging, it is possible to detect microscopic implantation metastases in different parts of the abdominal cavity, correctly establish the stage of the disease, and subsequently conduct adequate chemotherapy.

In advanced stages of the disease, surgical treatment involves performing cytoreductive operations, in which all or the maximum possible volume of tumor masses is removed from the abdominal cavity. In case of damage to the abdominal organs (intestines, bladder, ureter, spleen, liver, peritoneum, diaphragm), various volumes of organ resections are performed (removal of the part of the organ affected by the tumor). Such a volume of operations is justified, since many studies have shown that the volume of the residual tumor and the degree of cytoreduction are factors that determine the prognosis of the disease. By modern ideas cytoreductive surgery is considered optimal, after which the residual tumor is not determined or its size is less than 1 cm. In patients with IIIC-IV stages of the disease, in order to increase the likelihood of achieving optimal cytoreduction during surgery, several courses of chemotherapy (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) are performed at the first stage. This tactic can reduce the size of intra-abdominal tumors and the amount of ascitic fluid, increase the likelihood of tumor resectability.

After surgical treatment, all patients (with the exception of patients with IA and IB stages of highly differentiated ovarian cancer) are shown chemotherapy. The most commonly used chemotherapy regimens for ovarian cancer include platinum drugs, taxanes, and the targeted drug bevacizumab. The effectiveness of treatment is monitored after each course of chemotherapy. When remission of the disease is achieved, patients need periodic examination (gynecological examination, smears for cytological examination, blood test for tumor marker CA-125, ultrasound of the small pelvis and abdominal cavity, chest x-ray). If a recurrence of the disease is suspected, MRI of the pelvis, CT of the abdominal cavity, PET (positron emission tomography), diagnostic laparoscopy or laparotomy. Tactics of treatment of recurrence of ovarian cancer is determined by the term and variant of recurrence. Chemotherapy and surgery are used to treat relapses.

What is the survival rate for ovarian cancer?

The prognosis of the disease depends on the stage of the disease, the histological type of the tumor, the degree of cytoreduction and the size of the residual tumor after surgery, distant metastases, and the age of the patient. Five-year survival rate at stages I - II - 80 - 100%, at stage IIIA - 30 - 40%, at stage IIIB - 20%, at stage IIIC - IV - 5%.

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Currently, among all oncological diseases detected in the fair sex, ovarian cancer ranks seventh. Symptoms of this pathology most often proceed imperceptibly. It is noteworthy that at the initial stage the disease is diagnosed only in a third of women. In this article, we will take a closer look at its main causes of development and modern methods treatment.

Description of the disease

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common oncological pathologies. The peak incidence is usually between the ages of 40 and approximately 60 years. Before the age of 40, this disease is diagnosed extremely rarely.

For the development of ovarian cancer, family predisposition is of primary importance. If close relatives (mother, sister, daughter) have already had this diagnosis confirmed, the likelihood of getting sick is much higher.

The ovaries are classified as endocrine glands. They play an important role in the functioning reproductive system every woman. They constantly produce sex hormones that are responsible for the regulation of the menstrual cycle and the onset of pregnancy. In the ovaries, special bodies are produced - follicles. In one of them, an egg cell matures every month. At the moment of direct rupture of the follicle, that is, ovulation, the egg leaves the ovary and rushes into the fallopian tube, and from there into the uterus itself.

As noted above, among all oncopathologies, ovarian cancer occupies the seventh place. Symptoms and signs of the disease, diagnosed in a timely manner, make it possible to confirm the disease at an early stage and take all necessary measures to combat it. The high percentage of deaths is due to the inattention of women to their own health. Many of the fair sex who neglect regular examination in the gynecologist's office, until the last moment they may not know about the presence of an oncological disease.

Main reasons

Today, experts cannot name the exact reasons explaining the development of this disease. According to available information, the symptoms of uterine and ovarian cancer are most often manifested in nulliparous women, patients with obvious disorders at the hormonal level and the so-called aggravated heredity. There are cases of diagnosing pathology in women under 40 years old. Every year the age of patients inevitably decreases. This trend cannot but excite the doctors of our planet. Today, attempts are being made and various programs are being introduced to prevent pathology in young women.

Experts identify a number of factors predisposing to this disease:

Lack of regular sex life.
Diseases of a venereal nature.
Unhealthy diet: the presence in the diet of fried, fatty foods with an abundance of carcinogens and dyes.
Late/early menopause.
Availability chronic diseases inflammatory nature.
hereditary predisposition.
Deterioration of the environmental situation around the world.

Some of the above factors exist in the life of absolutely every woman. However, not everyone develops cancer. After 30 years, doctors strongly recommend that every lady undergo gynecological examinations in a timely manner and monitor her own health.

Any disease of a cancerous nature, detected at an early stage, today can be cured with minimal risk to life and minor surgical intervention. This statement applies not only to such a dangerous pathology as ovarian cancer. In men, the symptoms of testicular cancer are similar to those that develop with a female disease.

Pathogenesis

As you know, a woman has two ovaries. They are localized on both sides of the pelvis. The ovaries produce eggs and special female hormones: estrogen and progesterone. They are covered epithelial cells. Most of the tumors are formed from these components.

In accordance with the specifics, several types of cancer are distinguished.

Primary ovarian cancer is most often characterized by a bilateral lesion. Tumors are characterized by a dense consistency, very rarely reach an impressive size. Surgery allows you to forget about such a problem forever.
Secondary ovarian cancer develops mainly against the background of cysts. This means that the disease is very often preceded by ovarian cyst cancer. Symptoms of the disease do not differ in a specific picture.
Metastatic ovarian cancer can form from absolutely any organ. However, most often it is a consequence of the development of neoplasms in the stomach. From this organ, pathological cells are carried to the ovaries by the blood or through the lymphatic tract. This variant of the disease is characterized by rapid growth and malignant course. As a rule, bilateral ovarian cancer occurs.

Symptoms

How long do patients with such a diagnosis live? Unfortunately, it is not possible to give an exact answer to this question. Here, the timeliness of detection of the disease comes to the fore due to clinical signs. It is about them that we will discuss further.

Most of the patients with an already begun cancerous process in the ovaries do not notice any obvious signs of pathology, or rather, do not attach any importance to them. Sometimes the symptoms are perceived as normal inflammation. If there is a hereditary predisposition to oncology, it is recommended with special attention treat your body.

At the initial stage, the disease is characterized by the same clinical picture as any tumor. Pathology develops very slowly.

How to distinguish ovarian cancer? The first symptoms are not always possible to detect in a timely manner. Obvious signs appear only when the tumor grows to impressive volumes.

Classification

The simplest classification of this disease implies four stages.

I stage. The pathological process develops only on one side.
II stage. Diagnosed with bilateral ovarian cancer. The symptoms of the disease are becoming more and more obvious.
III stage. The tumor rapidly increases in size, metastases appear.
IV stage. There is a spread of the formation of a malignant nature to nearby organs and tissues.

Establishing diagnosis

The sooner a woman turns to a gynecologist with complaints, the higher the chance of curing ovarian cancer. The symptoms of the disease described above should alert every woman.

The main methods for diagnosing this disease include the following:

Surgery

Surgery is the main treatment for the disease. Many doctors believe that absolutely every patient diagnosed with ovarian cancer should undergo surgery. Symptoms of the pathology can sometimes turn out to be erroneous, that is, they indicate not oncology, but on the usual inflammatory process. Moreover, diagnosis does not always allow determining the exact stage of tumor development. In the case of a malignant course of the disease, supravaginal amputation is performed with simultaneous excision of the appendages and the so-called greater omentum. Complete removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) is indicated in the presence of concomitant pathological processes.

Bilateral removal of the appendages is due to the fact that oncology sooner or later affects both ovaries. Resection of the omentum is mandatory, since it is in this area that metastasis most often occurs.

A hysterectomy can bring a lot of suffering to a woman. For women who have not entered the menopause period, this means its premature onset and the occurrence of a characteristic clinical picture (vaginal dryness, hot flashes, depression). Many of the fair sex find it very difficult to come to terms with the premature end of the reproductive period. This operation greatly affects the emotional component of the patient. To help patients survive the illness and such a difficult period in life, it is important to provide psychological and counseling assistance.

Chemotherapy

Symptoms of stage 4 ovarian cancer, as a rule, indicate the neglect of the pathological process. This is where chemotherapy comes in. It plays a primary role in the treatment of the disease and is often used in conjunction with surgery. The most commonly used drugs are: Cyclophosphamide, Taxol, Methotrexate, Fluorouracil.

Before starting treatment, the patient is carefully examined, the condition of the internal organs, blood counts are assessed. In the course of chemotherapy, such tests are carried out regularly. In case of ineffectiveness of one or another drug, it is replaced by an analogue or combined with another.

After radical operations a course of chemotherapy is also prescribed to prevent possible relapses and the appearance of metastases.

Radiotherapy

Currently this method treatment of tumor formations is used extremely rarely. Since the entire abdominal cavity can be affected by cancer, it will require complete irradiation. According to numerous studies in this field, radiotherapy can only be beneficial if the microscopic accumulations of pathological cells that remain after surgery are destroyed. However, this method of treatment has a mass side effects, making it less preferred over chemotherapy.

Forecast

If it is possible to detect ovarian cancer in the early stages of development (symptoms in women in this case are very rarely manifested clearly), surgical intervention often leads to a complete cure. In the last stages, the main goal of chemotherapy is usually to contain the cancer process and maintain a normal quality of life for the patient. In general, the five-year survival rate for women under 50 years of age is about 40%, over this age - only 15%.

Prevention

Unfortunately, modern medicine currently unable to offer adequate options on how to prevent ovarian cancer. Symptoms, the manifestation of the disease should be the reason for immediate consultation with a specialist. After full diagnostic examination treatment should be recommended to the woman. In the case of a timely request for help, the likelihood of a favorable prognosis increases significantly.

To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to undergo examinations by a gynecologist several times a year for preventive purposes. In this case, the pathology can be noticed earlier. In addition, it is very important to exclude dubious sexual intercourse, and use contraceptives during intimacy.

Conclusion

This article provides information about ovarian cancer (symptoms, stages, treatment and preventive measures). Unfortunately, many women do not monitor the work of their body and turn to the doctor for help very late. Such neglect entails exceptionally unfavorable prognosis. However, if the disease is diagnosed in a timely manner, the lady has every chance of a complete cure. Moreover, today experts in this field offer several options for solving this problem. If you had to deal with this kind of pathology, do not give up ahead of time. Be healthy!

Like any of the oncological diseases, it manifests itself asymptomatically and suddenly. It is the most common disease of the female reproductive system. A woman usually finds out that she has such an ailment, usually already when it becomes too late to do anything.

Ultrasound is an effective method for diagnosing ovarian cancer

Most often, such a disease is diagnosed using the pelvic cavity and. This examination uses special sound waves, with which you can get an image of the organs inside the body. This method actually determines where they are located and shows their shape and size.

The most informative are transvaginal and transabdominal types. During a transabdominal ultrasound examination, a specialist conducts a sensor over the area located between the pelvic bones and in the abdomen. The gel is rubbed into the skin in order to make the image of the affected organ clearer.

During such a study, the specialist determines the structure of the ovaries, their size, and how they are located relative to the uterus.

Normally, they should be on the sides of the uterus. As for the size of the ovaries, they must meet the following parameters (this applies only to patients of reproductive age):

volume from 5 to 8 cm;
thickness from 0.1 to 0.2 cm;
length from 0.25 to 0.4 cm;
width from 0.15 to 0.3 cm.

Signs of ovarian cancer on ultrasound are diverse. The development of cancer can be suspected using special ultrasound markers:

The ovaries are abnormally sized with pronounced asymmetry. In this case, their contour is significantly enlarged and it can only be partially determined.
Postmenopausal patients have a damaged organ that resembles a cyst or follicle in shape.
The affected area is characterized by increased blood supply.
The retrouterine space has a lot of free fluid, the presence of which is in no way associated with ovulation.

If more than two such signs are revealed, the patient is immediately sent for a consultation with a gynecologist-oncologist. After that, the specialist will prescribe a woman an examination, lymph nodes and organs located in. All these procedures are necessary in order to identify whether there are metastases in the listed organs.

Causes of ovarian cancer

The exact causes of this disease are still unknown. But experts name some types of circumstances that can provoke ovarian cancer in women.

These include:

hormonal factor. Reliable information has long been found that this disease is associated with changes in the hormonal background and the number of births a woman has undergone. It is generally accepted that during each ovulation (that is, the release of the egg), ovarian tissue is damaged. After all this, healing begins. During this process, cells are actively dividing. And the more often they do it, the greater the risk that the process will get out of control.
Since there is no ovulation during pregnancy, while taking contraceptives and breastfeeding, it is these factors that help to significantly reduce the risk that a woman will develop ovarian cancer. But as for the first menstruation, which began very early, the presence of one, and not several births, and late menopause, they are risk factors during such diseases.
This is due to the presence of frequently recurring ovulation. This list can also be attributed to women and long-term stimulation of ovulation. It makes sense to prescribe hormone replacement therapy during early menopause. After the onset of 55 years of age, women are not prescribed such treatment.
hereditary predisposition. A very small percentage of tumor formations is associated with disorders in genetics (approximately 2% of all cases of ovarian cancer).
There are 3 types of syndromes during which the risk of developing oncological formations increases significantly: Lynch syndrome 2, familial ovarian cancer and familial cancer and ovary. Each of all these syndromes is manifested by cases of cancer of the uterus, breast, ovaries and in women who are the closest relatives (sisters, grandmothers or mothers). If the family history is unfavorable, then specialists conduct a study of genes that are provocateurs of the appearance of tumor formations on mutations.
Food addictions. Very common malignant tumors in the ovariessuffer women who live in developed industrial countries. The United States of America and Europe are leaders in mortality and morbidity from such an unpleasant disease. At the same time, in some Asian countries and in Japan, the number of women affected by such diseases is much lower. This is due to the fact that patients with ovarian cancer at one time ate a large amount of fat. Although most scientists do not believe that such food habits are the cause of this cancer, some still attribute the passion for animal fats to a factor that provokes ovarian cancer.
Harmful impurities (including asbestos). This risk factor, although it has existed for a long time, is still poorly understood. We are talking about the use of talc for hygienic purposes. Studies have shown that some of the examined women were found particles of talc, which is used in deodorants and powders. This substance is very similar to asbestos, which is considered a trigger for this disease. But the exact results of such studies have not yet been obtained.
Irradiation of organs located in. In this case, ovarian cancer in women appears if they were treated with other tumors with radiation.

Signs and stages

Symptoms of the appearance of malignant tumors in the ovaries are quite non-specific. Basically, they are very similar to the clinical picture of diseases or the bladder. Often, it is for this reason that an incorrect diagnosis is made, and therefore, the wrong treatment is carried out.

Ovarian cancer is characterized by the following symptoms:

Persistent weakness in a patient.
Discomfort and pain that are localized in the pelvic region.
Often bloated and distended abdomen.
Even after very small portions of food eaten by a woman, she has a feeling as if she had overeaten.
Constant calls to.
Decreased or lost appetite in the patient.
Frequent indigestion of the stomach (in the later stages of such an oncological disease, it becomes chronic).
Strongly dizzy.
The woman is often sick.
The patient begins to quickly gain weight, or vice versa, loses weight dramatically. At the same time, the level of physical activity and eating behavior does not change.
Pain in the lower abdomen and lower back.
Pain is felt during intercourse.
The waist increases significantly in its volume.
Development begins in the later stages of ovarian cancer.
Plus tissue syndrome appears. It is determined only during the examination or special examinations.

More information about ovarian cancer can be found in the video.

Ovarian cancer develops in four stages:

The first is characterized by the fact that the pathological process can be limited to two or one ovary.
In the second stage, the tumor spreads to the fallopian tubes and, in fact, to itself. In addition, other organs that are in the pelvis are affected.
The third stage is characterized by the development of intra-abdominal metastases. They begin to go beyond the pelvic region, while penetrating into the lymph nodes.
The fourth stage of ovarian cancer is characterized by the presence of distant metastases, which are located in the lungs and other organs of the diseased woman.

Treatment and possible complications

Treatment of such a disease is carried out using surgical methods (panhysterectomy is performed, that is, removal of the uterus with appendages) combined with radiotherapy and polychemotherapy. If the tumor has a localized form in the first or second stage, then the uterus is removed along with the appendages and the greater omentum is resected.

Later stages of this disease (third and fourth) require cytoreductive intervention.

During it, the tumor mass is removed as much as possible, and subsequently chemotherapy is carried out. If the patient has an inoperable tumor, then only a biopsy of the tumor tissue is done.

The greater the stage of such a disease in a woman, the higher the risk.They are relapses. Sometimes a second operation is required. A multiple tumor may appear, which occurs immediately after the treatment. In this case, the operation is not performed.Another complication is that new tumor formations may be insensitive to agents previously used in the patient. In this case, they begin to try new combinations of drugs.

Ovarian cancer is a very dangerous and insidious disease. In women, it is in ninth place in prevalence among other oncological pathologies and ranks fifth in a number of causes leading to the death of patients. Therefore, it is especially important to know how an ailment can manifest itself in order to successfully resist it.

What is the disease and how can it manifest itself

Under ovarian cancer, oncogynecologists mean a whole group of malignant tumors that differ significantly in nature, origin, behavior, etc. All these malignant neoplasms united by a common feature: they affect the ovaries - paired organs of the female reproductive system, in which eggs mature and sex hormones are produced.

Cancer develops from ovarian tissue

The insidiousness of ovarian cancer is that in most cases in the early stages of development, it practically does not manifest itself in any way. For this reason, about ¾ of patients turn to doctors with a disease at an already advanced stage, when it is much more difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to help them.

According to medical statistics, after 40-45 years in women, the risk of developing malignant neoplasms of the ovaries increases significantly. Before the onset of menopause, in the so-called premenopause, there is a constant decrease in the activity of the ovaries, which gradually reduce the secretion of sex hormones, which leads to a violation of the hormonal balance in the body. This situation sometimes leads to the development of ovarian cancer. After 70-75 years of age, the hormonal "storms" in the body subside, and the incidence of the disease declines.

The first signs of pathology

The very first manifestations of ovarian cancer can be considered such symptoms:

mild discomfort in the abdomen;
fast fatiguability;
feeling of a foreign formation inside the abdomen, especially when changing the position of the body, during defecation and sexual intercourse;
an increase in the number of leukocytes and an acceleration of ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) during a blood test.

It should be noted that these signs may not mean the presence of this pathology at all, but indicate, for example, the development of an ovarian cyst or internal hemorrhoids, but you should definitely consult a doctor and undergo the necessary examination.

How can the disease manifest itself in later stages

As the malignant tumor grows, it begins to put pressure on neighboring organs, which can no longer go unnoticed. In addition, most neoplasms tend to actively grow into the surrounding tissues, disrupting their structure, and also give distant metastases. As a result, the patient may develop the following symptomatic picture:

pulling, and over time sharp pains in the lower segment of the abdomen and in the lower back, aggravated by exercise;
pain after intercourse;
uterine bleeding not associated with menstruation;
ascites - accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, a sign of which is an increase in the abdomen;
decreased appetite, weight loss;
weakness, irritability;
feeling of nausea;
change in the nature of the stool - constipation or diarrhea;
subfebrile temperature without visible reasons or from time to time an unexpected temperature "candle", reaching 38 0 and above;
an increase in the number of leukocytes and a high ESR in the blood test;
in the presence of distant metastases, symptoms in the organs where metastasis occurred - cough, bone and headaches, etc.

In ovarian cancer, fluid often accumulates in the abdomen, causing the abdomen to enlarge.

When the pedicle of a cancerous tumor is twisted or when the neoplasm ruptures, the picture " acute abdomen”, characterized by a sharp severe pain accompanied by tension of the abdominal wall. But this is not a specific sign of ovarian cancer - similar signs are present in similar situations with benign neoplasms.

Features of the symptoms of certain types of tumors

As already noted, ovarian cancer refers to a number of malignant neoplasms that have a different structure, character, can develop from various ovarian tissues, etc. More than ¾ of all tumors are epithelial, that is, formed by cells of the epithelial membrane of this organ. The rest of the ovarian cancer is divided into the following types:

endometrioid cancer, which combines glandular contents and foci of epithelial tissue;
papillary adenocarcinoma, developing from ovarian cysts, often growing into the omentum and neighboring organs, but at the same time having a rather favorable prognosis;
cystic neoplasms with mucinous (mucous), serous and teratoid (viscous) structure;
mesonephroid or clear cell cancer, which is highly aggressive due to the low differentiation of cancer cells;
Brenner's cancer, growing from the cells of the stroma (skeleton) of the ovary;
hormonally active tumors - granulosa cell carcinoma and adenoblastoma;
secondary neoplasms of the ovaries of a metastatic nature, that is, brought from other organs where the primary tumor is located.

As a rule, all cancerous changes in the ovary in one way or another have similar symptoms, except for neoplasms that have hormonal activity. Their difference lies in the fact that they usually manifest themselves in the early stages of the disease, creating an excess of sex hormones in the body, both female and male, resulting in:

uterine bleeding;
menstrual disorders;
amenorrhea (lack of menstruation) in reproductive age;
restoration of the menstrual cycle in the postmenopausal period;
the development of some male sexual characteristics - coarsening of the voice, hirsutism (active growth of hair on the face and body), a change in the figure according to the male type.

The appearance of hirsutism may indicate the development of a hormonally active ovarian tumor.

Is a relapse possible?

Recurrence of ovarian cancer is possible, as with any type of cancerous lesions of the body. The likelihood of a return of the disease depends on many factors, the main of which are:

the level of malignancy of the tumor;
stage of the disease, reflecting the degree of prevalence of the cancer process;
the effectiveness of the chosen therapy, taking into account the response of the tumor to the effect of cytostatic drugs.

Ability is of great importance immune system suppress micrometastases carried throughout the body by lymph and blood flow.

As a result of vascular metastasis, malignant neoplasms can appear in any organ of the body.

To prevent a possible recurrence of cancer on the second ovary, the likelihood of which is very high, it is usually recommended for the patient to remove the affected organ simultaneously with the healthy one, and sometimes the uterus - panhysterectomy. If the second ovary was preserved, the re-development of a malignant tumor will have the same symptomatic picture as in the first case.

Recurrence of ovarian cancer can also occur through the development of metastatic neoplasms in other organs - the lungs, liver, head and bone marrow, bones. Depending on the location of the secondary tumor, the symptoms can be quite varied:

headache;
visual and hearing disorders;
nausea, vomiting;
bone pain (especially at night);
obsessive dry or wet cough;
increase in body temperature;
loss of strength, poor appetite;
weight loss.

Basic diagnostic methods

The main task of diagnostics is the differentiation of malignant tumors of the ovaries with various types cysts, uterine fibromyoma, adnexitis, tuberculosis of the appendages. It should be noted that in the early stages of the disease it is quite difficult to determine the malignant nature of neoplasms and the final diagnosis is made only by analyzing the material removed during the operation.

To establish the diagnosis, the following methods are used:

Examination by a gynecologist. The method of palpation of the appendages determines the tumor and the degree of its mobility.
Laboratory tests. Clinical Analysis blood allows you to detect deviations of the main blood parameters relative to the reference values - increased leukocytosis, a decrease in the number of platelets, the presence of lymphoblasts and myeloblasts, a decrease in hemoglobin levels and an acceleration of ESR. In addition, an analysis of the level of sex hormones is carried out, which makes it possible to detect hormonally active tumors. A blood test for the CA-125 tumor marker suggests the presence of a malignant process, although a slight increase in the level of this ovarian cancer antigen does not always indicate the presence of a tumor.
ultrasound. Ultrasound location of the ovaries provides information about the presence of a tumor and its size. This type of examination also allows you to determine the fluid content of the cyst, the viscous or dense structure of the tumor.
PET-CT. This examination combines positron emission and computed tomography and allows you to get detailed information about the nature and location of the tumor, the presence of metastases, the condition of the surrounding tissues. The simultaneous use of PET and CT technologies makes it possible to reduce the time required for the examination.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Examination using radio waves, used instead of x-rays, is used not so much to diagnose an ovarian tumor, but to detect distant metastases, especially in the bones and brain.
Laparoscopy. Examination of the abdominal cavity using fiber optics and taking material for biopsy is used in special cases when there are difficulties in establishing a diagnosis. For example, when papillary growths are detected in a cyst using this method, in some cases a histological examination is performed. In addition, laparoscopy can provide information on the degree of tumor growth into neighboring organs - the bladder, intestines, etc. In this case, in addition to the gynecologist, relevant specialists are involved in the operation to remove the tumor: a urologist, a proctologist, and others.

Laparoscopic examination is an examination of the ovaries through small incisions in abdominal wall using special equipment

What does ovarian cancer look like. What does ovarian cancer look like on ultrasound?

Stages of cancer

Symptoms of ovarian cancer

Diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Treatment of ovarian cancer

The cost of treatment in clinics and centers in Moscow

Benefits of Paid Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Clinics in Moscow where cancer is treated

Research Institute of Neurosurgery. Academician H.N. Burdenko RAMS

Russian Cancer Research Center. N.N. Blokhin RAMS

Clinical Hospital of the Office of the President

MNI Cancer Institute named after P.A. Herzen

Clinical Center of Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov

Other centers and clinics where cancer is treated in Moscow

Treatment options for ovarian cancer

Surgery

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Radiotherapy

Palliative care

Thermoperfusion

Cyber ​​Knife, Gamma Knife, Da Vinci Robot

How long do you live after ovarian cancer?

Ovarian ultrasound procedure and decoding for cancer

Causes of ovarian cancer

Signs and stages

Treatment and possible complications

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