World Ovarian Cancer Day!!

Dr.Rahul Kulkani-Oncologist | OncoWin Cancer Clinic


8 May 2013 was the first World Ovarian Cancer Day. On this day, ovarian cancer organizations from around the world united to educate their communities about ovarian cancer and its symptoms. 

Ovarian Cancer is one of the commonest cancers occurring in elderly females. However ovarian cancer has the lowest survival rate of all other gynecological malignancies as ovarian cancer is most commonly diagnosed at the advanced stages.

 

There is an unmet need for increasing awareness regarding Ovarian Cancer and it's treatment modalities.

 

Risk factors for the development of Ovarian Cancer include:

1) Family History of ovarian cancer/breast cancer

2) Increasing age

3) BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutations

4) Obesity

5) smoking

 

Most common symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:

1) Abdominal fullness

2) Bloating sensation

3) Increased urinary frequency

4) abdominal distension

 

If any of these symptoms are occurring frequently please do not neglect and consult your gynecologist or oncologist for examination.

 

1) Ultrasound of abdomen

2) blood tests like CA 125

3) CT scan 

4) sometimes abdominal fluid testing/biopsy if required

5) Genetic testing BRCA 1/2 if required after proper genetic counseling

 

 

1) Surgery - Surgery is the mainstay of the treatment of ovarian cancer. Surgery is performed with the aim to remove the disease as completely as possible.

2) HIPEC- Heated intraperitoneal Chemotherapy is a recent advance in the surgical treatment of ovarian cancer which includes the installation of heated chemotherapy in the abdominal cavity after the complete removal of cancer. This increases the chances of local control and reduces the chances of recurrence

3) Chemotherapy- Multiagent systemic chemotherapy is given either before surgery in advanced cancers so as to reduce the tumor burden and facilitate surgery, or can be given after surgery to reduce the chances of recurrence. Chemotherapy is also one of the most important components of the treatment of Ovarian Cancer.

4) Targeted therapy- Anti VEGF or PARP inhibitors are some of the newer advances in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer.

 

If diagnosed early and treated systematically we can definitely win over Ovarian Cancer!!

 

 

For more information please visit www.oncowin.in