Best Ovarian Cancer Treatment in Mumbai

Best Ovarian Cancer Treatment in Mumbai

Can Ovarian Cancer be Prevented? Symptoms, Causes, Risks Factors and Treatment

Ovarian cancer is among the top five cancers affecting Indian women, posing a significant health concern. Unfortunately, most women with ovarian cancer are often diagnosed at a later stage, which significantly impacts treatment options and outcomes. This is primarily because ovarian cancer usually does not cause noticeable symptoms until the cancer is advanced. Besides, there are limited screening options for early detection of this disease. If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the gynaecologic cancer experts at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, are here to provide you with the highest-quality care with compassion.

Why Choose Fortis Hospital, Mulund, for Ovarian Cancer Care?

At Fortis Hospital, Mulund, our doctors have extensive experience caring for all types and stages of gynaecologicalcancers, including ovarian cancer. Our gynaecological cancer experts work as a team to provide personalized and comprehensive treatment, delivering the best possible outcome and quality of life. Our surgeons use the most advanced surgical techniques, including minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery, to treat ovarian cancer, which has led to faster recovery and reduced complications. The gynaecologic oncology surgeons at Fortis are some of the most experienced in the country, offering you a unique level of surgical care. As a top gynaecology hospital in Mumbai, our specialists have unmatched expertise in treating ovarian cancer, including the rarest and most complex cases.

This article discusses ovarian cancer, including the symptoms, risk factors, how it is detected, how it is treated, and what you can do to prevent or lower your risk of developing this condition.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth that starts in the ovaries, the almond-sized female reproductive organs that produce and store eggs needed to make babies. The ovaries, located on either side of the uterus, also secrete the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Ovarian cancer can also originate from the fallopian tubes (the muscular tubes that transport eggs from the ovaries to the uterus) or peritoneum (the serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity).

Ovarian cancer can develop in different types, depending on the type of cells where the cancer begins.

What are the Types of Ovarian Cancer?

The three most common types of ovarian cancer are:

• Epithelial ovarian cancer – this is the most common type, which begins in the cells covering the ovaries. This type forms about 90% of all ovarian cases. It is classified into several subtypes, including serous carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma.
• Stromal ovarian cancer – these rare tumors start in the connective tissue that holds the ovary together and releases estrogen and progesterone. Stromal tumors are often found in older women, although girls can also get them. It is divided into different subtypes, including granulosa, theca, and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors.
• Germ cell ovarian cancer – this type of ovarian cancer begins in the cells that make eggs and usually affects younger women under the age of 30. Main subtypes include dysgerminoma, teratoma, endodermal sinus tumor, and choriocarcinoma.

What Causes Ovarian Cancer?

Health experts aren’t sure what causes most ovarian cancers, although some factors can increase your risk of developing the disease. Ovarian cancer occurs when cells in or around the ovaries change or mutate in their genetic material or DNA. These abnormal changes cause the cells to grow and multiply uncontrollably, forming a mas of cancer cells. These cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and lymph nodes, eventually spreading to other parts of the body.

Risk factors for ovarian cancer include:

• Getting older – anyone with ovaries can develop ovarian cancer, but it’s often diagnosed in those over 50.
• Inherited gene changes or mutations – BRCA1, BRCA2, or Lynch syndrome
• A family history of ovarian cancer
• Being obese
• Beginning menstruation at a young age – before 12 years old
• Starting menopause at a later age – after 52 years old
• Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Never having been pregnant
• Medical conditions, such as endometriosis
• Smoking

How Can You Recognize the Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer rarely has noticeable symptoms until it has progressed to an advanced stage. When symptoms appear, they are usually vague or mistaken for other common conditions. Common signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

• Abdominal bloating or swelling
• Pain in the abdomen, back, or pelvis
• Feeling full quickly after eating
• Difficulty eating
• Loss of appetite
• Frequent urination
• Changes in bowel habits, like constipation or diarrhea
• Vaginal bleeding between periods
• Changes in menstrual periods – like heavier or irregular bleeding
• Losing or gaining weight without trying
• Fatigue

Having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have ovarian cancer, but it’s still important to get them checked by a doctor. Remember, detecting the cancer early means you have more treatment options and a higher chance of recovery.

Should You Be Screened for Ovarian Cancer?

There is no recommended screening test for ovarian cancer, making it difficult to detect the disease early. However, if you’re at high risk for ovarian cancer, you should talk to your doctor about having routine pelvic exams and other tests, such as transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and the CA-125 blood test, to screen for the disease. 

How is Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed?

If you have symptoms that may indicate ovarian cancer, your doctor will likely conduct a pelvic exam to check for abnormal growths or changes in and around the ovaries. To diagnose ovarian cancer, your doctor may ask you to undergo further testing, including:

• Blood tests, such as a CA-125
• Transvaginal ultrasound
• MRI
• CT scan
• PET scan
• Surgical evaluation, such as minimally invasive laparoscopy and robotic surgery
• Genetic testing to look for gene changes that increase your risk for ovarian cancer 

A biopsy, usually done during surgery, is often the only way to confirm a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. 

If tests confirm that you have ovarian cancer, your doctor will provide the type and stage of the tumor as well. Ovarian cancer stages range from stage 1 through 4. Staging is crucial because it helps your doctor or care team design a treatment plan specifically tailored to your needs and condition. 

How is Ovarian Cancer Treated?

At Fortis Hospital, Mulund, our multidisciplinary team of experts will discuss the best options with you and your family to customize a treatment plan that best suits your individual needs and goals. Your care plan depends on multiple factors – such as the exact type, stage, and size of the tumor, your age, overall health, as well as your desire to preserve fertility. 

Your treatment may include one or more of the following options:

• Surgery – The main ovarian cancer treatment to remove your ovaries, uterus, or any organ that has tumors on it. Sometimes, surgery alone can treat ovarian cancer, if diagnosed early. Your surgeon will try to remove as much of the tumour as possible if your cancer is advanced. The type of surgery you have will largely depend on the type and location of the tumour. At Fortis, our gynaecologic oncology doctors recommend that most patients undergo chemotherapy as a preventive measure following surgery.
• Chemotherapy – to destroy cancer cells using powerful drugs, and may be given after surgery, or both before and after.
• Targeted drug therapy – to attack specific cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy – this treatment approach helps your immune system identify and attack cancer cells.
• Hormone therapy – some ovarian cancer cells use estrogen to grow. This therapy works by blocking estrogen, thereby slowing or controlling the growth of cancer.

After you’ve completed your treatment, your care team at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, will work with you to ensure you stay well. Ovarian cancer, like other cancers, can sometimes return after a successful treatment. This is called ‘recurrence’. You’ll likely have routine appointments with your oncologist for many years to check for any recurrence. Make sure you attend all your scheduled follow-ups. Also, report any unusual symptoms you may be having to your doctor without any delay.

What’s the Prognosis for Ovarian Cancer?

The prognosis or the expected outcome of ovarian cancer for a person depends on the type and stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. Other factors, including age, overall health, and responses to treatments, also affect survival rates.

Can You Prevent Ovarian Cancer?

There’s no guarantee you can prevent ovarian cancer, but there are ways to lower your risk, such as:

• Eating a well-balanced diet
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Staying active
• Having regular check-ups and discussing any concerning symptoms with your gynaecologist
• Knowing your family history and considering genetic testing, which can help you take steps to reduce your risk – but you should talk to your doctor before undergoing genetic testing

Certain procedures and lifestyle choices that have been linked to a reduced risk of ovarian cancer include:

• Taking birth control pills – ask your doctor if this may be a good option for you
• Breastfeeding
• Having given birth
• Undergoing surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes

Takeaway

It’s difficult to detect ovarian cancer because its symptoms are often vague in the early stages of the disease, when treatment works best. However, researchers are working tirelessly to develop better ways to catch the disease earlier. Moreover, advances in treatment modalities are improving patient outcomes and survival rates. 

Schedule an appointment with a doctor if you notice any symptoms associated with ovarian cancer, because early detection and timely treatment are crucial for achieving a successful outcome.

 If you’re concerned about your risk of ovarian cancer, discuss it with your doctor. They can help you take steps to prevent or lower your risk.