Ovarian cancer
Overview
Cancer begins in the ovaries on either side of the uterus. There are types such as superficial epithelial, germ cell, and sex cord-gonadal interstitial depending on the place of occurrence, but 90% or more are epithelial.
It has been said that there are many Westerners and few Japanese, but it has been increasing in Japan in recent years due to the westernization of meals.
It is said that there is a high risk of developing ovarian cancer before and after menopause, women who have never been pregnant or given birth, and mothers and sisters who have ovarian cancer.
Any woman needs to be careful. The main treatments are surgery to remove the tumor as much as possible and chemotherapy with anticancer drugs.
Cause
Ovarian cancer is said to be caused by multiple factors involved. Genetic involvement is thought to be around 10%, but if there are relatives such as mothers and sisters who have developed ovarian cancer, the probability of developing ovarian cancer is higher than when there are no people who have developed it.
There is a tendency. Diseases such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and polycystic ovarian syndrome can also cause ovarian cancer.
Other factors are considered to be hormone replacement therapy for many years, lifestyle habits such as obesity and diet, and the use of fertility drugs.
In addition, it is said that the more ovulations occur, the more likely it is that ovarian cancer will develop, so those who have little experience of pregnancy or childbirth and those who have late menopause may have a higher probability of developing ovarian cancer.
Symptoms
Symptoms such as lower abdominal discomfort, lower abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, abnormal bleeding, constipation, pollakiuria, and loss of appetite may be seen, but there are almost no characteristic initial symptoms.
As the cancer cells progress and spread to the organs in the abdominal cavity and metastasize, water may accumulate in the abdomen and chest, causing symptoms such as tension in the entire abdomen and shortness of breath.
By the time you visit a medical institution because of these symptoms, there are many cases where the cancer has already progressed.
Ovarian cancer is often found by chance in a gynecological examination, or it is difficult to detect it early because it is the first time that an abnormality is noticed due to the metastasis of ovarian cancer to other parts such as ascites and pleural effusion. ..
Inspection / diagnosis
A pelvic examination that examines the condition of the uterus and ovaries by inserting a finger from the vagina, a rectal examination that examines the rectum and its surroundings by inserting a finger from the butt, and an ultrasound (echo) examination device, CT, and MRI examination.
and so on. In addition, a blood test may be done to check for tumor markers. Tumor markers are blood test items that show abnormal values when cancer is lurking in the body and thereby detect cancer.
In the case of ovarian cancer, it is used not only to investigate the possibility of cancer but also to determine the index of metastasis/recurrence and the effect of treatment.
Since the ovary is an organ from which tissue cannot be collected directly from the outside, it is necessary to perform a pathological examination in which the tumor is surgically removed and the tissue is examined under a microscope to determine whether it is benign or malignant.
Treatment
It is selected according to the patient's condition such as the stage and age of cancer and the presence or absence of complications, but basically, surgery and anticancer drug treatment are combined.
If cancer has spread over a wide area and cannot be completely removed by surgery, it is often the case that the cancer is first reduced with an anticancer drug and then surgery is performed.
It is said that ovarian cancer is cancer for which anticancer drugs are effective. In addition, because recurrence is likely to occur, chemotherapy may be used to prevent recurrence after surgery.
When performing surgery, the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and omentum are usually removed, but retroperitoneal lymph nodes, intestinal tract, and spleen may also be removed.
For women who wish to have children in the future, it is important to discuss the treatment with doctors before selecting a treatment method.
In some cases, radiation therapy is used to reduce the size of cancer cells with high-energy X-rays in order to alleviate metastasis to the brain and bones.
Precautions after prevention / treatment
Adjusting your lifestyle, such as a well-balanced diet, moderate exercise, and being careful about excessive smoking and drinking, is the first step toward prevention.
It is also effective for prevention to reduce the burden on the ovaries with low-dose pills. It is also important to have regular gynecological examinations.
Ovarian cancer, which is difficult to be aware of, tends to be delayed in consultation. In order to realize early detection and early treatment, it is important to have regular medical examinations even if you do not feel any discomfort, or to have prompt medical examinations if you feel any abnormality in your body.
0 Comments