Are there methods of diagnosis of ovarian cancer at an early stage of their development? Read in this article.
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Ways of early detection of ovarian cancer
25% of the ovarian cancer is diagnosed in the early stages. Early diagnosis increases the likelihood of successful treatment of this tumor. In the case of early diagnosis, 90% of patients live more than 5 years.
Ways of early detection of ovarian cancer. With a regular examination of the area of the pelvis, the doctor can determine the size, shape and consistency of the ovaries and uterus. However, even a very experienced doctor may not recognize a small tumor.
Physical examination of the abdominal cavity allows the doctor to determine the presence of liquid in it and sometimes tumors. Through an intravaginal examination, it may also try any swelling inside the pelvis or in the ovaries. However, since many women who are both in pre- and in postmenopause have benign ovarian cysts that can be large enough, any swelling must be investigated additionally to establish whether it is a benign or malignant.
Ultrasonic scanning
The following study will most likely ultrasound scanning or computed tomography, undertaken in order to identify a possible increase in or any ovarian abnormalities.
With the help of a vaginal smear, an early diagnosis of cervical cancer is possible, but this method does not allow to identify most cases of ovarian cancer at an early stage. Only in later stages such a technique can recognize ovarian cancer.
If symptoms appeared, please contact a doctor.
Symptoms of early ovarian cancer are uncertain. They can be to increase the size of the abdomen due to the presence of a tumor or a cluster of liquid, unusual bleeding from the vagina, a sense of pressure in the pelvis area, back or stomach pain. Most of these symptoms may be associated with other, less serious diseases.
If it is assumed that the appeared symptoms are the results of ovarian cancer, then by this moment the tumor has already been out of the authority. In addition, some types of ovarian cancer quickly apply to nearby organs. When you appear the symptoms of ovarian cancer urgently consult a doctor.
Screening cancer ovarian
This method is used to identify the disease in people who do not have any symptoms. In women with high risk of developing epithelial cancer of ovaries, for example, if there are cases of cancer of ovaries in the family, it is necessary to screen with the help of vagina ultrasound. However, this method does not allow to distinguish a benign tumor from malignant.
With the help of blood test on SA-125 protein (OS-125), you can suspect ovarian cancer. However, there may be elevated levels of protein in non-tile diseases of the ovaries and low during cancer. In the presence of an increased level of SA-125 protein, it is necessary to carry out additional examination, for example, x-ray examination or study of the abdominal liquid.
Preliminary data has shown that screening among women with an average risk does not reduce the number of deaths from ovarian cancer. Therefore, the ultrasound of the vagina and the study of the SA-125 level is not recommended to apply in women without well-known risk factors.
There are no screening methods for germinative and stromal ovarian tumors. Some germinative tumors allocate protein markers to the blood (human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha fetoprotein). After the treatment of such tumors with the operation or chemotherapy, the definition of the level of these protein markers can help in the diagnosis of recurrence of the disease.
