Cancer

Ovarian Cancer Treatment in India: What to Expect?

patientA cancer that begins in the ovary is called as ovarian cancer. This results in the spreading of the abnormal cells to other parts of the body. During the beginning of this process, the symptoms may not be quite apparent but as the cancer progresses they become more noticeable.

What are the symptoms & causes of ovarian cancer?

In early stages, the symptoms are usually absent. They may exist for several months before being diagnosed and recognized. Sometimes, they may be misdiagnosed as condition like irritable bowel syndrome. Earlier stage of ovarian cancer tends to be painless unless the mass growth causes ovarian torsion.

Abdominopelvic pain, bloating and pain in the side are early symptoms of ovarian cancer. Most typical symptoms include pelvic pain or discomfort, bloating, back pain, heartburn, indigestion, constipation, frequent urination, nausea, irregular menstruation, early satiety and bleeding or pain after or during sexual intercourse. These symptoms occur due to mass pressing on the abdominopelvic organs. As the cancer becomes more advanced, it can cause accumulation of the fluid in the abdomen.

Ovarian cancer symptoms may vary based on the subtype. The borderline tumors also called low malignant potential (LMP) do not cause an increase in CA125 levels. These are not identifiable even with an ultrasound.

Like other cancers, ovarian cancer is caused due to cells division and multiplication in an unordered manner. Nobody completely understand the actual cause of ovarian cancer but some of the risk factors related to developing this condition are listed below:

  1. Age: Women over 65 years of age are more prone to develop ovarian cancer. Compared to the pre-menopausal women, the post-menopausal women are at higher percentage for developing ovarian cancer.
  2. Family history: Compared to other women, those of you with any close relative who have/had ovarian cancer are at higher risk for developing ovarian cancer. Two genes namely, BRCA1 and BRCA2 raise your risk to ovarian cancer significantly.
  3. Higher number of total lifetime ovulations: The total number of ovulations during a woman's life has relation to the risk of ovarian cancer. Those women who have started their menstruation at an early age or have never been pregnant or who have never taken contraception or whose menopause started at a later age have higher risk for developing ovarian cancer.

What is ovarian cancer Surgery?

Women with ovarian cancer symptoms are required to undergo ovarian cancer surgery. Your doctor may perform variety of procedures after considering the type and stage of your ovarian cancer.

The different approaches for ovarian cancer surgical oncology include:

  1. Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: This is the surgical removal of one ovary and one fallopian tube.
  2. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: This is the surgical removal of both the ovaries and both the fallopian tubes.
  3. Bowel resection: This is the surgical removal of part of the small or the large intestine.
  4. Total hysterectomy: This is the surgical removal of the uterus and the cervix.
  5. Diaphragm or appendix surgery: This is surgical removal of part of each organ.
  6. Abdominal fluid biopsy: It is the removal of the fluid sample from the abdomen.
  7. Omentectomy: It is the surgical removal of part or all of the omentum which is fold of fatty tissue inside the abdomen.
  8. Lymph node biopsy: It is the surgical removal of the part of one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen.

Ovarian cancer surgery may be followed by chemotherapy in which your oncologist will put a thin tube in the abdomen during the surgery. This will enable direct administration of chemotherapy into the abdominal cavity.

Is ovarian cancer surgery safe?

The ovarian cancer surgery is safe as well as you'll be encouraged to start moving as soon as possible. While in bed it's important to move your legs regularly and perform deep breathing exercises. This will help preventing blood clots and chest infections. You'll be given pain killers through a pump which is attached via a fine tube called cannula in the vein in your arm.

Success rate of ovarian cancer Treatment in India
Usually, the success rate of ovarian cancer treatment depends on the stage of the cancer. Your survival will depend on the stage of cancer and this will not be known until after the ovarian cancer surgery. Several positive results have been reported from women who had gone through the treatments for treating ovarian cancer in India.

About Company:
With the advent of technological development in medical field and medical tourism, India offers excellent assistance to the international patients. Women who are looking for ovarian cancer can find the best ovarian cancer treatments from India Forerunners Healthcare Consultants to avail the best and safe treatments at lower cost. Book Appointment by sending your query at: [email protected] OR Ph no. +91-9371136499

References:

  • Jayson GC, Kohn EC, Kitchener HC, Ledermann JA (October 2014). “Ovarian cancer”. Lancet 384 (9951): 1376–88.
  • Joseph I.; Halvorson, Lisa M.; Bradshaw, Karen D.; Cunningham, F. Gary (2012). “Epithelial Ovarian Cancer”. Williams Gynecology (2nd ed.). McGraw Hill Medical. pp. 853–878. ISBN 978-0-07-171672-7.

If you have any questions, please ask below!