ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Ovarian cancer

What is Ovarian cancer?

13:35 - 9 April , 2021

Disease

In women, ovarian cancer is among the seven most common, annually generating more than 200,000 cases worldwide, which represents more than 5% of all female tumors.

The ovarian cells where the cancer originates are what names the various types. It is necessary to perform an exploratory surgery of the abdomen or laparotomy to be able to identify the type of cancer.

These are the three types of ovarian cancer:

  • Epithelial carcinoma: about 90% of ovarian cancers, regularly appear in women age 50 and older.
  • Germinal tumor: more than 10% of known cases and usually occurs in patients under 26 years old.
  • Stromal tumor: it is not frequent and can develop at any age, but its greatest presence occurs between 31 and 51 years old.

Signs and symptoms Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is not easy to diagnose in its early stages, since symptoms are not usually experienced until it is very advanced. At that time, the symptoms that may occur are the following:

  • Pelvic heaviness. 
  • Pain in the lower abdominal area.
  • Bleeding in the vagina. 
  • Weight gain or loss. 
  • Uncontrolled menstruation. 
  • Unjustified discomfort in the back.
  • Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.

Diagnosis and treatment Ovarian cancer

Diagnostic studies

  • Manual and visual pelvic inspection. 
  • CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis.
  • Blood tests to check organ function and check for specific tumor markers for ovarian cancer.
  • Surgery is used to accurately detect if there is cancer when it is not possible to diagnose it with the mentioned tests, but its presence is suspected.

Treatment:

A combination of surgery and chemotherapy is usually used.

Risk factors

  • It is more common in women over 50 years old, and its incidence is higher if there is a family history of ovarian cancer.
  • Having received or receiving hormone therapy with estrogen. 
  • An early start of menstruation and a late start of menopause. 

At ABC Medical Center, doctors from different specialties work together to treat ovarian cancer, so a highly specialized team of surgeons, oncologists, and radiologist oncologists will treat you with the warmth and humane treatment that sets us apart.

We have more than eight years of experience providing chemotherapy schemes and innovative drugs on an outpatient basis, following care protocols that guarantee the quality and safety of treatments in a comfortable and private environment.

Why choose ABC Medical Center?

Experience, state-of-the-art technology, and state-of-the-art facilities

Since its opening in 2009, our Cancer Center offers chemotherapy and cancer surgery at the level of the best medical centers in the world through a comprehensive care model for cancer patients.

Fuentes: 

  • seom.org
  • cancer.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • cancer.net
  • medigraphic.com
  • Valdespino-Castillo VE, Landa-Mejía J, Maytorena-Córdova G, et al. Cáncer de ovario endometrioide asociado con útero didelfo: reporte de un caso. Ginecol Obstet Mex. 2020;88(11):815-819.
  • Álvarez-Sánchez JG, Opina-Pérez AT. Eosinofilia en sangre y cáncer de ovario: estudio fase I de pruebas diagnósticas. Ginecol Obstet Mex. 2020;88(10):686-691.
  • González-Mariño MA. Carcinoma seroso de ovario. Serie de 14 casos y revisión de la bibliografía. Ginecol Obstet Mex. 2020;88(07):442-449.

How can we help you?

    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.