Ovarian cancer takes the fifth rank in terms of female cancer deaths. It leads in fatalities amid all cancers relating to the female reproductive organs. Around 1 in 78 women have a lifetime risk of getting ovarian cancer, with 1 in 108 dying. Ovarian cancer symptoms can often be elusive, making diagnosis tricky. However, a silver lining remains: cancer rates in general have dropped in the last 20 years. The American Cancer Society predicted 21,750 fresh ovarian cancer cases for 2020, with an estimated 13,940 women succumbing to this disease. Hence, being informed is crucial.
For the uninformed, ovarian cancer is projected to impact 22,000+ females every year and is the fifth major cause of cancer-linked women deaths. Contrary to other gynecologic cancers, no screening tests are there for ovarian cancer. Though some females with ovarian cancer have elevated CA 125 protein levels, blood tests are not completely reliable for screening as various non-cancer conditions can boost the CA 125 level.
Well, ovarian cancer originates in ovaries – small organs in a woman’s reproductive system where eggs grow. Detecting ovarian cancer can be challenging as symptoms may only appear in advanced stages. Doctors address ovarian cancer with surgeries, chemotherapy, and other treatments like immunotherapy for ovarian cancer. Hence, the survival rate may be low and chances of recurrence is high.
What is ovarian cancer?
Every woman has two ovaries, the almond-sized organs making eggs and hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Eggs travel through tubes, called fallopian tubes, to reach the uterus where, if fertilized, they implant into the wall and a baby grows. But what happens when things go wrong? Cancer can occur when cells go rogue and grow uncontrollably, forming lumps called tumors.
When this cancer spreads, it’s called metastasizing. In ovarian cancer, the mess starts in the ovaries or fallopian tubes. Recent studies think most ovarian tumors might begin in the tubes. Now, tumors can be different kinds:
- Noncancerous (benign): Does not spread
- Malignant (cancerous): Invasive, likely to spread
- Borderline with low malignant potential: Possibly spreads, but less likely to than malignant
Ovaries have three types of cells. The type of tumor depends on the cell:
- Epithelial cells, found on the ovary’s outside, usually become carcinomas. Most ovarian cancers are carcinomas, and they have different subtypes.
- Germ cell tumors, from egg-making cells, rarely cause ovarian cancer, and usually it’s not bad if they do. 90% of patients live at least five more years.
- Stromal cell tumors start from hormone-making cells. They make up 1% of ovarian cancers, but typically have a good outcome.
What are the most common symptoms of ovarian cancer?
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are typically vague (such as indigestion and bloating) and early-stage ovarian cancer has no symptoms. Early symptoms can be too general or non-existent. So, it’s often caught late. Common symptoms of ovarian cancer include:
- Unexplained and frequent bloating
- Feeling full quickly after eating
- Difficulty eating or lack of appetite
- Pelvic pain
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- The need to urinate more frequently or urgently than normal
Additional symptoms to note:
- Indigestion or upset stomach
- Nausea
- Pressure in lower back or pelvis
- Unexplained exhaustion
- Back pain
- Constipation
- Abdominal swelling
- Painful sex
- Menstrual changes
- Weight loss
Consult your doctor immediately, especially if you’ve had ovarian cancer before.
What can mimic the symptoms of ovarian cancer?
These mimic symptoms have copycats, like ovarian cysts, irritable bowel syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis, and more. So, not every symptom means cancer. Ovarian cancer symptoms can sneak up on you. If they persist for over 2 weeks, see your doctor.
How long can ovarian cancer go undetected?
Well, ovarian cancer can go undetected for years. There’s no fool-proof way of catching it early, so it mostly gets spotted when it has spread in the pelvis and abdomen, which is harder to treat. But, remember, the earlier it’s found, the better the hope.
Ways to find ovarian cancer cells early
Only about 20% of ovarian cancers are located at the beginning. When ovarian cancer cells are discovered early, about 94% of people live longer than 5 years after medical diagnosis.
Regular women’s health exams
During a pelvic test, the healthcare expert feels the ovaries and uterus for size, shape, and uniformity. A pelvic examination can be useful because it can discover some female cancers cells at an onset, however the majority of very early ovarian growths are tough or impossible to feel. Pelvic exams may, however, assist in locating other cancer cells or women’s conditions. Women should talk about the need for these examinations with their physician.
Screening tests used for cervical cancer, such as a Pap test or HPV (human papillomavirus) test aren’t efficient tests for ovarian cancer. Seldom, ovarian cancers are discovered via Pap tests, however typically they are at a sophisticated phase.
See a doctor if you have signs and symptoms
Early cancers of the ovaries usually trigger no signs and symptoms. Signs of ovarian cancer cells can likewise be caused by other, less significant problems. By the time ovarian cancer is considered as a possible reason for these signs, it typically has already spread. Likewise, some sorts of ovarian cancer cells can rapidly infect close-by organs. Prompt attention to symptoms may boost the probabilities of early medical diagnosis and successful treatment. If you have signs similar to those of ovarian cancer cells virtually daily for more than a couple of weeks, report them as soon as possible to your healthcare expert.
Screening examinations for ovarian cancer cells
Screening tests and examinations are made use to spot a disease, like cancer cells, in people who do not have any type of symptoms. (As an example, a mammogram can usually detect breast cancer in its earliest stage, also prior to a doctor can feel the cancer.).
There has actually been a great deal of study to establish a screening examination for ovarian cancer, yet there hasn’t been much success up until now. The 2 tests used mostly (in addition to a complete pelvic examination) to screen for ovarian cancer are transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and the CA-125 blood test.
- TVUS (transvaginal ultrasound) is an examination that uses acoustic waves to look at the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries by putting an ultrasound wand right into the vagina. It can assist in discovering a mass (growth) in the ovary, but it can not tell if a mass is cancer cells or benign. When it is used for screening, most of the masses discovered are not cancer cells.
- The CA-125 blood examination measures the quantity of a healthy protein called CA-125 in the blood. Lots of females with ovarian cancer have high levels of CA-125. This test can be beneficial as a growth marker to guide treatment in women known to have ovarian cancer, because a high degree frequently drops if therapy is working. But examining CA-125 levels has actually not been found to be as useful as a screening examination for ovarian cancer cells. The issue with using this examination for ovarian cancer screening is that high degrees of CA-125 is more frequently caused by typical conditions such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory illness. Additionally, not everybody that has ovarian cancer cells has a high CA-125 level. When somebody who is not known to have ovarian cancer cells has an abnormal CA-125 degree, the physician might repeat the examination (to see to it the outcome is right) and may consider ordering a transvaginal ultrasound test.
Much better means to evaluate ovarian cancer cells are being researched yet there are no trustworthy screening tests. With any luck, improvements in screening examinations will at some point lead to fewer deaths from ovarian cancer cells.
If you’re at average risk
There are no advised screening tests for ovarian cancer cells for women that do not have signs and are not at high danger of creating ovarian cancer. In studies of women at typical threat of ovarian cancer, making use of TVUS and CA-125 for screening led to more testing and sometimes much more surgical treatments, but did not lower the number of deaths caused by ovarian cancer. Therefore, no major medical or professional organization suggests the regular use of TVUS or the CA-125 blood test to screen for ovarian cancer cells in women at average risk.
If you’re at high risk
Some organizations specify that TVUS and CA-125 may be offered to screen women that have a high risk of ovarian cancer due to an inherited genetic syndrome such as Lynch disorder, BRCA genetics mutations or a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer. Still, also in these females, it has actually not been shown that making use of these tests for evaluating lowers their possibilities of dying from ovarian cancer.
Screening tests for germ cell tumors/stromal tumors
There are no advised screening tests for germ cell tumors or stromal tumors. Some germ cell cancers release specific healthy protein markers such as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) into the blood. After these tumors have actually been treated by surgical procedure and radiation treatment, blood examinations for these markers can be used to see if treatment is working and to identify if the cancer is coming back.
Advances in Treatment Options and Ovarian Cancer Treatment Cost in India
Ovarian cancer care has seen impressive advancements. New treatments are encouraging patients and boosting survival rates. It can be difficult to ascertain a proper number for the treatment of ovarian cancer in India given how each line of treatment is different. However, the Ovarian Cancer Treatment Cost in India approx. Rs. 2,50,000 on average. This average cost covers tests that are used to detect cancer, surgery to remove the cancer, different treatment types such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and other care to help you feel better.
1. Surgery
Often, surgery is the initial treatment for ovarian cancer. The aim is to take out as much of the tumor as possible. This is called “debulking.” For those diagnosed early, surgery can cure. However, in severe cases, it’s usually combined with chemotherapy to kill leftover cancer cells. Ovarian cancer surgery in India typically ranges from INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000. The total cost depends on factors such as the complexity of the procedure, surgeon’s fees, and hospital charges.
2. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves drugs to kill cancer cells. It’s generally given after surgery to handle any leftover cancer cells not surgically removed. Though chemotherapy can help many patients, it also has side effects like tiredness, sickness, and hair loss. It’s highly effective in shrinking tumors and blocking disease spread. But, ovarian cancer tends to come back, requiring more treatments. On average, a complete course of chemotherapy in India ranges from INR 1,00,000 to INR 3,00,000.
3. Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is a newer cancer treatment that works to attack specific cancer aspects like genes, proteins, or tissues. An example in ovarian cancer is PARP inhibitors. These drugs stop a protein named PARP that aids cell DNA repair. By limiting PARP, cancer cells can’t fix themselves and die eventually. PARP inhibitors have made significant strides, especially for those with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, known for escalating ovarian cancer risk. Radiation therapy for ovarian cancer in India typically costs between INR 1,00,000 to INR 3,00,000.
4. Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a thrilling ovarian cancer treatment update. It works by enhancing the human body’s immune system to battle cancer cells. Rather than attacking cancer directly, it heightens the body’s own defenses to detect and kill cancer cells more efficiently. Denvax India, a leader in immunotherapy, provides top-notch services to ovarian cancer patients. The hospital is recognized as the top immunotherapy hospital in India. Let’s delve into how immunotherapy is revolutionizing ovarian cancer care.
Immunotherapy for Ovarian Cancer Treatment is a Game Changer
Immunotherapy has become a thrilling development in fighting cancer. It employs the body’s immunity to counteract the disease. Rather than getting rid of cancer cells directly, it trains the immune system to recognize and wipe them out.
Here’s how Immunotherapy for ovarian cancer works
Immunotherapy operates differently, including:
- Checkpoint Inhibitors: Such drugs stop proteins that hinder immune cells from combating cancer cells. By blocking these checkpoints, immunity efficiently targets and eradicates cancer cells.
- Monoclonal Antibodies: They are laboratory-produced molecules that link onto cancer cells’ specific targets, marking them for destruction by the immune system.
- Cancer Vaccines: These vaccines prompt the immune system to assault cancer cells. They intend to trigger responses against unique antigens present on cancer cells.
Immunotherapy Benefits
Compared to conventional methods, immunotherapy for ovarian cancer has multiple upsides:
- Less Harmful: Several immunotherapy treatments have fewer side effects than chemotherapy as they target particular cancer cells and not all quick-dividing cells.
- Prolonged Response: Immunotherapy can sometimes extend responses, meaning that even post-treatment, the immune defense might continue battling cancer cells.
- Personalized: Immunotherapy gets customized based on every patient’s cancer properties, making it more personal.
Denvax India: Pioneering Immunotherapy for Ovarian Cancer
Denvax India excels in cancer immunotherapy in India. Recognized as the most outstanding immunotherapy hospital across the country, Denvax India focuses on advanced options that utilize the immune defense against cancer. Their groundbreaking treatments aim to enhance patient results and offer hope, especially for ovarian cancer and other cancer types. All-inclusive Care at Denvax India Denvax India guarantees complete patient care with:
- Customized Treatment Strategies: Patients undergo comprehensive evaluations to decide the most effective treatment based on their unique cancer.
- Advanced Therapies: Denvax India employs modern immunotherapy techniques, ensuring patients have the latest cancer fighting advancements.
- Support Services: Besides clinical care, emotional assistance, dietary advice, and rehabilitation services are available at Denvax India.
Conclusion
Ovarian cancer continues to be a hurdle in women’s health, mainly due to its late diagnosis. However, treatment advancements, particularly immunotherapy, are reshaping ovarian cancer care. Pioneering entities like Denvax India are offering innovative, personalized cancer treatments, sending hope to many ovarian cancer-diagnosed women. By boosting awareness, improving detection methods, and welcoming treatment options, we can aim for better results and amplified survival rates for ovarian cancer patients.
Also Read: Immunotherapy for Ovarian Cancer: Types, Side Effects & More – Denvax
