Ovarian cancer can be referred as the "silent killer" because there are no early signs, warnings, or symptoms. Nothing is noticeable until the later stages …show more content…
If it does spread, it is most often found throughout the lymphatic system, the liver, and the lungs.
Discovering an ovarian mass or abnormality during a pelvic exam, ultrasound, or CA-125 is the first step of diagnosis. The uses of RMIs and ultrasounds can reveal if masses are benign cysts or cancerous. A biopsy is necessary to confirm if it is cancerous. If it is positive, the stage and grade of the cancer are determined. If advanced stages are detected, additional testing may be done.
Treatments for ovarian cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. During surgery, a gynecologic oncologist will determine if the cancer has spread by removing lymph nodes, tissue samples, and fluid from the abdomen to be tested. If, while the surgery is underway, it is clear that the cancer has spread, the gynecologic oncologist will remove as much of the cancer as possible. Some surgical options for this cancer include salpingo-oophorectormies, hysterectomies, lymph node dissections, omentectomies, and cytoreductive/debulking surgery. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells by stopping the cells' ability to grow and divide. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is used to reduce the size of a tumor before surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy is used to kill cancer that is left over after surgery. Other types of chemotherapy include maintenance