Including the risk of recurrence. This article will discuss the risks associated with different treatments. If you are diagnosed with the disease at an early stage, you may be able to have surgery without any other treatments, although you will probably still need chemotherapy if your cancer has advanced beyond the stage of an early onset. You should discuss your treatment options with your doctor, including the risks associated with chemotherapy, and make a decision based on that information.
You will be closely monitored for recurrence once you have been diagnosed. You’ll probably have regular follow-up visits for a while, often every few months. However, your healthcare provider may choose to give you less frequent checkups if you’re cancer-free. Your doctor may decide to perform tests like CA-125 levels and do pelvic ultrasounds, or perform surgery. If you’re diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it’s important to notify your health care provider if you experience any new symptoms, and to make follow-up appointments as recommended.
The ovaries are female reproductive organs that are located in the pelvis. They are responsible for producing eggs and female hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. These hormones regulate the characteristics of the female body, including menstruation and pregnancy. Two types of tumors can arise in the ovaries. The epithelial type develops from the cells covering the ovary; the stromal form arises from the cells that produce female hormones.
The most common cause for suspicion of ovarian cancer is a mass felt during a pelvic exam. If the mass is malignant, the doctors will remove the entire ovary, or part of it containing the tumor. The procedure is done by a gynecologic malignancies surgeon, and a biopsy of the mass is performed to examine the cancer cells under a microscope. The doctor may also recommend several treatments for ovarian cancer.
Genetic testing for ovarian cancer is continually expanding, and there is a growing consensus on the types of genes involved in the disease. The aim of this genetic testing is to improve the understanding of the disease’s genetics and biology. Future research will benefit from the improved understanding of the genomics of different histological subtypes of the disease. This knowledge will help develop better prevention and therapeutic strategies. You should always seek medical advice if you experience any of these symptoms.
The most important risk factor for ovarian cancer is age. If you have a family history of ovarian cancer, your risk will increase. Using hormone replacement therapy after menopause is also a risk factor. The risk of ovarian cancer also increases with two or more first-degree relatives. Additionally, if you have had your tubal ligation, you are at risk for developing this disease despite having completed a child.
