Ovarian cancer and screening Treatment and surgery

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Data in Thailand shows that ovarian cancer is the third most common cancer among Thai women, following breast cancer and cervical cancer. Each year, there are nearly 3,000 new cases of ovarian cancer, and more than half of the patients with ovarian cancer die annually. In the field of medicine, if ovarian cancer is detected at stage 1, the cure rate can be as high as 90%.

The exact cause of ovarian cancer is not yet confirmed, but based on the hypothetical basis of disease development, it is believed that there may be incidents that cause frequent injury to the ovaries, combined with factors that stimulate or introduce carcinogens to the ovaries simultaneously.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer are often hidden and difficult to detect.

Most patients are diagnosed when the cancer has reached an advanced stage. Common accompanying symptoms include bloating, abdominal discomfort, poor digestion, and abdominal enlargement. However, these symptoms are similar to those of gastric diseases, leading many patients to initially suspect they have gastric ulcers. This delay in diagnosis often occurs until the cancer has advanced or symptoms have become severe.

Therefore, it is important for women to have regular internal examinations every year. If a large ovarian mass is detected in the early stages, treatment is easier and the chances of recovery are higher.

Key diagnostic methods for ovarian cancer include internal examinations and detailed physical examinations.

If a mass is palpable near the uterus, further examinations are usually required to determine the appearance and characteristics of the mass. This may involve high-frequency sound wave examinations or ultrasounds, which are well-known. In some cases, more detailed assessments may be necessary to evaluate other organs in the abdominal cavity, such as computed tomography (CT) scans or MRIs. Additionally, blood tests for tumor markers are performed to aid in diagnosis and monitoring.

Ovarian cancer generally has four stages, but being in stage 4 does not necessarily mean it is the final stage for a patient.

Stage 1: Cancer is confined to the ovaries.
Stage 2: Cancer has spread to the pelvis.
Stage 3: Cancer has spread to the abdominal cavity.
Stage 4: Cancer has spread to the liver or other organs outside the abdominal cavity.

Based on statistics from most patients who visit doctors and receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, it is often at stage 3, highlighting the importance of prevention rather than detecting and treating the cancer in advanced stages.

Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Ovarian cancer treatment often occurs during a short period of time due to the patient’s shock and inability to accept the occurrence of cancer. Providing encouragement to cancer patients is equally important in fighting against the malignant cells.

For the treatment of ovarian cancer, after the removal of tissue for examination to determine the stage of the disease, the oncologist must perform additional surgical procedures for treatment and further confirmation. These procedures include:

Removal of both ovaries, fallopian tubes, and both sides of the uterus.
Collection of fluid from the abdominal cavity.
Removal of fat around the intestines.
Dissection of the lymph nodes in the pelvis and the large blood vessels on the side of the abdomen to check for any unseen cancer spread.

After the surgical treatment and examination for cancer progression, the patient will typically stay in the hospital for 4-5 days. The doctor will then schedule an appointment for the patient to receive the results of the tissue examination. If it is stage 1 and there is no tumor rupture, the treatment usually ends with surgery alone. However, if the cancer has progressed beyond that stage, immediate chemotherapy will be required. Even if the surgeon removes all visible tumors, cancer cells that are not visible to the naked eye may still be present in the body. Therefore, chemotherapy helps eliminate cancer cells in this area.

“In patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer, medical data shows that 75-80% of patients respond to chemotherapy and achieve remission.”

Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer treatment

Side effects from chemotherapy can cause undesired symptoms such as fatigue, infections, low white blood cell count, and low platelet count. These are all results of the bone marrow being suppressed, which is a common side effect of chemotherapy drugs. However, there have been advancements in developing drugs that can reduce these side effects. As for hair loss caused by chemotherapy, it usually grows back after the treatment ends and chemotherapy is no longer necessary. The hair will regrow and retain its original beauty.

Follow-up after chemotherapy for ovarian cancer

After approximately six cycles of chemotherapy, there will be periodic follow-up examinations. These examinations include internal examinations, blood tests to detect cancer indicators, and occasionally computed tomography scans for certain cases. During the first two years after completing treatment, check-ups are scheduled every three months. From years 3-5, check-ups are scheduled every 4-6 months. After completing five years, the chances of cancer recurrence significantly decrease. The doctor may schedule appointments less frequently but it doesn’t mean there is no chance of the disease recurring. Therefore, patients should still undergo regular follow-up examinations.

Phyathai Sriracha Hospital we have a team of experienced and understanding female obstetricians and gynecologists who provide comprehensive care, examinations, treatments, and consultation for various women’s health issues. We utilize modern tools and technology, and our services are available starting from 7:30 AM onwards.