Ovarian cancer

Know More About Ovarian cancer

Ovaries are the major organs of the female reproductive system. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. Ovarian cancer caused due to the rapid multiplication of the cells in the ovaries. These cells grow and multiply rapidly, leading to the invasion and destruction of healthy body tissue.
The female reproductive system contains two ovaries on each side of the uterus. These ovaries produce eggs called ova and hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.

Causes

  • Ovarian cancer occurs when cells inside the ovaries develop mutations in their DNA. These mutations order cells to grow and multiply rapidly to create a mass of cancerous cells. These cells invade nearby tissues and metastasize to other parts.
  • The chances do increase if one has inherited genes linked to Lynch syndrome.
  • Also, if the patient has been on hormone replacement therapy or radiotherapy treatment, the individual may develop ovarian cancer.
  • Being overweight, smoking, experiencing late menopause, diabetes, or excessive ovulation are also some of the risk factors for developing such type of cancer.

Types

Epithelial ovarian cancer
It is the most common type of ovarian cancer. It is of two types:

Stromal tumor

These rare tumors are usually diagnosed at an earlier stage than other ovarian cancers.

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Germ cell tumor

Germ cell tumors are rare ovarian cancers. These tumors tend to occur at a younger age.

Signs and Symptoms

Ovarian cancer may include the following signs and symptoms:

  • Abdominal swelling
  • Bloating
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Weight loss
  • Pain and pressure in the pelvic area
  • Quickly Feeling full when eating
  • Back pain
  • Fatigue
  • More frequent urination
  • Constipation

Diagnosis

There are various tests to diagnose ovarian cancer. Some of them are mentioned below:

Blood tests

These tests will check for high levels of cancer markers such as CA-25.

 Imaging tests

Tests such as CT scan, a transvaginal ultrasound, and MRI may help to determine the size and structure of both the ovaries.

Laparoscopy

The doctor will insert a thin tube with a camera attached through a small hole in the abdomen to check the ovaries and later take a tissue sample for a biopsy.

Biopsy

Biopsy involves the microscopic examination of a tissue sample. Only a biopsy can confirm that a person has cancer.

Consequences of such therapies

  • Often, the therapies like hormone therapy may lead to health issues like erectile dysfunction, hot flashes, reduced muscle mass, memory issues, weight gain, and bone loss.
  • Surgery may lead to numbness, increased risk of infections, fatigue, appetite loss, swelling, drainage, bruising, and bleeding.
  • Targeted drug therapy may increase the risk of blood clots, increased blood pressure, changes in the skin, sore mouth, dry skin, rashes, and loss of hair color.

Treatments

Treatment of ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.

Surgery

Surgical options include oophorectomy (removing one or both the ovaries) and hysterectomy(removal of the uterus), and removing affected lymph nodes.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to kill fast-growing cancerous cells in the body. Chemotherapy drugs can be injected into a vein or taken by mouth. Chemotherapy is often used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that might remain. It can also be used before surgery.

Targeted drug therapy

Targeted drug treatments target specific cells that help promote cancer growth. Monoclonal antibody therapy and angiogenesis inhibitors are some examples of targeted drug therapy.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses x-rays to kill the cancer-causing cells. This therapy may help in curing advanced ovarian cancers.

Hormone therapy

As the name suggests, hormone therapy uses certain hormones to block the effect of cancer cells. During this therapy, the impact of estrogen is restricted on ovarian tumor cells. Often, cancer cells tend to grow by using estrogen. So, by blocking its way, cancer might be controlled to some extent.

Immunotherapy

It helps to boost the immune system so that the body can identify the tumor cells and work against them. Specific substances are injected into the body to target and kill the tumor cells.

Why should you believe in Ayurveda?

For ovarian cancer, the Ayurvedic treatment aims to prevent the spread of cancer cells and reduce the associated symptoms. Several herbs have been known to be effective in treating conditions of ovarian cancer, like Shatavari, Ashwagandha, Suvarna-Parpati, Trivanga-Bhasma, and several others.

This help removes the high toxicity levels that have accumulated in the form of cysts. The herbs have anti-cancer properties and help reduce the levels of stress and anxiety as well. It is beneficial for improving female reproductive health, providing anti-oxidant properties, and lowering symptoms of menopause.

Prevention is an essential aspect of Ayurveda, and it aims to create a balance between the three doshas present in the body. It works on detoxification and cleansing the body from the core. Exercise and Panchakarma therapies are used in this field to deal with health issues.