Ovarian Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Ovarian cancer refers to any cancerous growth that occurs in the ovary. The majority of ovarian cancers arise from the epithelium (outer lining) of the ovary.

According to the American Cancer Society, it is the 8th most common cancer among women in the United States (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers).

However, it is the 5th most common cause of cancer deaths in women. Among the gynecologic cancers (uterine, cervical, and ovarian), ovarian cancer has the highest rate of deaths.

Each year, more than 22,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and around 14,000 will die.

Tragically, the overall 5-year survival rate is only 46 percent in most developed countries (it is lower for more advanced stages).

However, according to the National Cancer Institute, if diagnosis is made early, before the tumor has spread, the 5 year survival rate is 94 percent.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

In the early stages, ovarian cancer usually has few symptoms; in many cases, there are no symptoms at all.

Patients often attribute their symptoms to other conditions, such as premenstrual syndrome,irritable bowel syndrome, or a temporary bladder problem. 

The main difference between ovarian cancer and other possible disorders is the persistence and gradual worsening of symptoms.

The following are examples of possible early symptoms of ovarian cancer:

• Pain in the pelvis
• Pain on the lower side of the body
• Pain in the lower stomach
• Back pain
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Feeling full rapidly when eating
• More frequent and urgent urination
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation

As ovarian cancer progresses, these symptoms are also possible:

• Nausea
• Weight loss
• Breathlessness
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite

If an individual experiences bloating, pressure, or pain in the abdomen or pelvis that persists for more than a few weeks they should see a doctor immediately

Causes of Ovarian Cancer

Although we know that ovarian cancer, like many other cancers, is caused by cells dividing and multiplying in an unregulated way, nobody completely understands why cancer of the ovary occurs.

However, we know that the following risk factors are linked to a higher chance of developing the disease:

Family History

Women with close relatives who have had ovarian cancer, or breast cancer, have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to other women.

Genetic screening can determine whether somebody carries certain genes that are associated with an increased risk.

Age

The majority of ovarian cancers occur in women over 65.

High Number of Total Lifetime Ovulations

There is a link between the total number of ovulations during a woman's life and the risk of ovarian cancer. Four main factors influence the total:

• The more times a woman has become pregnant, the lower her risk is
• Women who have never been on the contraceptive pill have a higher risk
• Women who started their periods at an early age have a higher risk
• Women whose menopause started later than average have a higher risk

Infertility or Fertility Treatment

Some studies have found a link between infertility treatment and a higher risk of ovarian cancer. Nobody knows whether the risk is because of the infertility treatment, infertility itself, or both.

Breast Cancer

Women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.

HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)
HRT slightly increases a women's risk of developing ovarian cancer. Experts say that the risk increases the longer the HRT continues, and returns to normal as soon as treatment stops.

Obesity/Overweight

Being obese or overweight increases the risk of developing many cancers.

Endometriosis

Women who develop endometriosis have an approximately 30 percent higher risk of developing ovarian cancer compared with other women.

Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer

A doctor will carry out a vaginal examination and check for any visible abnormalities in the uterus or ovaries. They will also check the patient's medical history and family history.

After a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, the doctor will want to identify its stage and grade.

The stage of a cancer refers to the cancer's spread while the grade refers to how the cancer cells look under the microscope - if they are similar in appearance to normal cells or if they look malignant.

By identifying the stage and grade of the cancer, the doctor will be able to decide on the best treatment.

The stage and grade of ovarian cancer alone cannot predict how it is going to develop. 

The following tests are used to diagnose ovarian cancer:

• Blood test.
• Ultrasound
• Laparoscopy - a laparoscope (a thin viewing tube with a camera at the end) is inserted into the patient through a small incision in the lower abdomen.
• Colonoscopy - if the patient has had bleeding from the rectum or is constipated, the doctor may order a colonoscopy to examine the large intestine (colon). This test is not always used.
• Abdominal fluid aspiration - this is done if the patient's abdomen is swollen. A buildup of fluid in the abdomen might indicate that the ovarian cancer has spread.
• CT scan.
• MRI

Treatment for Ovarian cancer

consists of surgery, chemotherapy, a combination of surgery with chemotherapy, and, sometimes, radiotherapy.

The kind of treatment depends on many factors, including the type of ovarian cancer, its stage and grade, as well as the general health of the patient. 

Surgery

A surgical removal of the cancer is done in the vast majority of ovarian cancer cases, and is often the first treatment the patient will undergo. 

Unless the ovarian cancer is very low grade, the patient will require an extensive operation that includes the removal of both ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the uterus, nearby lymph nodes, and the omentum (a fold of fatty tissue in the abdomen).

This operation, sometimes referred to as a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, will mean that the woman will begin her menopause immediately.

If the cancer is confined to just one of the ovaries, the surgeon may just remove the affected ovary and the adjoining fallopian tube. The woman will have a chance of being able to conceive. If both ovaries are removed, it will not be possible to conceive. 

This type of surgery requires a stay in hospital of 3-7 days, plus a recovery period of at least 4-6 weeks when the patient gets home. 

Chemotherapy

is the use of chemicals (medication) to destroy cancer cells. Cytotoxic medication (drugs that are poisonous to cells) prevents cancer cells from dividing and growing. Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, as well as most other cancers, is used to target cancer cells that surgery cannot or did not remove. 

Treatment usually involves 3-6 chemotherapy sessions (called cycles) which will be given 3-4 weeks apart, giving the body time to recover. If the cancer returns or begins to grow back again, chemotherapy may be given again to shrink it.

Targeted therapy

Newer medications are being developed that target specific pathways (or necessary functions) in cancer cells directly. These medications include bevacizumab (Avastin) and olaparib (Lynparza). Their advantage over traditional chemotherapy is that they limit damage to normal cells, therefore reducing common side effects.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy may be added to the treatment plan in order to prevent estrogen from reaching the cancer cells. Cutting off its supply of estrogen slows cancer cell's growth.

Monitoring response to chemotherapy

Tests will be carried out to determine how well the chemotherapy is working. This will include blood tests and imaging scans to see if the tumors have shrunk. Sometimes the surgeon may want to have another look inside. 

If all tests are clear of cancer, it is referred to as "in remission" - the cancer is under control. 

If cancer is still present after chemotherapy treatment, doctors will switch to other treatments.

Side effects of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells. Unfortunately, healthy rapidly dividing cells, such as red and white blood cells, and hair follicles may also be affected.

The severity and type of side effects depend on the kind of medication, number of treatments, and some aspects of the patient and their general health. Side effects can include:

• Nausea, vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Hair loss
• Loss of appetite
• Mouth sores
• Anemia
• Infections because the white blood cell count is low (leucopenia)

In the vast majority of cases, the damaged healthy cells repair themselves rapidly after treatment is over and the side-effects soon disappear. 

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COLON CANCER

WHAT IS COLON CANCER?

The human colon is a muscular, tube-shaped organ measuring about 4 feet long. It extends from the end of your small bowel to your anus, twisting and turning through your abdomen (belly). The colon has 3 main functions.

• To digest and absorb nutrients from food
• To concentrate fecal material by absorbing fluid (and electrolytes) from it
• To store and control evacuation of fecal material
• The right side of your colon plays a major role in absorbing water and electrolytes, while the left side is responsible for storage and evacuation of stool.

Cancer is the transformation of normal cells. The transformed cells grow and multiply abnormally.

• Left untreated, these cancers grow and eventually spread through the colon wall to involve the adjacent lymph nodes and organs. Ultimately, they spread to distant organs such as the liver, lungs, brain, and bones.
• Cancers are dangerous because of their unbridled growth. They overwhelm healthy cells, tissues, and organs by taking their oxygen, nutrients, and space.
• Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas-tumors that develop from the glands lining the colon’s inner wall.
• These tumors are sometimes referred to as colorectal cancer, reflecting the fact that the rectum, the end portion of the colon, can also be affected.

In the United States, 1 in 17 people will develop colorectal cancer.

• According to reports from the National Cancer Institute, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in US men.
• Colorectal canceris the second most common cancer in US women of Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, or Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry, and the third most common cancer in white and African American women.
• The overall incidence of colorectal cancer increased until 1985 and then began decreasing at an average rate of 1.6% per year.
• Deaths from colorectal cancer rank third after lung and prostate cancer for men and third after lung and breast cancer for women.

Colon cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and women and the second highest cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Yet, when found early, it is highly curable. This type of cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow in the lining of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Learn more about who gets colorectal cancer, how it is detected, and what the latest treatments can accomplish.

Colorectal Cancer: How It Starts

Colorectal cancers often begin as polyps – benign growths on the interior surface of the colon. The two most common types of intestinal polyps are adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. They develop when there are errors in the way cells grow and repair the lining of the colon. Most polyps remain benign, but some have the potential to turn cancerous. Removing them early prevents colorectal cancer.

COLON CLEANSING

What is COLON CLEANSING? Simply put, it is the process of cleaning the intestinal tract and the colon for removing the toxins. Some of the methods used for the colon cleansing are injecting water, dietary supplement, laxatives, and herbs. People resort to colon cleansing mainly because any accumulation of the toxins in the intestinal tract will lead to various diseases.

Beginning of colon cleansing: It is believed that the ancient Egyptians thought that the toxins accumulated in the intestine and started causing fever and pus. Their theory was further supported by the microbiological studies conducted in the 19th century. In the course of time, scientists came up with the suggestions that since the body cannot fully remove the wastes and toxins on its own, colon cleansing was advised.

When it is advised and symptoms:Colon cleansing is done prior to any surgery, procedures, or colonoscopy. A regimen of liquid

is administered on the previous day to the surgery, thus the colon and the intestinal tract is cleaned of any accumulation. The toxins can cause weight gain, headache, fatigue and low energy levels.

How is it done: Colon cleansing can be done in two methods, one by using oral supplements and the other by getting it done with the help of a physician. The oral supplements can be purchased in pharmacies, health food stores or independent health distributors and the list of supplements include herbal supplements, laxatives, herbal teas, enemas, and anti-parasite capsules.

Colon irrigation: Colon irrigation is better than enema in that it does not give any discomfort to the person. Plenty of water is pushed into the colon and the remains are pushed out. The physician may also use probiotics which have beneficial bacteria in them.

Benefits of Colon Cleansing:  Since toxins are removed in the process of colon cleansing, the advantages are manifold. The person who undergoes this will get a better mental outlook, lose unwanted weight, and improved immune system, and he also has less risk of colon cancer.

Is colon cleansing necessary: There are also arguments that the natural bacteria present in the colon helps in removing the toxins and the liver also helps in neutralizing them. It is said that the colon with the help of the mucus membranes, prevents any unwanted toxins from entering the blood or tissues. Since the old cells of the colon are removed very often, the chances of harmful bacteria adhering to the colon walls are very remote. It is also argued that the body absorbs most of the calories even before they reach the intestinal tract and so weight loss cannot be attributed to this reason.

Side effects: Colon cleansing does have some side effects which include nausea, vomiting, and cramps. The person may also feel dizzy and dehydrated. There are also chances of infection in the area. If a person has Crohn’s disease, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, or any bowel surgery has been performed on him. Persons with heart or kidney diseases also should not undergo colon cleansing.

Achieving colon health: The food you take has the maximum impact on the health of the colon. It will reduce the risk of colon cancer greatly and boost the general health. Diet with more fiber will reduce colon problems such as constipation, and diverticulitis. Intake of more cereals, whole grains, and fiber which are present in fruits, vegetables, and oatmeal, apart from lot of fluids will enhance the health of colon. Tobacco and red meat should be reduced.

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