Ovarian cancer has been quite common nowaday. I am a 47 and had a partial hysterectomy about 10 years ago after bad pap test, cone biopsies and severe bleeding for years. I was diagnosed with IBS and now have blood in my urine even after treatment with antibiotics for a UTI. My GP sent me for an ultrasound to rule out problems with my kidneys and bladder and found a 3cm cyst on my left ovary. When the GP called to tell me this, his nurse said it was nothing to worry about. After thinking about it I called back to have a copy of the report faxed to me. The report didn't say what type of cyst only the size. I am now waiting for my GYN to review the report and call me on Monday. I am more concerned because of my age and that previously gyn problems.
In 1990 I had a cone biopsy for severe Stage 3 dysplasia, but after that paps were normal and had 3 kids. Now I am having problems with cysts on my ovaries, adenomyosis, and fibroids. My urine also detected trace blood and still haven't found out why, but I suspect it is all related to my gyno problems since I was checked for everything else.
you will see that IBS is most always the easy answer for doctors. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you do not have IBS and you'll know why I say that after you read some of these women's stories. I am now in the process of seeing a gyno/onco b/c the pain of all my problems is excruciating and I'm trying to get some answers. One thing I've learned is to get copies of ALL the testing that has been done.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Risk factors of preventing ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer a silent killers to women of the world today. Study found women who take oral contraceptives or birth control pills more then two years are less risk to ovarian cancer by as mush as fifty percent compare to women who did not take the pills at all.
Another risk factors of preventing ovarian cancer is the tying of the fallopian tubes if the couples are sure that they don't want anymore kids. This testing show significantly the reduce of your risks of getting ovarian cancer by more then sixty percent.
For women who breast feed their child and has more then one kids in breast feeding are also found to have less risk in developing ovarian cancer and breast cancer. Women who are not married or has no children, has higher risk of developing ovarian then women who has more then one child.
Another risk factors of preventing ovarian cancer is the tying of the fallopian tubes if the couples are sure that they don't want anymore kids. This testing show significantly the reduce of your risks of getting ovarian cancer by more then sixty percent.
For women who breast feed their child and has more then one kids in breast feeding are also found to have less risk in developing ovarian cancer and breast cancer. Women who are not married or has no children, has higher risk of developing ovarian then women who has more then one child.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Ways of preventing of ovarian cancer
There are ways to reduce and prevent your risk factors for ovarian cancer. The best way to reduce your chance of ovarian cancer is to take oral contraceptives or birth control pills. Studies have found that these medicines have reduced the risks of ovarian cancer by over fifty percent for women who have taken them for three or more years. As mutations of certain genes has be found in women who have had genetic screening.
Fallopian tubes is another ways for tying to reduce and prevent rick of ovarian cancer. Fallopian tubes has help to reduce the risks of ovarian cancer by two-thirds. And also a good option for those women who are sure they don’t want kids anymore.
In addition, those who have more than one child and breast feed them for more than one year have been found to have a reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Of course it is best to discuss these issues with your doctor, get screening and have a strategy on reducing your risks of ovarian cancer.
Fallopian tubes is another ways for tying to reduce and prevent rick of ovarian cancer. Fallopian tubes has help to reduce the risks of ovarian cancer by two-thirds. And also a good option for those women who are sure they don’t want kids anymore.
In addition, those who have more than one child and breast feed them for more than one year have been found to have a reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Of course it is best to discuss these issues with your doctor, get screening and have a strategy on reducing your risks of ovarian cancer.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Stages and test of ovarian cancer
By the stage of a cancer we try to express how far the disease has spread. It is crucial, as treatment is mostly decided depending on the stage of a cancer. For ovarian cancer, doctors use a simple I-IV staging system called the FIGO system. First stage means the cancer is confined to the ovaries. second stage mean the cancer has grown outside the ovary or ovaries, third stage means the cancer has spread outside the pelvis into the abdominal cavity. fouth stage the most advanced of all, means the cancer has spread into other body organs such as the liver or lungs.
Currently, there is no specific screening test for ovarian cancer. However, research is ongoing to develop a reliable method for early detection among asymptomatic women.
In the meantime, regular physicals, pelvic exams, and an awareness of family history and symptoms are important.
Testing of symptomatic women includes the following, which have been shown to be positive in ovarian cancer (although not all of these tests would be used in an individual patient as they detect different types of ovarian tumors):
Ultrasound (pelvic and/or transvaginal): uses sound waves to create a picture of the uterus and ovaries. It can help determine whether an ovarian growth is likely to be a cancer or a fluid-filled cyst.
CT scan (computerized tomography)
X-ray of the gastrointestinal tract
Currently, there is no specific screening test for ovarian cancer. However, research is ongoing to develop a reliable method for early detection among asymptomatic women.
In the meantime, regular physicals, pelvic exams, and an awareness of family history and symptoms are important.
Testing of symptomatic women includes the following, which have been shown to be positive in ovarian cancer (although not all of these tests would be used in an individual patient as they detect different types of ovarian tumors):
Ultrasound (pelvic and/or transvaginal): uses sound waves to create a picture of the uterus and ovaries. It can help determine whether an ovarian growth is likely to be a cancer or a fluid-filled cyst.
CT scan (computerized tomography)
X-ray of the gastrointestinal tract
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Tea reduce the risk of ovarian cancer
Olive oil is beneficial when used as a tanning oil. Olive oil protects skin from harmful UVA rays and sunburns. Olive oil is also effective on peptic ulcers, bone development, nervous system development and lower the risk of cancer.
People who are consuming two or more cups of tea a day over a period of time may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer as compared with women who drank no tea. The Chinese people have long practiced the use of green tea to appease any form of disease. Studies have revealed effective phytochemicals contained in the tea that are known to fight cancer that comes in the form of leukemia, colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian and cervical cancer, and pelvic cancer.
Taking bitter melon and soy bean more oftenly can also lower the risk of cancer.
People who are consuming two or more cups of tea a day over a period of time may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer as compared with women who drank no tea. The Chinese people have long practiced the use of green tea to appease any form of disease. Studies have revealed effective phytochemicals contained in the tea that are known to fight cancer that comes in the form of leukemia, colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian and cervical cancer, and pelvic cancer.
Taking bitter melon and soy bean more oftenly can also lower the risk of cancer.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Ovarian cysts in women
Most often, cysts in early age in women are not cancerous. Women who are past menopause (ages 50-70) with ovarian cysts have a higher risk of ovarian cancer. At any age, if you think you have a cyst, it's important to tell your doctor.
they are usually found during a routine pelvic exam. During this exam, your doctor is able to feel the swelling of the cyst on your ovary. Once a cyst is found, the doctor may perform an ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create images of the body.
To find out if the cyst might be cancerous, your doctor may do a blood test to measure a substance in the blood called CA-125. The amount of this protein is higher if a woman has ovarian cancer. However, some ovarian cancers do not make enough CA-125 to be detected by the test.
After menopause, the risk of ovarian cancer increases. Surgery to remove an ovarian cyst is usually recommended in this case. Your doctor will probably want to do a biopsy to see if cancer is present.
You may not need any treatment, unless the cyst is very big or causing pain. Sometimes, taking birth control pills will make the cyst smaller. Surgery may be needed if the cyst is causing symptoms or is more than 2 inches across.
they are usually found during a routine pelvic exam. During this exam, your doctor is able to feel the swelling of the cyst on your ovary. Once a cyst is found, the doctor may perform an ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create images of the body.
To find out if the cyst might be cancerous, your doctor may do a blood test to measure a substance in the blood called CA-125. The amount of this protein is higher if a woman has ovarian cancer. However, some ovarian cancers do not make enough CA-125 to be detected by the test.
After menopause, the risk of ovarian cancer increases. Surgery to remove an ovarian cyst is usually recommended in this case. Your doctor will probably want to do a biopsy to see if cancer is present.
You may not need any treatment, unless the cyst is very big or causing pain. Sometimes, taking birth control pills will make the cyst smaller. Surgery may be needed if the cyst is causing symptoms or is more than 2 inches across.
Monday, September 11, 2006
ovarian cancer : High-risk groups
Groups at high risk for ovarian cancer include:
Women with a strong family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer (two or more first-degree relatives and/or a relative with cancer before menopause) are a high-risk group8 who may carry a mutation of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These women have a risk of ovarian malignancy of up to 50%.
Women with a strong family history of colon cancer (at least three affected family members in at least two successive generations, with one case below age 50 years) may be at increased risk for endometrial and ovarian malignancy because they carry a mismatch repair gene mutation. These women have a risk of up to 10% for ovarian cancer and 50% for endometrial cancer.
Studies exploring the value of screening these women for ovarian cancer are lacking and are urgently required. Even though population-based screening for ovarian cancer is not recommended, and although there is no level of evidence that this group of women should undergo screening, it seems prudent that, until evidence to the contrary is available, measurement of CA 125 levels and transvaginal ultrasound be undertaken at least on a yearly basis. Certainly, women who may have gene mutations should be referred to family cancer clinics for counselling.
New technologies
New technologies have increased the possibilities for ovarian cancer screening. The use of genomics and proteomics to identify specific proteomic patterns, gene expression and genetic alterations, using serum or urine, may revolutionise our ability to screen for this disease.9 These new developments will hopefully be of use in population screening.
Cleola Anderiesz and Michael A Quinn
Women with a strong family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer (two or more first-degree relatives and/or a relative with cancer before menopause) are a high-risk group8 who may carry a mutation of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These women have a risk of ovarian malignancy of up to 50%.
Women with a strong family history of colon cancer (at least three affected family members in at least two successive generations, with one case below age 50 years) may be at increased risk for endometrial and ovarian malignancy because they carry a mismatch repair gene mutation. These women have a risk of up to 10% for ovarian cancer and 50% for endometrial cancer.
Studies exploring the value of screening these women for ovarian cancer are lacking and are urgently required. Even though population-based screening for ovarian cancer is not recommended, and although there is no level of evidence that this group of women should undergo screening, it seems prudent that, until evidence to the contrary is available, measurement of CA 125 levels and transvaginal ultrasound be undertaken at least on a yearly basis. Certainly, women who may have gene mutations should be referred to family cancer clinics for counselling.
New technologies
New technologies have increased the possibilities for ovarian cancer screening. The use of genomics and proteomics to identify specific proteomic patterns, gene expression and genetic alterations, using serum or urine, may revolutionise our ability to screen for this disease.9 These new developments will hopefully be of use in population screening.
Cleola Anderiesz and Michael A Quinn
ovarian cancer : Screening for ovarian cancer
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynaecological malignancies.
No precancerous lesions have been identified.
Bimanual examination has not been proven to be of value as a screening test.
Transvaginal ultrasound examination, with or without measurement of CA 125 levels, is currently being evaluated for population screening.
Women at high risk of ovarian cancer should be screened annually — with measurement of CA 125 level and transvaginal ultrasound examination.
Women with early-stage ovarian cancer have a 5-year survival rate of over 80%, suggesting that early detection may improve survival. To date, it has not been established whether benign (assessed histologically as non-invasive) or borderline ovarian tumours are premalignant. In the absence of a precancerous lesion, the goal of screening is the detection of preclinical disease.
Screening tests
A number of screening tests have been evaluated or are being evaluated currently. These include bimanual pelvic examination, ultrasound examination (Box), with or without colour Doppler flow imaging, and measurement of various circulating proteins.
Bimanual pelvic examination as part of a "well-woman's screen" has not been found to be useful.2
Ultrasound examination alone has neither sufficient specificity nor sufficient predictive value to justify its use in community screening, and it is expensive. It is currently not known whether the addition of Doppler flow imaging substantially improves the sensitivity of ultrasound alone.3
The usefulness of measuring the level of high-molecular-weight glycoprotein CA 125 as a screening test depends on the screening strategy, the cut-off value used and the population of women studied. It is of more benefit when used as part of a multimodal strategy.
In particular, screening by measuring CA 125 level and performing transvaginal ultrasound examination appears to provide the highest specificity and positive predictive value for the detection of ovarian cancer.4
Current trials
The CA 125 plus ultrasound screening strategy is currently on trial in the United Kingdom and the United States.
In the United Kingdom, CA 125 level plus transvaginal ultrasound examination versus transvaginal ultrasound alone versus no screening is being evaluated in 200 000 postmenopausal women. Quality of life, morbidity and cost-effectiveness are included in the evaluation.5 In the United States, the National Cancer Institute's Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening trial is comparing 37 000 women (aged 55–74) having annual measurement of CA 125 level and transvaginal ultrasound examination, with an equal number of women receiving their usual medical care.6 A large European multicentre trial involves 120 000 postmenopausal women randomly allocated to no screening, transvaginal ultrasound at intervals of 18 months, or transvaginal ultrasound at intervals of 3 years, for a total of 8 years.7 The results of these trials will provide evidence for whether screening provides a survival advantage, and whether this is at an acceptable financial cost. Other important issues, such as age of commencing and discontinuing screening and optimal screening intervals, will need to be established before implementing population-based screening for ovarian cancer.
by Cleola Anderiesz and Michael A Quinn
Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynaecological malignancies.
No precancerous lesions have been identified.
Bimanual examination has not been proven to be of value as a screening test.
Transvaginal ultrasound examination, with or without measurement of CA 125 levels, is currently being evaluated for population screening.
Women at high risk of ovarian cancer should be screened annually — with measurement of CA 125 level and transvaginal ultrasound examination.
Women with early-stage ovarian cancer have a 5-year survival rate of over 80%, suggesting that early detection may improve survival. To date, it has not been established whether benign (assessed histologically as non-invasive) or borderline ovarian tumours are premalignant. In the absence of a precancerous lesion, the goal of screening is the detection of preclinical disease.
Screening tests
A number of screening tests have been evaluated or are being evaluated currently. These include bimanual pelvic examination, ultrasound examination (Box), with or without colour Doppler flow imaging, and measurement of various circulating proteins.
Bimanual pelvic examination as part of a "well-woman's screen" has not been found to be useful.2
Ultrasound examination alone has neither sufficient specificity nor sufficient predictive value to justify its use in community screening, and it is expensive. It is currently not known whether the addition of Doppler flow imaging substantially improves the sensitivity of ultrasound alone.3
The usefulness of measuring the level of high-molecular-weight glycoprotein CA 125 as a screening test depends on the screening strategy, the cut-off value used and the population of women studied. It is of more benefit when used as part of a multimodal strategy.
In particular, screening by measuring CA 125 level and performing transvaginal ultrasound examination appears to provide the highest specificity and positive predictive value for the detection of ovarian cancer.4
Current trials
The CA 125 plus ultrasound screening strategy is currently on trial in the United Kingdom and the United States.
In the United Kingdom, CA 125 level plus transvaginal ultrasound examination versus transvaginal ultrasound alone versus no screening is being evaluated in 200 000 postmenopausal women. Quality of life, morbidity and cost-effectiveness are included in the evaluation.5 In the United States, the National Cancer Institute's Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening trial is comparing 37 000 women (aged 55–74) having annual measurement of CA 125 level and transvaginal ultrasound examination, with an equal number of women receiving their usual medical care.6 A large European multicentre trial involves 120 000 postmenopausal women randomly allocated to no screening, transvaginal ultrasound at intervals of 18 months, or transvaginal ultrasound at intervals of 3 years, for a total of 8 years.7 The results of these trials will provide evidence for whether screening provides a survival advantage, and whether this is at an acceptable financial cost. Other important issues, such as age of commencing and discontinuing screening and optimal screening intervals, will need to be established before implementing population-based screening for ovarian cancer.
by Cleola Anderiesz and Michael A Quinn
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
ovarian cancer : Epithelial Cancer Stage 4 -
Stage 4 - Epithelial Cancer
This type of ovarian cancer is managed by tumor debulking surgery to remove as much cancerous tissue as possible, followed by combination chemotherapy. The benefit of postsurgical therapy is not well-established for patients with advanced (Stage 3 or 4), borderline cancers. However, because of the risk of distant relapse, some form of systemic therapy should be considered.
Stage 4 - Germ Cell Tumor
If the germ cell tumor is a dysgerminoma (the most widespread germ cell tumor, representing nearly half of all cases), treatment begins with surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, followed by chemotherapy. If some tumor remains after chemotherapy, additional forms of chemotherapy may be needed.
If the patient has cancer in only one ovary and she wants to have children in the future, her treatment may consist of modified surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), followed by chemotherapy.
Germ cell tumors that are not dysgerminomas (e.g., an embryonal carcinoma, immature teratoma, choriocarcinoma, polyembryoma, or mixed germ cell tumor) may require one of the following treatment programs:
surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, followed by chemotherapy, with/without additional surgery and additional chemotherapy to remove remaining cancerous tissue, or
chemotherapy, followed by surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, with/without additional chemotherapy.
If the patient has cancer in only one ovary and she wants to have children in the future, her treatment may consist of modified surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), followed by chemotherapy.
Recurrent - Epithelial Cancer
Reappearing epithelial ovarian cancer is problematic. To date, there is no standard treatment, although a number of clinical trials are underway to test the pros and cons of different programs. Some of these trials include:
chemotherapy, with follow-up surgery;
new chemotherapeutic drugs;
new combination chemotherapies; and
surgery to relieve symptoms caused by ovarian cancer.
Comfort and pain-relieving care are always options. The patient should discuss these alternatives with her physician, since open communication is very important and will help her to receive the best care.
Recurrent - Germ Cell Tumor
The treatment of recurrent germ cell tumor is based on tumor type. Recurrent dysgerminomas usually are managed by chemotherapy, with/without radiotherapy.
Recurrent germ cell tumors that are not dysgerminomas (e.g., an embryonal carcinoma, immature teratoma, choriocarcinoma, polyembryoma, or mixed germ cell tumor) usually are managed by chemotherapy.
© 1998-2006
by Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
This type of ovarian cancer is managed by tumor debulking surgery to remove as much cancerous tissue as possible, followed by combination chemotherapy. The benefit of postsurgical therapy is not well-established for patients with advanced (Stage 3 or 4), borderline cancers. However, because of the risk of distant relapse, some form of systemic therapy should be considered.
Stage 4 - Germ Cell Tumor
If the germ cell tumor is a dysgerminoma (the most widespread germ cell tumor, representing nearly half of all cases), treatment begins with surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, followed by chemotherapy. If some tumor remains after chemotherapy, additional forms of chemotherapy may be needed.
If the patient has cancer in only one ovary and she wants to have children in the future, her treatment may consist of modified surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), followed by chemotherapy.
Germ cell tumors that are not dysgerminomas (e.g., an embryonal carcinoma, immature teratoma, choriocarcinoma, polyembryoma, or mixed germ cell tumor) may require one of the following treatment programs:
surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, followed by chemotherapy, with/without additional surgery and additional chemotherapy to remove remaining cancerous tissue, or
chemotherapy, followed by surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, with/without additional chemotherapy.
If the patient has cancer in only one ovary and she wants to have children in the future, her treatment may consist of modified surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), followed by chemotherapy.
Recurrent - Epithelial Cancer
Reappearing epithelial ovarian cancer is problematic. To date, there is no standard treatment, although a number of clinical trials are underway to test the pros and cons of different programs. Some of these trials include:
chemotherapy, with follow-up surgery;
new chemotherapeutic drugs;
new combination chemotherapies; and
surgery to relieve symptoms caused by ovarian cancer.
Comfort and pain-relieving care are always options. The patient should discuss these alternatives with her physician, since open communication is very important and will help her to receive the best care.
Recurrent - Germ Cell Tumor
The treatment of recurrent germ cell tumor is based on tumor type. Recurrent dysgerminomas usually are managed by chemotherapy, with/without radiotherapy.
Recurrent germ cell tumors that are not dysgerminomas (e.g., an embryonal carcinoma, immature teratoma, choriocarcinoma, polyembryoma, or mixed germ cell tumor) usually are managed by chemotherapy.
© 1998-2006
by Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
ovarian cancer : Epithelial Cancer Stage 3
Stage 3 - Epithelial Cancer
Like Stage 1 and Stage 2 epithelial cancers, Stage 3 epithelial cancer initially is treated by surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, lymphadenectomy, and tumor debulking.
Postoperative management may include combination chemotherapy with/without follow-up surgery to remove any remaining cancerous tissue.
Stage 3 - Germ Cell Tumor
If the germ cell tumor is a dysgerminoma (the most widespread germ cell tumor, representing nearly half of all cases), treatment begins with surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking.
If the remaining post-operative tumor is small, surgery will be followed by radiotherapy of the abdominal region. If the remaining postoperative tumor is large, surgery will be followed by systemic chemotherapy.
Germ cell tumors that are not dysgerminomas (e.g., an embryonal carcinoma, immature teratoma, choriocarcinoma, polyembryoma, or mixed germ cell tumor) may require one of the following treatment programs:
surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, followed by chemotherapy, with/without additional surgery to remove remaining cancerous tissue; or
chemotherapy, followed by surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, with/without additional chemotherapy.
If the patient has a non-dysgerminatous tumor on one side and she wants to have children in the future, her treatment may consist of modified surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) followed by chemotherapy.
Recent studies have shown that intraperitoneal chemotherapy may increase survival in patients with Stage III ovarian cancer who have undergone surgery. In this treatment, high doses of chemotherapy drugs are infused directly into the abdominal cavity through a catheter to destroy remaining cancer cells. These drugs eventually enter the bloodstream and may destroy any cancer cells that have spread.
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy usually is administered in 6 cycles, approximately every 3 weeks. Side effects of treatment, which can be severe and include abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue, and infection, may prevent patients from completing all 6 cycles.
© 1998-2006
by Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
Like Stage 1 and Stage 2 epithelial cancers, Stage 3 epithelial cancer initially is treated by surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, lymphadenectomy, and tumor debulking.
Postoperative management may include combination chemotherapy with/without follow-up surgery to remove any remaining cancerous tissue.
Stage 3 - Germ Cell Tumor
If the germ cell tumor is a dysgerminoma (the most widespread germ cell tumor, representing nearly half of all cases), treatment begins with surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking.
If the remaining post-operative tumor is small, surgery will be followed by radiotherapy of the abdominal region. If the remaining postoperative tumor is large, surgery will be followed by systemic chemotherapy.
Germ cell tumors that are not dysgerminomas (e.g., an embryonal carcinoma, immature teratoma, choriocarcinoma, polyembryoma, or mixed germ cell tumor) may require one of the following treatment programs:
surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, followed by chemotherapy, with/without additional surgery to remove remaining cancerous tissue; or
chemotherapy, followed by surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, with/without additional chemotherapy.
If the patient has a non-dysgerminatous tumor on one side and she wants to have children in the future, her treatment may consist of modified surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) followed by chemotherapy.
Recent studies have shown that intraperitoneal chemotherapy may increase survival in patients with Stage III ovarian cancer who have undergone surgery. In this treatment, high doses of chemotherapy drugs are infused directly into the abdominal cavity through a catheter to destroy remaining cancer cells. These drugs eventually enter the bloodstream and may destroy any cancer cells that have spread.
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy usually is administered in 6 cycles, approximately every 3 weeks. Side effects of treatment, which can be severe and include abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue, and infection, may prevent patients from completing all 6 cycles.
© 1998-2006
by Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
ovarian cancer : Germ Cell Tumor
Ovarian cancer Stage 2 - Germ Cell Tumor
If the germ cell tumor is a dysgerminoma (the most widespread germ cell tumor, representing nearly half of all cases), treatment may start with surgery, including total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, followed by radiotherapy.
However, if the patient's cancer is limited to one ovary and its corresponding fallopian tube, and if she wants to bear children in the future, modified surgery may be performed to remove only the cancerous ovary and fallopian tube on the same side (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), followed by chemotherapy.
If the germ cell tumor is another, nondysgerminomatous variety, treatment will begin with surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, or modified surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy). Surgery is followed by chemotherapy, and/or follow-up surgery to remove as much remaining cancerous tissue as possible.
© 1998-2006
by Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
If the germ cell tumor is a dysgerminoma (the most widespread germ cell tumor, representing nearly half of all cases), treatment may start with surgery, including total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, followed by radiotherapy.
However, if the patient's cancer is limited to one ovary and its corresponding fallopian tube, and if she wants to bear children in the future, modified surgery may be performed to remove only the cancerous ovary and fallopian tube on the same side (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), followed by chemotherapy.
If the germ cell tumor is another, nondysgerminomatous variety, treatment will begin with surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumor debulking, or modified surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy). Surgery is followed by chemotherapy, and/or follow-up surgery to remove as much remaining cancerous tissue as possible.
© 1998-2006
by Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
Monday, September 04, 2006
ovarian cancer : Treatment Options by Stage
Stage 1 - Epithelial Cancer
Several options exist for limited, Stage 1 epithelial cancer, which occurs in approximately 15% of women (see also Types of Ovarian Cancer)
Surgery should be performed in women who have finished childbearing. This includes total hysterectomy, complete removal of the uterus; bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries; omentectomy, removal of the fatty tissue that covers the bowels; and lymphadenectomy, removal of one or more lymph nodes.
Modified ("conservative") surgery - surgery that leaves tumor-free reproductive organs intact - may be conducted in women who still wish to still have children if (1) the tumor is confined (usually not serous or endometriotic in type, which tend to be bilateral tumors), and (2) wedge biopsy of the opposite ovary shows no evidence for disease involvement. Such a procedure carries an increased risk of relapse; therefore, total hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy should be performed immediately after childbearing is complete.
The role of adjuvant, or additional, treatment in patients with early epithelial ovarian cancer remains controversial. Yet results from a patient's histopathology report may suggest additional care, such as:
radiotherapy plus chemotherapy;
combination chemotherapy; or
participation in a clinical trial that evaluates immediate versus delayed chemotherapy.
Some studies suggest that systemic (whole body) chemotherapy may be less hazardous than radiotherapy, especially after the patient's abdominal lymph nodes have been removed (see also Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy). Although radiotherapy can decrease the rate of cancer relapse in the pelvis, relapse rates are unchanged in intra-abdominal areas and distant sites, and overall survival is unaffected.
Stage 1 - Germ Cell Tumor
Germ cell tumors, which arise from cells that normally form the eggs, usually are benign and tend to occur in women younger than age 30. If the germ cell tumor is a dysgerminoma (the most widespread germ cell tumor, representing nearly half of all cases), initial treatment begins with surgery to remove the tumorous ovary and the corresponding fallopian tube on the same side - known as unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
Adjuvant therapy for such patients may involve follow-up radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, if the woman wants to bear children in the future.
If the germ cell tumor is a nondysgerminoma (e.g., an embryonal carcinoma, immature teratoma, choriocarcinoma, polyembryoma, or mixed germ cell tumor), treatment includes surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) to remove the tumorous ovary and the corresponding fallopian tube on the same side, with or without follow-up chemotherapy, or participation in a clinical trial of new chemotherapeutic drug combinations.
The only patients who generally do not require systemic therapy are women with Stage 1A, Grade 1 immature teratoma.
Sex-Cord Stromal Tumor (All Stages)
Because of the extreme rarity of sex-cord stromal tumors and because of their variable biologic behavior, no standard therapy exists for these tumors (see also Types of Ovarian Cancer). For example, granulosa cell tumors often respond well to therapy in younger women, whereas the same tumors may be more aggressive and difficult to manage in women over 40. But the cornerstone of most treatments is surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
Many Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors appear on one side only, so if the patient is young and has early-stage disease (e.g., Stage 1A), the physician may recommend modified surgery to remove only the tumorous ovary and fallopian tube on the same side (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy).
By contrast, older patients or those with advanced-stage or bilateral disease may benefit from more extensive surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, lymphadenectomy, and tumor debulking.
If the stromal cell tumor is malignant, metastatic, and/or if the tumor tends to recur (e.g., granulosa cell tumors recur after 5 or 10 years in many patients), combination chemotherapy also may be beneficial, especially platinum-based combinations, such as cisplatin/vinblastine/bleomycin (PVB).
There are few findings concerning the usefulness of radiotherapy for sex-cord stromal tumors. Ongoing studies suggest that hormonal therapy (with progestins, estrogens, gonadotropin-releasing analogs, etc.) may have a future role in the management of sex-cord stromal tumors; however, to date, the findings are inconclusive.
© 1998-2006
by Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
Several options exist for limited, Stage 1 epithelial cancer, which occurs in approximately 15% of women (see also Types of Ovarian Cancer)
Surgery should be performed in women who have finished childbearing. This includes total hysterectomy, complete removal of the uterus; bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries; omentectomy, removal of the fatty tissue that covers the bowels; and lymphadenectomy, removal of one or more lymph nodes.
Modified ("conservative") surgery - surgery that leaves tumor-free reproductive organs intact - may be conducted in women who still wish to still have children if (1) the tumor is confined (usually not serous or endometriotic in type, which tend to be bilateral tumors), and (2) wedge biopsy of the opposite ovary shows no evidence for disease involvement. Such a procedure carries an increased risk of relapse; therefore, total hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy should be performed immediately after childbearing is complete.
The role of adjuvant, or additional, treatment in patients with early epithelial ovarian cancer remains controversial. Yet results from a patient's histopathology report may suggest additional care, such as:
radiotherapy plus chemotherapy;
combination chemotherapy; or
participation in a clinical trial that evaluates immediate versus delayed chemotherapy.
Some studies suggest that systemic (whole body) chemotherapy may be less hazardous than radiotherapy, especially after the patient's abdominal lymph nodes have been removed (see also Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy). Although radiotherapy can decrease the rate of cancer relapse in the pelvis, relapse rates are unchanged in intra-abdominal areas and distant sites, and overall survival is unaffected.
Stage 1 - Germ Cell Tumor
Germ cell tumors, which arise from cells that normally form the eggs, usually are benign and tend to occur in women younger than age 30. If the germ cell tumor is a dysgerminoma (the most widespread germ cell tumor, representing nearly half of all cases), initial treatment begins with surgery to remove the tumorous ovary and the corresponding fallopian tube on the same side - known as unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
Adjuvant therapy for such patients may involve follow-up radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, if the woman wants to bear children in the future.
If the germ cell tumor is a nondysgerminoma (e.g., an embryonal carcinoma, immature teratoma, choriocarcinoma, polyembryoma, or mixed germ cell tumor), treatment includes surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) to remove the tumorous ovary and the corresponding fallopian tube on the same side, with or without follow-up chemotherapy, or participation in a clinical trial of new chemotherapeutic drug combinations.
The only patients who generally do not require systemic therapy are women with Stage 1A, Grade 1 immature teratoma.
Sex-Cord Stromal Tumor (All Stages)
Because of the extreme rarity of sex-cord stromal tumors and because of their variable biologic behavior, no standard therapy exists for these tumors (see also Types of Ovarian Cancer). For example, granulosa cell tumors often respond well to therapy in younger women, whereas the same tumors may be more aggressive and difficult to manage in women over 40. But the cornerstone of most treatments is surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
Many Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors appear on one side only, so if the patient is young and has early-stage disease (e.g., Stage 1A), the physician may recommend modified surgery to remove only the tumorous ovary and fallopian tube on the same side (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy).
By contrast, older patients or those with advanced-stage or bilateral disease may benefit from more extensive surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, lymphadenectomy, and tumor debulking.
If the stromal cell tumor is malignant, metastatic, and/or if the tumor tends to recur (e.g., granulosa cell tumors recur after 5 or 10 years in many patients), combination chemotherapy also may be beneficial, especially platinum-based combinations, such as cisplatin/vinblastine/bleomycin (PVB).
There are few findings concerning the usefulness of radiotherapy for sex-cord stromal tumors. Ongoing studies suggest that hormonal therapy (with progestins, estrogens, gonadotropin-releasing analogs, etc.) may have a future role in the management of sex-cord stromal tumors; however, to date, the findings are inconclusive.
© 1998-2006
by Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
Friday, August 25, 2006
ovarian cancer : Was Your Ovarian Cancer Misdiagnosed? (2)
Evaluation of Therapies
While research shows drinking black (or green) tea or taking the herbal supplement gingko biloba may be useful, as a preventative measure, or to reduce risk, a woman has few choices when her cancer has moved to the advanced stage. In the first stage, a woman faces surgical removal of the tumor, and possibly one or both ovaries, to increase her chances of survival. Beyond that, her choice is chemotherapy.
One major problem with chemotherapy is the side effects. The more advanced the cancer, the weaker one may be, reducing the survival rate potential. Survival rates have not changed very much over the past fifteen years. Chemotherapy can increase survival time by as much as 50 percent. But, quality of life suffers. The side effects and increased toxicity, accompanying chemotherapy, reduce how one spends the prolonged survival time.
Some of Paclitaxel’s minor side effects, as reported by Medline Plus, may include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, change in taste, thinned or brittle hair, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, changes in the color of nails, and/or tingling in the hands or toes. More serious side effects may include mouth blistering or fatigue. Some alarming side effects could include unusual bleeding or bruising, dizziness, shortness of breath, severe exhaustion, chest pain, or difficulty swallowing. The most common side effect of Paclitaxel is a decrease of blood cells.
Carboplatin has its own list of side effects. It can reduce platelet production, which can interfere with your blood’s ability to clot. You may become anemic, feeling tired or breathless. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and a general feeling of weakness are common with this chemotherapeutic agent.
The latest breed of drugs, such as Eli Lilly’s Gemzar, are hardly getting praise. On March 10th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it was skeptical of the benefits Eli Lilly’s Gemzar, which was being used with Carboplatin to treat ovarian cancer patients. The FDA felt the 2.8 months increased survival time, provided by the Gemzar/Carboplatin combination failed to offset the treatment’s increased toxicity.
In January, the New England Journal of Medicine reported on a remarkable new delivery system of chemotherapy, called the “intra-abdominal, or intraperitoneal, chemotherapy. Those who received the “belly bath” as it is now being called by the media can survive 16 months longer than those receiving intravenous chemotherapy. The major drawback is that 60 percent of the women in the study were unable to complete all six cycles of this chemotherapy. Those who did survived longer, but only two in every five women were able to advance to the end phase of the therapy.
One novel approach, now in Phase III trials at more than 60 research centers across the United States, is OvaRex ® MAb, a murine monoclonal antibody, a type of biotech drug derived from mouse cells. It is being tested by highly regarded United Therapeutics, based in Silver Springs, Maryland. Their lead drug Remodulin, an injection which treats pulmonary arterial hypertension, is currently being marketed inside and outside the United States. More than $32 million has been spent researching, and on the development of, OvaRex and may have it available on the market by 2008.
OvaRex was developed in Canada by a company called ViRexx Medical Corp, and first tested in that country. According to Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Chief Executive of ViRexx, “The whole study has been set up with the FDA. This is a study where the drug has been given fast track approval and orphan drug status.” Dr. Tyrrell is also on leave (until OvaRex become commercially available) as a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Alberta, and Director of the National Centre of Excellence for Viral Hepatitis Research.
OvaRex was tested in Canada, prior to the current Phase III trials in the U.S. “There have been a number of patients that have received OvaRex,” said Dr. Tyrrell, “We’ve had really no adverse effects from these patients.” Dr. Tyrrell explained the procedure, “After being injected intravenously, OvaRex binds to an antigen circulating in the blood.” An antibody’s general purpose is to neutralize an antigen. After an OvaRex injection, the murine monoclonal antibody binds to the CA-125 antigen.
In a way the body is tricked. But, the body is tricked in order to help “save” itself from the harmful antigen. When the OvaRex antibody is bound to the CA-125 antigen, the new combination is identified as a harmful unit. Before then, the antigen wanders through the body, without alerting the body’s defense systems, the dendritic cells, to attack and destroy the harmful antigen. Because the body is trained to identify and zero in on a foreign protein, in this case a mouse protein, it alerts the dendritic cells. Until then, the dendritic cells “tolerate” the cancerous cells. The tolerance is what permits the cancer to spread throughout the body. OvaRex seeks to break that tolerance. The murine monoclonal antibody is designed to target and bind exclusively to free floating CA-125 antigen.
The dendritic cells refuse to tolerate the foreign protein. When the antibody binds with the free-floating antigen, the dendritic cells recognize the complex (antibody plus antigen) as being foreign and engulf the new unit. The dendritic cells break down the key proteins of this unit, presenting all parts on the cells surface. At the point, the body’s killer T-Cells are alerted to fight the internal threat to the body. Once activated, the T-Cells will replicate and create more killer T-Cells. Any tumor cells expressing the CA-125 antigen is targeted for destruction. The army of T-Cells move to attack the ovarian cancer tumor.
The principle behind OvaRex is to re-program the immune system to harness the body’s defenses to prevent the growth and spread of the ovarian cancer. Will it cure ovarian cancer? “In most cases, it will be a delay,” explained Dr. Tyrrell. “However, I think that, and everyone hopes that, often in some of these tumors, you’re making incremental progress through careful clinical trials and adding new therapy. Each thing we do that improves the outcome when you start to look at the long term benefits of these, we hope that one day we will be able to cure this disease. We think this is a step. This has the potential to be an important step at helping to stimulate immune response to achieve a better outcome. Hopefully, one day we can improve that to where it is a cure.”
by James Finch
While research shows drinking black (or green) tea or taking the herbal supplement gingko biloba may be useful, as a preventative measure, or to reduce risk, a woman has few choices when her cancer has moved to the advanced stage. In the first stage, a woman faces surgical removal of the tumor, and possibly one or both ovaries, to increase her chances of survival. Beyond that, her choice is chemotherapy.
One major problem with chemotherapy is the side effects. The more advanced the cancer, the weaker one may be, reducing the survival rate potential. Survival rates have not changed very much over the past fifteen years. Chemotherapy can increase survival time by as much as 50 percent. But, quality of life suffers. The side effects and increased toxicity, accompanying chemotherapy, reduce how one spends the prolonged survival time.
Some of Paclitaxel’s minor side effects, as reported by Medline Plus, may include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, change in taste, thinned or brittle hair, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, changes in the color of nails, and/or tingling in the hands or toes. More serious side effects may include mouth blistering or fatigue. Some alarming side effects could include unusual bleeding or bruising, dizziness, shortness of breath, severe exhaustion, chest pain, or difficulty swallowing. The most common side effect of Paclitaxel is a decrease of blood cells.
Carboplatin has its own list of side effects. It can reduce platelet production, which can interfere with your blood’s ability to clot. You may become anemic, feeling tired or breathless. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and a general feeling of weakness are common with this chemotherapeutic agent.
The latest breed of drugs, such as Eli Lilly’s Gemzar, are hardly getting praise. On March 10th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it was skeptical of the benefits Eli Lilly’s Gemzar, which was being used with Carboplatin to treat ovarian cancer patients. The FDA felt the 2.8 months increased survival time, provided by the Gemzar/Carboplatin combination failed to offset the treatment’s increased toxicity.
In January, the New England Journal of Medicine reported on a remarkable new delivery system of chemotherapy, called the “intra-abdominal, or intraperitoneal, chemotherapy. Those who received the “belly bath” as it is now being called by the media can survive 16 months longer than those receiving intravenous chemotherapy. The major drawback is that 60 percent of the women in the study were unable to complete all six cycles of this chemotherapy. Those who did survived longer, but only two in every five women were able to advance to the end phase of the therapy.
One novel approach, now in Phase III trials at more than 60 research centers across the United States, is OvaRex ® MAb, a murine monoclonal antibody, a type of biotech drug derived from mouse cells. It is being tested by highly regarded United Therapeutics, based in Silver Springs, Maryland. Their lead drug Remodulin, an injection which treats pulmonary arterial hypertension, is currently being marketed inside and outside the United States. More than $32 million has been spent researching, and on the development of, OvaRex and may have it available on the market by 2008.
OvaRex was developed in Canada by a company called ViRexx Medical Corp, and first tested in that country. According to Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Chief Executive of ViRexx, “The whole study has been set up with the FDA. This is a study where the drug has been given fast track approval and orphan drug status.” Dr. Tyrrell is also on leave (until OvaRex become commercially available) as a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Alberta, and Director of the National Centre of Excellence for Viral Hepatitis Research.
OvaRex was tested in Canada, prior to the current Phase III trials in the U.S. “There have been a number of patients that have received OvaRex,” said Dr. Tyrrell, “We’ve had really no adverse effects from these patients.” Dr. Tyrrell explained the procedure, “After being injected intravenously, OvaRex binds to an antigen circulating in the blood.” An antibody’s general purpose is to neutralize an antigen. After an OvaRex injection, the murine monoclonal antibody binds to the CA-125 antigen.
In a way the body is tricked. But, the body is tricked in order to help “save” itself from the harmful antigen. When the OvaRex antibody is bound to the CA-125 antigen, the new combination is identified as a harmful unit. Before then, the antigen wanders through the body, without alerting the body’s defense systems, the dendritic cells, to attack and destroy the harmful antigen. Because the body is trained to identify and zero in on a foreign protein, in this case a mouse protein, it alerts the dendritic cells. Until then, the dendritic cells “tolerate” the cancerous cells. The tolerance is what permits the cancer to spread throughout the body. OvaRex seeks to break that tolerance. The murine monoclonal antibody is designed to target and bind exclusively to free floating CA-125 antigen.
The dendritic cells refuse to tolerate the foreign protein. When the antibody binds with the free-floating antigen, the dendritic cells recognize the complex (antibody plus antigen) as being foreign and engulf the new unit. The dendritic cells break down the key proteins of this unit, presenting all parts on the cells surface. At the point, the body’s killer T-Cells are alerted to fight the internal threat to the body. Once activated, the T-Cells will replicate and create more killer T-Cells. Any tumor cells expressing the CA-125 antigen is targeted for destruction. The army of T-Cells move to attack the ovarian cancer tumor.
The principle behind OvaRex is to re-program the immune system to harness the body’s defenses to prevent the growth and spread of the ovarian cancer. Will it cure ovarian cancer? “In most cases, it will be a delay,” explained Dr. Tyrrell. “However, I think that, and everyone hopes that, often in some of these tumors, you’re making incremental progress through careful clinical trials and adding new therapy. Each thing we do that improves the outcome when you start to look at the long term benefits of these, we hope that one day we will be able to cure this disease. We think this is a step. This has the potential to be an important step at helping to stimulate immune response to achieve a better outcome. Hopefully, one day we can improve that to where it is a cure.”
by James Finch
ovarian cancer : Was Your Ovarian Cancer Misdiagnosed? (1)
As many as 30,000 U.S. women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. In 2006, between 15,000 and 16,000 women are likely to die from this silent killer. Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of death among women, and it is responsible for about five percent of all cancer deaths. Chances are your doctor may have misdiagnosed you. That is often the case. A recent British study found 60 percent of all U.K. general practitioners had misdiagnosed their patients.
Three-quarters of British doctors surveyed incorrectly assumed that symptoms only occurred in the late stages of ovarian cancer. Based upon that information, it should be no surprise that Britain has one of the lowest survival rates for ovarian cancer in the Western World – of 6,800 cases diagnosed each year, more than 4,600 die.
A similar discovery was made by University of California researchers, who announced last year, “Four in 10 women with ovarian cancer have symptoms that they tell their doctors about at least four months — and as long as one year — before they are diagnosed.” According to their study of nearly 2,000 women with ovarian cancer, the researchers discovered physicians:
• First ordered abdominal imaging or performed gastrointestinal procedures instead of the more appropriate pelvic imaging and/or CA-125 (a blood test that can detect ovarian cancer).
• Only 25 percent of patients, who reported ovarian cancer symptoms four or more months before diagnosis, were given pelvic imaging or had CA-125 blood tests.
Patients with early symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed. Abdominal imaging or diagnostic gastrointestinal studies are less likely to detect ovarian cancer. According to the American Cancer Society’s website, “The most common symptom is back pain, followed by fatigue, bloating, constipation, abdominal pain and urinary urgency. These symptoms tend to occur very frequently and become more severe with time. Most women with ovarian cancer have at least two of these symptoms.”
By the time a woman reaches the fourth stage of ovarian cancer, her first-line treatment is often Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and Cisplatin as the specific chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. In the first stage, cancer is contained inside one or both ovaries. By stage two, the cancer has spread into the fallopian tubes or other pelvic tissues, such as the bladder or rectum. When the cancer has spread outside the pelvis area into the abdominal cavity, especially when tumor growths are larger than two centimeters on the lining of the abdomen, then ovarian cancer has reached stage three. The fourth and final stage of ovarian cancer is reached when the cancer has spread into other body organs, such as the liver or lungs.
If detected early, survival rates can be as high as 90 percent. Detected in the advanced stage, the survival rate falls to between 30 and 40 percent. Various imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and ultrasound studies can confirm whether a pelvic mass is present. A laparoscopy can help a doctor look at the ovaries and other pelvic tissue to in order to plan out a surgical procedure, or to determine the stage of the ovarian cancer. A biopsy, or tissue sampling, would confirm if there is cancer in your pelvic region, and would help determine how advanced it is. An elevated CA-125 blood test typically suggests the cancer has progressed to the advanced stage.
About 50 percent of ovarian cancer patients are already at an advanced stage by the time a correct diagnosis is made. Only 10 to 14 percent of women with advanced cancer are likely to survive more than five years.
By James Finch
Three-quarters of British doctors surveyed incorrectly assumed that symptoms only occurred in the late stages of ovarian cancer. Based upon that information, it should be no surprise that Britain has one of the lowest survival rates for ovarian cancer in the Western World – of 6,800 cases diagnosed each year, more than 4,600 die.
A similar discovery was made by University of California researchers, who announced last year, “Four in 10 women with ovarian cancer have symptoms that they tell their doctors about at least four months — and as long as one year — before they are diagnosed.” According to their study of nearly 2,000 women with ovarian cancer, the researchers discovered physicians:
• First ordered abdominal imaging or performed gastrointestinal procedures instead of the more appropriate pelvic imaging and/or CA-125 (a blood test that can detect ovarian cancer).
• Only 25 percent of patients, who reported ovarian cancer symptoms four or more months before diagnosis, were given pelvic imaging or had CA-125 blood tests.
Patients with early symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed. Abdominal imaging or diagnostic gastrointestinal studies are less likely to detect ovarian cancer. According to the American Cancer Society’s website, “The most common symptom is back pain, followed by fatigue, bloating, constipation, abdominal pain and urinary urgency. These symptoms tend to occur very frequently and become more severe with time. Most women with ovarian cancer have at least two of these symptoms.”
By the time a woman reaches the fourth stage of ovarian cancer, her first-line treatment is often Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and Cisplatin as the specific chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. In the first stage, cancer is contained inside one or both ovaries. By stage two, the cancer has spread into the fallopian tubes or other pelvic tissues, such as the bladder or rectum. When the cancer has spread outside the pelvis area into the abdominal cavity, especially when tumor growths are larger than two centimeters on the lining of the abdomen, then ovarian cancer has reached stage three. The fourth and final stage of ovarian cancer is reached when the cancer has spread into other body organs, such as the liver or lungs.
If detected early, survival rates can be as high as 90 percent. Detected in the advanced stage, the survival rate falls to between 30 and 40 percent. Various imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and ultrasound studies can confirm whether a pelvic mass is present. A laparoscopy can help a doctor look at the ovaries and other pelvic tissue to in order to plan out a surgical procedure, or to determine the stage of the ovarian cancer. A biopsy, or tissue sampling, would confirm if there is cancer in your pelvic region, and would help determine how advanced it is. An elevated CA-125 blood test typically suggests the cancer has progressed to the advanced stage.
About 50 percent of ovarian cancer patients are already at an advanced stage by the time a correct diagnosis is made. Only 10 to 14 percent of women with advanced cancer are likely to survive more than five years.
By James Finch
ovarian cancer : Living With Cancer
It’s a story many of us have heard before: a young woman is diagnosed with ovarian cancer (or some other horrible disease), goes through surgery and chemo, gets too sick to work, loses her job, and her health insurance eventually runs out. Heart-wrenching, for sure. Especially sad when the woman has a husband and two small children. But for cancer patient Kellie Main Foret, you just can’t make any assumptions or guess what her next move will be.
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2004, Foret has undergone several rounds of chemo, surgery, and all the other treatments her doctors feel are necessary. But this isn’t a story about cancer treatments, it’s a story about how this young woman has taken her current circumstance and turned it into something life-affirming and positive.
Foret started making custom jewelry pieces last fall before Christmas in order to raise money to buy her kids Christmas presents. The surprising twist was that her work was so unique and beautiful that it started gaining attention from local galleries and boutiques throughout the Detroit metro area. Soon, she was expanding her designs and original pieces until she had created a unique collection of original art jewelry pieces, all growing from her signature piece, “Tree of Life.”
“I designed the Tree of Life piece while I was going through chemotherapy for ovarian cancer,” said Foret. “To me, this piece represents all the roads we travel and how these journeys make each of us unique.
“I have so much to be thankful for. My Tree of Life continues to grow, and I hope my work adds something to other women’s lives that reassures them that they are unique and that everyday is special.”
One of her jewelry sets, called “My Angel,” is in memory of Foret’s chemo buddy who died a few weeks ago in November. All the proceeds from sales of this jewelry go to ovarian cancer research. “I know that in honoring my friend’s life, I am also doing something positive for other women who will benefit from ongoing research and an eventual cure for ovarian cancer,” said Foret.
Because of her initial success, Foret recently decided to open up an online store to sell her jewelry over the internet. The web site, www.pulsejewelry.com, just went live on November 19, 2005, and is already receiving and shipping orders for the holidays.
Not only is she busy designing and creating her art jewelry pieces, she has also been learning how to use the technology to maintain and run her online store, update and add new products, and fulfill orders using online shipping.
“I really love what I do, and I feel like I have such an exciting life,” said Foret. “My hope is that through my work, other women will enjoy these original jewelry pieces while knowing they are raising awareness and supporting one of the most important issues facing women today – ovarian cancer.”
By Lauren Hobson
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2004, Foret has undergone several rounds of chemo, surgery, and all the other treatments her doctors feel are necessary. But this isn’t a story about cancer treatments, it’s a story about how this young woman has taken her current circumstance and turned it into something life-affirming and positive.
Foret started making custom jewelry pieces last fall before Christmas in order to raise money to buy her kids Christmas presents. The surprising twist was that her work was so unique and beautiful that it started gaining attention from local galleries and boutiques throughout the Detroit metro area. Soon, she was expanding her designs and original pieces until she had created a unique collection of original art jewelry pieces, all growing from her signature piece, “Tree of Life.”
“I designed the Tree of Life piece while I was going through chemotherapy for ovarian cancer,” said Foret. “To me, this piece represents all the roads we travel and how these journeys make each of us unique.
“I have so much to be thankful for. My Tree of Life continues to grow, and I hope my work adds something to other women’s lives that reassures them that they are unique and that everyday is special.”
One of her jewelry sets, called “My Angel,” is in memory of Foret’s chemo buddy who died a few weeks ago in November. All the proceeds from sales of this jewelry go to ovarian cancer research. “I know that in honoring my friend’s life, I am also doing something positive for other women who will benefit from ongoing research and an eventual cure for ovarian cancer,” said Foret.
Because of her initial success, Foret recently decided to open up an online store to sell her jewelry over the internet. The web site, www.pulsejewelry.com, just went live on November 19, 2005, and is already receiving and shipping orders for the holidays.
Not only is she busy designing and creating her art jewelry pieces, she has also been learning how to use the technology to maintain and run her online store, update and add new products, and fulfill orders using online shipping.
“I really love what I do, and I feel like I have such an exciting life,” said Foret. “My hope is that through my work, other women will enjoy these original jewelry pieces while knowing they are raising awareness and supporting one of the most important issues facing women today – ovarian cancer.”
By Lauren Hobson
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
ovarian cancer : BRCA1 and BRCA2: Their Function
Researchers used to think that the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes were tumor suppressor genes. Although researchers are still trying to understand precisely how the two genes function, they now believe that they may actually be what are called mismatch repair genes. (For recent news about the role of BRCA2, see Related News below.)
To understand what's meant by this, you need to understand a little bit about the cell replication process that occurs constantly within our bodies. As our cells age and die, new cells must be made to replace them. For this to happen, each of the three billion letters of DNA that are found within every cell has to be copied — one letter at a time. Not surprisingly, mistakes sometimes occur. When this happens, a gene may stop making its protein or the the protein can cease to function normally.
To ensure that such mistakes don't accumulate, our body has special proteins — called mismatch repair proteins — that check for and then correct mistakes in the newly made DNA. The genes that produce these special proteins are called mismatch repair genes — and it is in two of these genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) that researchers have discovered the mutations most commonly linked with breast and ovarian cancer.
When a person's mismatch repair genes aren't functioning properly, they may not be able to catch and correct those inevitable DNA copying mistakes. And when such mistakes occur in genes whose function it is to prevent a cell from becoming cancerous, malignancies can occur.
©Copyright 2000, 2001 Genetic Health. All Rights Reserved.
To understand what's meant by this, you need to understand a little bit about the cell replication process that occurs constantly within our bodies. As our cells age and die, new cells must be made to replace them. For this to happen, each of the three billion letters of DNA that are found within every cell has to be copied — one letter at a time. Not surprisingly, mistakes sometimes occur. When this happens, a gene may stop making its protein or the the protein can cease to function normally.
To ensure that such mistakes don't accumulate, our body has special proteins — called mismatch repair proteins — that check for and then correct mistakes in the newly made DNA. The genes that produce these special proteins are called mismatch repair genes — and it is in two of these genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) that researchers have discovered the mutations most commonly linked with breast and ovarian cancer.
When a person's mismatch repair genes aren't functioning properly, they may not be able to catch and correct those inevitable DNA copying mistakes. And when such mistakes occur in genes whose function it is to prevent a cell from becoming cancerous, malignancies can occur.
©Copyright 2000, 2001 Genetic Health. All Rights Reserved.
ovarian cancer : BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations and Cancer Risk
Although the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes appear to be similar in function, they are located on different chromosomes, and each, when mutated, confers varying degrees of risk, not only for inherited breast and ovarian cancer but for other types of cancer as well. The types of cancer associated with mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are as follows:
BRCA1. Mutations in the BRCA1 gene appear to increase an individual's risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and possibly colon cancer.
BRCA2. Mutations in the BRCA2 gene appear to increase an individual's risk for breast (male and female), ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. In addition, researchers suspect that defects in this gene carry with them an increased risk for cancer of the lung, larynx (voice box), and skin; however, more studies are needed to confirm these associations.
Researchers are still trying to determine the exact risk of cancer that is conferred by carrying a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
Early studies indicated that 80 percent of women who had inherited mutations in either of these genes would one day develop breast cancer, and that 60 percent would eventually develop ovarian cancer. However, these numbers were based on data collected from women in high-risk families (that is, those in which several cases of cancer had already been diagnosed). As researchers have expanded their studies to include members of the general population, they are discovering that risk associated with having a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 may actually be lower than initial studies indicated. For this reason, the degree of risk associated with these mutations is now most commonly expressed as a range of numbers rather than an absolute — at least until enough data exists to make better estimates.
©Copyright 2000, 2001 Genetic Health. All Rights Reserved.
BRCA1. Mutations in the BRCA1 gene appear to increase an individual's risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and possibly colon cancer.
BRCA2. Mutations in the BRCA2 gene appear to increase an individual's risk for breast (male and female), ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. In addition, researchers suspect that defects in this gene carry with them an increased risk for cancer of the lung, larynx (voice box), and skin; however, more studies are needed to confirm these associations.
Researchers are still trying to determine the exact risk of cancer that is conferred by carrying a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
Early studies indicated that 80 percent of women who had inherited mutations in either of these genes would one day develop breast cancer, and that 60 percent would eventually develop ovarian cancer. However, these numbers were based on data collected from women in high-risk families (that is, those in which several cases of cancer had already been diagnosed). As researchers have expanded their studies to include members of the general population, they are discovering that risk associated with having a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 may actually be lower than initial studies indicated. For this reason, the degree of risk associated with these mutations is now most commonly expressed as a range of numbers rather than an absolute — at least until enough data exists to make better estimates.
©Copyright 2000, 2001 Genetic Health. All Rights Reserved.
ovarian cancer : How Are Ovarian Cancer Inherited?
By studying patterns of breast and ovarian cancer in families, researchers have learned that mutations in specific genes can predispose women to these types of cancer. In fact, mutations in just two different genes — BRCA1 and BRCA2 — account for the majority of what scientists term hereditary breast and hereditary ovarian cancer cases.
All women have some risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. But having a family history of breast and ovarian cancer can mean a significantly increased risk for you. So the first step to understanding your risk is by analyzing your family's medical history. Such an analysis will take into account how many people in your family had breast or ovarian cancer and at what age the cancer developed. Once you know your risk level, you and your doctor can determine a screening schedule that is appropriate for you.
By Kari Danziger,
All women have some risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. But having a family history of breast and ovarian cancer can mean a significantly increased risk for you. So the first step to understanding your risk is by analyzing your family's medical history. Such an analysis will take into account how many people in your family had breast or ovarian cancer and at what age the cancer developed. Once you know your risk level, you and your doctor can determine a screening schedule that is appropriate for you.
By Kari Danziger,
Thursday, August 10, 2006
ovarian cancer : Cancer Symptom
Cancer symptoms and the importance of early detection
Cancer is like a curse for mankind and that too a life threatening one. Cancer will continue to be a monster for us until we are able to detect cancer symptoms in a more definitive manner and are able to find a fail-proof cure for it. So, we are faced with two challenges here – the ability to read/recognise cancer symptoms and the ability to treat cancer in a fail-proof manner. To understand cancer symptoms and the importance of early detection in a better way, let’s first start with understanding what cancer actually is.
What is cancer?
Put simply, cancer is a diseased condition of body which is caused by uncontrolled abnormal growth of cells. This growth might start in one organ and might quickly start spreading to other nearby organs. There are various types of cancer and these are generally named after the body organ where this uncontrolled and abnormal growth of cells occurs. So you have breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer and many other types of cancer. The cancer symptoms might vary based on what organ they affect.
Importance of early detection of cancer symptoms
Since the cancer cells grow at a fast pace, if you are not able to read cancer symptoms early enough, the cancer might become completely incurable. If the cancer symptoms are diagnosed in the early stages (and if the cancer is localised to just one organ), you might actually be able to get a cure for cancer. So, early detection of cancer symptoms is quite important in determining your chances of survival. Moreover, if the cancer symptoms are not recognised quickly and diagnosis sought, cancer can spread to other organs too (which might make it completely incurable). There are instances where early detection of cancer symptoms lead to complete cure too (e.g. early detection of breast cancer symptoms might make it possible to get a complete cure through surgery that involves removal of cancerous cells).
Pro-active detection of cancer symptoms
Cancer symptoms can be detected at a very stage by being proactive e.g. by going for cancer screening tests that help see the cancer symptoms early enough for curative action to be effective. In fact, too much of a delay could lead to curative action being not possible at all. Most hospitals and clinics stack free cancer symptom detection booklets which you can read to increase your awareness about cancer symptoms and cancer in general.
By Karen Lavender and Warren
Cancer is like a curse for mankind and that too a life threatening one. Cancer will continue to be a monster for us until we are able to detect cancer symptoms in a more definitive manner and are able to find a fail-proof cure for it. So, we are faced with two challenges here – the ability to read/recognise cancer symptoms and the ability to treat cancer in a fail-proof manner. To understand cancer symptoms and the importance of early detection in a better way, let’s first start with understanding what cancer actually is.
What is cancer?
Put simply, cancer is a diseased condition of body which is caused by uncontrolled abnormal growth of cells. This growth might start in one organ and might quickly start spreading to other nearby organs. There are various types of cancer and these are generally named after the body organ where this uncontrolled and abnormal growth of cells occurs. So you have breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer and many other types of cancer. The cancer symptoms might vary based on what organ they affect.
Importance of early detection of cancer symptoms
Since the cancer cells grow at a fast pace, if you are not able to read cancer symptoms early enough, the cancer might become completely incurable. If the cancer symptoms are diagnosed in the early stages (and if the cancer is localised to just one organ), you might actually be able to get a cure for cancer. So, early detection of cancer symptoms is quite important in determining your chances of survival. Moreover, if the cancer symptoms are not recognised quickly and diagnosis sought, cancer can spread to other organs too (which might make it completely incurable). There are instances where early detection of cancer symptoms lead to complete cure too (e.g. early detection of breast cancer symptoms might make it possible to get a complete cure through surgery that involves removal of cancerous cells).
Pro-active detection of cancer symptoms
Cancer symptoms can be detected at a very stage by being proactive e.g. by going for cancer screening tests that help see the cancer symptoms early enough for curative action to be effective. In fact, too much of a delay could lead to curative action being not possible at all. Most hospitals and clinics stack free cancer symptom detection booklets which you can read to increase your awareness about cancer symptoms and cancer in general.
By Karen Lavender and Warren
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
ovarian cancer : Topotecan Not Recommended for Ovarian Cancer
When added to standard first-line chemotherapy treatment for ovarian cancer, the drug topotecan doesn't increase patient survival and is not recommended, a German study says.
A combination of carboplatin and paclitaxil is the current standard treatment for advanced ovarian cancer . While research has shown this treatment is effective and has low toxicity, cancer recurrence and death rates remain high, according to background information in the article.
The study, published in the Aug. 2 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, included 1,308 patients with untreated ovarian cancer. They received paclitaxil and carboplatin, followed by either topotecan or surveillance.
Topotecan did not improve patient survival or survival without cancer recurrence. The study also found topotecan treatment increased the frequency of blood-related toxicities and infections.
The researchers concluded that topotecan should not be used as part of first-line treatment in ovarian cancer patients.
"Carboplatin-paclitaxel remains the standard of care for patients with advanced ovarian cancer," the authors wrote.
by Robert Preidt
A combination of carboplatin and paclitaxil is the current standard treatment for advanced ovarian cancer . While research has shown this treatment is effective and has low toxicity, cancer recurrence and death rates remain high, according to background information in the article.
The study, published in the Aug. 2 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, included 1,308 patients with untreated ovarian cancer. They received paclitaxil and carboplatin, followed by either topotecan or surveillance.
Topotecan did not improve patient survival or survival without cancer recurrence. The study also found topotecan treatment increased the frequency of blood-related toxicities and infections.
The researchers concluded that topotecan should not be used as part of first-line treatment in ovarian cancer patients.
"Carboplatin-paclitaxel remains the standard of care for patients with advanced ovarian cancer," the authors wrote.
by Robert Preidt
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