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Ovarian cancer
Is there still hope for ovarian cancer recurrence?
Most ovarian malignant tumors, which are ovarian cancers, are relatively sensitive to chemotherapy. Therefore, in many cases, the treatment of ovarian cancer is a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Even if ovarian cancer recurs, there are still many treatment options available, with chemotherapy being the most commonly used method. Many patients can still benefit from chemotherapy.
How long can one live with ovarian cancer?
The lifespan of ovarian cancer patients depends on several factors including the specific stage of the cancer, the patient's sensitivity and response to treatment, and the overall health of the patient, leading to significant individual variability. The cancer is typically classified into stages from one to four, with stage one being the earliest and stage four being the most advanced. Generally, patients diagnosed at an earlier stage tend to have a better prognosis and a greater chance of survival compared to those with advanced ovarian cancer. Additionally, patients in advanced stages who respond well to treatments like chemotherapy typically have a better prognosis and longer survival times compared to those who are less responsive to such treatments. Hence, it is impossible to generalize as the individual differences are substantial.
Is ovarian cancer curable?
Early-stage ovarian cancer patients, meaning those without extensive ascites buildup, and without widespread implant metastasis in the pelvic and abdominal cavity, and without metastasis to distant organs like the liver and lungs. These very early-stage ovarian cancer patients can undergo radical surgery. Postoperative treatment decisions, such as whether postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy is needed, are based on the postoperative pathological report, which looks for high-risk factors for recurrence such as vascular cancer emboli or neural invasion. Through these treatment approaches, very early-stage ovarian cancer patients can achieve a cure, but this is not absolute. It's not guaranteed that every early-stage ovarian cancer patient can be cured, as there are individual differences. Clinically, if there is no recurrence or metastasis within five years, it is considered a cure.
Can ovarian cancer be detected by transvaginal ultrasound?
Ovarian cancer can generally be detected through a transvaginal ultrasound. During this procedure, we can find cystic or cystic-solid, or a solid mass in the ovaries. If a blood test for tumor markers shows a significant increase in CA125, especially in combination with a large amount of ascites, we must strongly suspect ovarian cancer. In such cases, patients should undergo a tumor biopsy. By taking a biopsy and confirming it pathologically, we can definitively diagnose ovarian cancer. Therefore, most ovarian cancer patients can indeed be detected through a transvaginal ultrasound.
What should be noted about having intercourse after ovarian cancer surgery?
Patients with ovarian cancer can have sexual intercourse after radical surgery or palliative surgery, but there are several precautions to consider: Firstly, it is not advisable to have sexual intercourse too soon after surgery, as early intercourse may lead to poor healing of the surgical site, or cause infections, which are detrimental to the patient's recovery. It is generally recommended to schedule sexual intercourse one or two months after ovarian cancer surgery, and some patients are advised to wait three months. After three months, most patients' physical conditions improve and the incisions heal. In such cases, the likelihood of infection from intercourse is low. Moreover, the frequency of sexual intercourse should not be too frequent or excessive, as it may impact the patient's physical strength or lead to concurrent infections. Furthermore, patients should practice contraception during intercourse after surgery, as pregnancy is not advisable for patients who have undergone radical or palliative surgery for ovarian cancer, since pregnancy can exacerbate the development of the disease.
Is chemotherapy effective after the recurrence of ovarian cancer?
After the recurrence of ovarian cancer, most patients can still benefit from chemotherapy again, as ovarian cancer itself is relatively sensitive to chemotherapy compared to other types of malignant tumors. If the recurrence occurs more than six months after the initial treatment, the same chemotherapy drugs used initially can still be chosen. However, if the recurrence happens within six months, the chemotherapy plan should include different drugs that were not used previously.
How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?
Ovarian cancer is discovered through transvaginal ultrasound of the adnexa uteri revealing ovarian tumors, or through imaging studies such as abdominal CT scans or MRIs showing ovarian tumors, combined with tumor markers, particularly the ovarian epithelial cancer tumor marker CA125, which will be significantly elevated. Generally, with these findings, ovarian cancer can typically be clinically diagnosed. Confirmation, however, requires pathological diagnosis, which involves obtaining a biopsy of the tumor. This can be done through a puncture biopsy or through pathological examination after surgical excision to confirm ovarian cancer. Additionally, some patients with ovarian cancer present with substantial ascites at the time of discovery. If cancer cells are found in the abdominal fluid, combined with a significant increase in CA125 and imaging studies showing ovarian tumors, ovarian cancer can also be diagnosed.
Ovarian cancer pain symptoms
In the early stages of ovarian cancer, the symptoms can be quite hidden, and the patient may not feel any discomfort at all. However, as the tumor grows and ascites develops, the patient typically may experience abdominal bloating, or a palpable mass may be felt in the pelvic or lower abdominal area. At this point, symptoms such as pain in the lower abdomen may occur, especially when there is a substantial amount of ascites, leading to clinical symptoms like abdominal bloating and pain. In even more advanced stages of ovarian cancer, the tumor may invade surrounding pelvic organs, potentially causing partial intestinal obstruction or symptoms of pelvic compression. With conditions like intestinal obstruction, there will be significant abdominal pain, possibly accompanied by vomiting, especially after eating, which can exacerbate the symptoms.
Does ovarian cancer hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy work?
Patients with ovarian cancer are prone to peritoneal metastasis, so many patients develop ascites during the discovery of the disease or its progression. A large amount of ascites is a common concurrent symptom in patients with ovarian cancer. For patients with significant ascites like this, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can be performed, which involves infusing chemotherapy drugs into the abdominal cavity and then combining it with thermotherapy. This treatment generally has a decent effect, especially in controlling the spread of cancer cells in the peritoneum and managing ascites.
Ovarian Cancer Dietary Precautions
The occurrence of ovarian cancer is not greatly related to dietary habits, so there are no special dietary restrictions or forbidden foods for patients with ovarian cancer. In Western medicine, unlike Traditional Chinese Medicine, which mentions certain "stimulating foods," there are no such prohibitions. Therefore, the diet for patients with ovarian cancer is the same as for anyone else, only requiring a balanced, comprehensive nutrition, and a combination of meat and vegetables. There are no special dietary considerations needed.