Ovarian cancer has been one of the cancers mainly referred to as the “silent killer,” originating from the ovaries in females where eggs and hormones such as estrogen and progesterone are produced. The main reasons behind the late diagnosis of ovarian cancer are very vague symptoms associated with it. All this aside, there is known knowledge about the prevention strategy, improvements in treatment, and how early detection would improve survival rate in ovarian cancer patients.
In this article, we are going to share with you whether ovarian cancer can be prevented, the causes behind the disease, and the risk factors of the same. Furthermore, we are going to share with you how and when new treatment alternatives appear and also this new emerging therapy called immunotherapy. If you happen to be a concern for the health care and seek more knowledge of it, coming to a cancer doctor in India becomes the way to move further in making the decision towards its prevention and treatment. Most cases suggest the likes of Dr. Vikesh Shah, one of the specialists renowned for their oncology expertise.
Ovarian cancer is one of the most common forms of cancers; abnormal cells lining the surfaces of the ovaries start to grow abnormally inside the ovaries, thus eventually forming a mass of uncontrolled growth or tumor. It can, therefore, be classified in the many types involved based on the type of cells. The most common are epithelial ovarian cancers originating from the lining cells of the ovarian surfaces. Rarer types include stromal and germ cell cancers.
Although ovarian cancer can occur at any age of woman, the peak incidence amongst the women happens to be post-menopausal aged above 50 years. It really is one of the hard conditions to be diagnosed early because the symptoms happen to be quite vague and may even represent minor other diseases.
Causes and Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer
The cause of ovarian cancer is not yet known; however, there are a few things that can cause it. These might open ways to its prevention. The following are the most common causes:
- Family History and Genetics: Individuals with a known family history of cancer in her or his family members are also at higher risk, especially in close relatives such as mother, sister, or daughter. Known mutations in some genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase the risks for ovarian cancers and breast cancer as well. The risk to develop ovarian cancers in women harboring such mutations is extremely high.
- Age: The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age, especially after age 50. Most cases are postmenopausal, but a woman could be of any age at diagnosis.
- Reproductive History: The hypothesis will explain the ovarian cancer risk based on the incidence levels of nulliparous women or first-time mothers. The more the ovulatory cycles, the more the risk to the woman by ovarian cancer. The pregnancies and subsequent lactations will provide some protective effects by reducing the ovulations cycles.
- HRT: Over the decades, hormone replacement therapy has been associated with a higher risk of ovarian cancer, especially the estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy. The risks of hormone replacement therapy should be discussed by women to their health care providers before they use it in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
- Other cancers: Other cancers have also been thought to be risk factors for ovarian cancer. These include endometriosis. Endometriosis is the attachment of tissue that lines the uterus outside of the uterus.
- Obesity and Sedentary Behavior: Obese people who have a sedentary lifestyle can increase their risks for ovarian cancers. Keeping a healthy weight status through any means and being physically active reduce these risks.
All these factors enhance the chances of this disease in a woman but don’t denote she would develop this disease. In fact, more than half of all women diagnosed with no known risk factors have this disease. Attention needs to be paid to all the arising symptoms and a consult from a cancer doctor in India be sought in order to address individual risks at their best.
Until today, no method has been established to prevent ovarian cancer. Nevertheless, some actions can minimize the risk, which is dependent upon one’s risk profile, and for sure, consultation with a doctor will always yield what is best for an individual. Let us explore some preventive measures.
- Genetic Counseling and Testing
If you have a family history of ovarian cancer or are known to carry specific genetic mutations, you can research genetic counseling and testing that can reveal the degree of risk. The medical practitioner will always confirm these risky genes like BRCA1 or BRCA2 once known and continue the process with any other additional methods of preventing occurrence in that way. That also includes further preventive measures like a second test and possible oophorectomy among other prescribed medicine to lower her risk level concerning this disease development. - Oral Contraceptives
Birth control pills, often called oral contraceptives, reduce the rate of ovarian cancer. The risk of ovarian cancer decreases with an increased number of years of using birth control pills. Protection lingers for many years after childbirth or cessation of breastfeeding. - Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Having children, especially at a younger age, and breastfeeding can significantly reduce the development of ovarian cancer. The hormonal changes that pregnancy and breastfeeding cause lead to fewer cycles of ovulation for the woman, thus having the potential to offer some protection against ovarian cancer. - Prophylactic Surgery
A medical professional may suggest prophylactic surgery-that is, removal of the ovaries and the fallopian tubes-on a woman who is highly at risk of contracting the disease-for example, someone carrying a BRCA mutation or family history of ovarian cancer. The terminology that could be used to describe the procedure as preventive oophorectomy would describe it as removing the ovaries. This would greatly reduce the risk for developing ovarian cancer. - Healthy Lifestyle Choices
A healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of most types of cancers, including ovarian cancer. All these can be achieved by keeping a well-balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and keeping oneself within a healthy weight as well as through some physical activities. Quitting smoking and drinking alcohol within acceptable limits is also the way to go about reducing one’s risk for cancer.
Even though these steps decrease the possibility of developing ovarian cancer, they may not totally ensure that it will be prevented. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the better it is to have a proper treatment of the cancer.
Ovarian Cancer Treatment
The treatment for ovarian cancer is carried out on case-to-case basis. This means that the stages of the cancer as well as the general condition of the patient are also factors for choosing the appropriate treatments. Here are the most common treatment modalities.
- Surgery
The most common treatment given to the patient with ovarian cancer is surgery. This is achieved by removing as much of the tumor as possible. It may be through the removal of either of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the uterus, and any other tissues invaded by the cancerous cells. Sometimes, the lymph nodes are also removed. - Chemotherapy
It is the most potent anticancer drug where chemotherapy attacks aggressively with a capacity of destruction, halting, or the prevention of growth and proliferation in cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is sometimes applied in harmony with surgery, especially the targeted post-operative cells would include chemotherapy treatment course for late-stage ovarian cancer and re-occurrence of the same cancer in infected patients. - Targeted Therapy
These are targeted therapy drugs that target particular molecules involved in the growth and spread of the cancer cells. It may be given together with chemotherapy, or it may sometimes be used as a standalone drug. - Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a relatively new area of treatment for cancers. It basically involves stimulating the immune system to be able to identify and destroy the cancer cells. Immunotherapy seems to be quite effective in a few types of ovarian cancer, too. While the cancer has spread or recurred, it is after undergoing conventional treatments. Such a scenario of administering immunotherapy for cancer patients has been experienced by Dr. Vikesh Shah, who is one of the best immunotherapy doctors in Ahmedabad. Depending upon the cancer type and its stage, some immunotherapy may consist of the checkpoint inhibitors or vaccines, including CAR-T cell therapy.
Immunotherapy has already transformed the landscape of treatment for several types of cancers and further is entering into application with on-going researches even in ovarian cancer. If you are a future candidate starting up with the treatments, a consultation with an experienced doctor in India in particular doctors like Dr. Vikesh Shah would lead you in a proper direction as to whether immunotherapy indeed is a feasible treatment option for your case.
Early Detection and Monitoring
Since the ovarian cancer is not specific with any specific early signs, it is stated that some periodic examination or screening becomes more important in a person having more risk factors. It is mainly comprising of regular pelvic examinations, transvaginal ultrasounds, and blood tests which include the CA-125 test too, as in the person affected by ovarian cancer, there are present increased amounts of certain proteins.
Conclusion of ovarian cancer
Although ovarian cancer can’t be prevented entirely, the risk would be minimized and an opportunity for an effective treatment maximized by certain healthy lifestyle habits, early detection, and proper medical intervention. In the case of an ovarian cancer, if you look for a special doctor, then you will take a step forward to meet the best professional medical care after meeting an oncologist in India who is most famous to treat the classical and newer methods of therapy with immunotherapy in Dr. Vikesh Shah. The more you learn, the more you are screened, the more often you talk to an expert about your choices: the better you will be at managing your health and controlling your cancer risks.