Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women of all ages. The disease is characterized by the presence of early symptoms such as persistent bloating, pain in the pelvis and lower abdomen.
There are several types of ovarian cancer:
- Epithelial ovarian cancer which affects the surface layers of the ovary.
- Tumors of embryonic cells which are formed in eggs.
- Stromal tumors that develop inside the cells of the tissue connecting the ovaries.
Leading Doctors for Ovarian Cancer – Consultation Online
Diagnosis of ovarian cancer in Israel:
- In order to make the correct diagnosis first physical examination and transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) should be done.
- Blood count including oncomarkers.
- Biopsy and histopathological study – test for the presence of cancer cells.
- The biopsy procedure (aspiration biopsy FNA) is as follows – a thin needle is inserted into the abdominal cavity under ultrasound guidance, and from the ovary removed a small sample of tissue.
For metastatic disease and the presence of ascites (accumulation of fluid) in the abdominal cavity may be studied liquid itself. - PET-CT – scan the entire body to identify the process of metastasis.
In some circumstances magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) may be required.
Ovarian Cancer Treatments
The most common treatment of uterine cancer, shown generally at an early stage of the disease is surgical removal of the ovaries and the uterus (hysterectomy).
Surgery method depends destruction level of the malignant process and is chosen by the surgeon individually for each woman
Laparoscopic hysterectomy (endoscopic surgery) – the uterus is removed through several small punctures in the abdomen
Vaginal hysterectomy (open surgery) – the uterus is removed through an incision in the upper part of the vagina
Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy – removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes (salpingectomy) and ovaries.
Radical hysterectomy – removal of the uterus and surrounding tissues, including the fallopian tubes, the vagina, ovaries, lymph glands and fatty tissue.
Leading doctors from Forbes list in Israel have succeed in treatment of uterine and ovaries cancer. You can get second opinion to improve your current therapy or get additional options according last Israeli treatment protocols.
Hospitalization for hysterectomy is 2 days. Recovery time after surgery 6-8 weeks.
Hysterectomy may cause a consequence of postoperative menopause (in the case of removal of the ovaries), which may require a course of hormonal therapy to restore hormonal balance.
Chemotherapy – chemicals taking is aimed to kill cancer cells in the body
Chemotherapy is used in cases where the cancer has spread in the body, or there is a risk of recurrence.
Curative chemotherapy is aimed to complete destruction of cancer cells, either to strengthening effect of radiation therapy or surgery to reduce the risk of disease recurrence.
In some cases the chemotherapy is used to relieve the symptoms when the disease was included in the last stage and goes metastatic spread. Chemotherapy may be used to relieve the symptoms and slow the spread of the disease. This is called palliative chemotherapy.
Related updates about ovarian cancer, doctors, diagnosis and treatment in Israel
♦ Precision (personalized) treatment is the target method of ovarian cancer treatment that helps to treat the tumor with effective medicines and to prevent ineffective “trial and error” way, loss of time. It also helps to prevent undesirable side effects.⇒ More details
♦ Immunotherapy for ovarian cancer is a treatment that activates immune system of a woman to fight malignant cells. Immunotherapy has fewer side effects than chemotherapy or does not have them at all.
♦ Molecular oncotests allow to create the unique genetic profile of tumor cells. It helps to prescribe more accurate and effective treatment for each patient.
⇒ Review – molecular genetic oncotests used in Israel
♦ In 2019 FoundationOne CDx Ovarian Cancer molecular oncotest was approved as a supplemental testing by the FDA when prescribing Lynparza — Olaparib. This targeted therapy is used as first-line treatment for metastatic ovarian cancer with BRCA 1/2 mutations.
