Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor disease of the ovaries. Ovarian cancer is also known as ovarian carcinoma. It usually affects older women. Ovarian cancer does not cause any symptoms in the early stages. It is therefore usually diagnosed late.
Here you will find further information and selected ovarian cancer specialists and centers.
The ovaries are connected to the uterus via the fallopian tubes. They are attached with ligaments and are thus held in position. Like the uterus, fallopian tubes and vagina, the ovaries are part of the internal female reproductive organs.
The main functions of the ovaries include the production of female sex hormones:
These hormones are responsible for maintaining the menstrual cycle. In addition, the ovaries produce eggs, which are released into the fallopian tubes during ovulation. From there, they migrate to the uterus. If they are fertilized by a sperm during this period, a foetus develops and the woman is pregnant.
The ovaries change position and size during the menstrual cycle. However, they have a relatively large amount of space in the abdominal cavity. Therefore, their increase in size and change in position during the cycle does not affect any other organs.
This is why ovarian tumors often go unnoticed for a long time. They usually only cause symptoms at an advanced stage.
The ovaries, uterus and vagina are a woman's internal reproductive organs © bilderzwerg | AdobeStock
It is not yet clear exactly what causes ovarian cancer. However, some risk factors are known that can promote the development of ovarian cancer. These include, among others
In addition, genetic causes appear to be responsible for around 10 percent of all cases of ovarian cancer. In these cases, mutations of the so-called breast cancer genes BRCA1 (on the 17th chromosome) and BRCA2 (on the 13th chromosome) are present. These genes also increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
If mutations of these genes are present, cases of ovarian cancer and breast cancer occur more frequently within a family.
Ovarian cancer is the second most common cancer of the female reproductive organs after breast cancer.
According to the Robert Koch Institute, between 7,000 and 8,000 women are newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Germany every year. This corresponds to an annual incidence rate of 11 new cases per 100,000 female inhabitants.
Overall, the risk of women developing ovarian cancer at some point in their lives is 1.5 percent. It mostly affects older women after the menopause.
In around 50 percent of cases of ovarian cancer, both ovaries are affected by malignant tumors.
In around 70 percent of cases, ovarian cancer is only discovered when the tumor is already well advanced. One reason for this is that ovarian cancer usually does not cause any early symptoms at the beginning.
Secondly, the symptoms, which usually only appear at an advanced stage, are rather unspecific in nature. This means that they can also occur in many other, harmless diseases. Furthermore, there are currently no reliable early detection tests for ovarian cancer.
The non-specific symptoms that can occur in the advanced stages of ovarian cancer include
In addition, affected women often feel tired, exhausted and underperforming. Other possible symptoms are
Ovarian cancer is staged according to the so-called FIGO classification (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics). A distinction is made between four tumor stages:
The suspected diagnosis of "ovarian cancer" is usually made following unspecific symptoms, if a gynecological examination is also carried out as part of the investigation.
If ovarian cancer is suspected, the doctor will carry out further examinations in order to
of the ovarian tumor. This may include an ultrasound examination of the abdominal region (abdominal ultrasound) and the vagina (vaginal ultrasound). A computer tomography scan is also possible.
However, the final diagnosis can only be made during an operation in which tumor tissue is removed. The tissue is then examined for malignant cancer cells under a microscope by a pathologist.
Ovarian cancer is treated by gynecologists specializing in gynecological oncology.
With surgery and chemotherapy, there are essentially two treatment methods available for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Which of these is used depends on the stage of the disease. In most cases, however, treatment consists of a combination of both procedures.
The tumor is first removed as completely as possible during an operation. This usually involves
are removed.
The operation often has to be supplemented by chemotherapy, even if all parts of the tumor have been removed.
In the case of advanced ovarian cancer, chemotherapy is often supplemented by antibody therapy with the active ingredient bevacizumab. The antibody therapy is intended to prevent any remaining cancer cells from forming new blood vessels. A tumor also needs a blood supply.
Following ovarian cancer treatment, regular follow-up examinations are important. They serve to detect a possible recurrence, i.e. a new occurrence of ovarian cancer, as early as possible.
These follow-up examinations should
thereafter. The follow-up examination usually includes a palpation of the abdomen and genitals and an ultrasound examination of the abdominal and pelvic organs. The doctor will also ask questions about possible symptoms. Whether a tumor marker determination makes sense must be decided on an individual basis.
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