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Ovarian cancer
Can ovarian cancer be contagious?
Ovarian cancer is not contagious, so it does not spread through bodily fluids, the blood or respiratory tract of the patient, or sexual activity. It will not transmit to others via these routes. Malignant tumors are not contagious. The diseases we commonly refer to as contagious are called infectious diseases, which typically include, for example, tuberculosis and epidemic influenza, which can spread to others via the respiratory tract. Additionally, chronic hepatitis B is a contagious disease that can be transmitted through blood or other body fluids. Ovarian cancer, however, is not contagious and will not spread to others.
Can ovarian cancer metastasize to the lungs?
Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor, so it can spread to distant organs through the bloodstream, such as the lungs, liver, bones, and even brain metastases, among others. Therefore, in late-stage patients with ovarian cancer, it can metastasize to the lungs. It can also spread through the whole body's lymphatic system, reaching lymph nodes throughout the body. The most common form of spread in ovarian cancer is implantation metastasis. It can implant in the peritoneum or pelvic cavity, leading to widespread pelvic dissemination and invasion of surrounding pelvic tissues. It can also implant in the peritoneum, resulting in significant ascites and extensive peritoneal metastasis.
Is ovarian cancer prone to metastasis?
Ovarian cancer relatively tends to metastasize more easily, and clinically, it is often found at a later stage in most patients. The main pathway of metastasis of ovarian cancer is implantation metastasis, where the tumor can breach the capsule and extensively implant in the pelvic or abdominal cavity. Another pathway is local spread, where it can spread to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other tissues within the pelvic cavity. Additionally, ovarian cancer can also spread to distant organs throughout the body via the lymphatic system or through hematogenous dissemination.
How to control ascites from ovarian cancer?
In clinical settings, it is common for ovarian cancer to present with significant ascites. Some patients initially seek medical attention due to symptoms related to large volumes of ascites, and then ovarian cancer is diagnosed. Such cases are generally at a more advanced stage, and their treatment is predominantly chemotherapy. Ovarian cancer patients tend to be relatively sensitive to chemotherapy; only when chemotherapy controls the cancer cells can the ascites be managed. Of course, symptomatically, a peritoneal drainage tube can be placed to drain the ascites, and then local intraperitoneal chemotherapy drugs can be infused. This, combined with systemic intravenous chemotherapy, controls the ovarian cancer and manages the ascites.
What tests are done for ovarian cancer screening?
In terms of ovarian cancer screening, we first start with a gynecological examination, followed by a pelvic ultrasound of the adnexa uteri in gynecology. For patients who have given birth, it is best to perform a transvaginal ultrasound of the adnexa uteri. Additionally, blood tests are performed to check the ovarian cancer tumor marker CA125, which is a tumor marker with relatively high specificity and sensitivity, especially for ovarian epithelial cancer. For such types of ovarian cancer, the CA125 level generally shows a significant increase. Therefore, during screening, this tumor marker can be checked in conjunction with a pelvic ultrasound to screen for the disease.
What is the level of cancer antigen for ovarian cancer?
Carcinoembryonic antigen is primarily found in malignant tumors of the digestive tract, such as colorectal cancer and gastric cancer, where it tends to be significantly elevated. It is also elevated in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. In cases of ovarian cancer, carcinoembryonic antigen may be elevated, but the most primary, sensitive, and specific tumor marker is CA125, which usually shows a significant increase. However, CA125 is specifically elevated in the pathological type of epithelial ovarian cancer.
What are the early symptoms of ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer is one of the common gynecological malignancies in women. In the early stages, symptoms are not common and are not severe. The typical symptoms mainly manifest as pain and discomfort in the lower abdomen, and some patients may feel bloating in the lower abdomen. Some patients experience an increase in vaginal discharge, some have vaginal drainage or abnormal vaginal bleeding, and others may observe abnormal changes in their menstrual cycle, such as prolonged periods or increased menstrual flow, while some may experience reduced menstruation. Besides these, there are no other symptoms in early-stage ovarian cancer patients. As the disease progresses, the patient's abdominal pain and bloating will significantly worsen, indicating that the disease has advanced to the middle or late stages.
Ovarian cancer is not contagious.
Ovarian cancer is not contagious and is not considered a communicable disease, so rest assured, it is not transmissible. Therefore, if there is a patient with ovarian cancer in the family, there is no need to worry about it spreading to others. However, ovarian cancer is more susceptible in populations with a family history of the disease, so if there is a history of ovarian cancer in the family, there is a tendency for it to occur. Additionally, there are many factors that contribute to the cause of ovarian cancer, such as toxin exposure, certain viral infections in everyday life, and lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking, which also play a role. Age is also a significant factor, as the likelihood of developing ovarian cancer increases with age. Patients with ovarian cancer, due to some hereditary genetic factors in their families, should pay special attention and be more vigilant about getting regular medical check-ups if there is a family history.
Can ovarian cancer that has spread still be cured?
If ovarian cancer has spread, it is generally considered to be at an advanced stage. The treatment for advanced ovarian cancer primarily involves chemotherapy. Epithelial cancer, the most common type of ovarian cancer, is particularly sensitive to chemotherapy. Most patients benefit from chemotherapy. However, once ovarian cancer has spread and is not caught at a very early stage, even with treatments like chemotherapy, it cannot be cured. The purpose of treatment at this stage is to alleviate the patient's pain and extend their survival, but it cannot be cured.
What are the early symptoms of ovarian cancer?
The early symptoms of ovarian cancer are not severe or common clinically. Some patients may experience abdominal distension and pain. Some may have menstrual irregularities, such as prolonged or shortened menstrual cycles, increased menstrual flow, or irregular bleeding outside of menstruation. Additionally, a small number of patients may experience pelvic pain due to local tumor compression caused by ovarian cancer. This pain occasionally radiates to the perineal area and is generally mild, rarely affecting the patient's quality of life. Furthermore, a minor proportion of ovarian cancer patients, particularly those with tumors having endocrine functions, may exhibit symptoms associated with paraneoplastic syndromes.