Can ovarian cancer be cured?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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Whether ovarian cancer can be cured depends on the clinical stage of the patient, as well as the patient's sensitivity to treatment, among other factors. If it is a case of early-stage ovarian cancer, curative surgery can be performed. After surgery, based on the pathology, it can be decided whether postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy is necessary. Patients with early-stage ovarian cancer who undergo surgery or postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy may have hope for a cure. However, if the cancer is discovered at a late stage where it has spread extensively, such as widespread metastasis to the pelvic area, or even to distant organs like the lungs or liver, then the treatment for these patients is primarily chemotherapy. A cure is not achievable; the treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and prolong the patient's life. Thus, for patients with late-stage ovarian cancer, treatment cannot achieve a curative purpose.

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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.

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Location of abdominal pain in ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer in patients manifests as tumors in either both ovaries or one ovary. Therefore, the abdominal pain they experience is lower abdominal pain, not bloating or sudden, noticeable increase in abdominal size. Additionally, the primary pathway for the metastasis of ovarian cancer is through implantation, allowing widespread metastatic implants in the pelvic and abdominal cavities. There is also local spread of the tumor to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and surrounding pelvic tissues. Thus, the location of abdominal pain in ovarian cancer is in the lower abdomen, specifically pain and bloating in the pelvic area.

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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.

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Written by Liu Liang
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What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Some early symptoms of ovarian cancer patients include a lump in the abdomen that can be felt during gynecological examination or by the patients themselves. In advanced ovarian cancer, as the tumor progressively enlarges, there may be symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Moreover, the tumor may compress other organs in the pelvic cavity, causing symptoms such as a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen or even constipation. Additionally, many patients with ovarian cancer may develop significant ascites, which can also cause abdominal distension, decreased appetite, and even nausea and vomiting, along with other gastrointestinal symptoms.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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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.