How to control ascites from ovarian cancer?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on May 27, 2025
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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.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Can ovarian cancer be cured?

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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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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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.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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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.

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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.

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Symptoms of ovarian cancer brain metastasis

Patients with ovarian cancer experiencing brain metastases are relatively uncommon in clinical settings. The primary symptom of brain metastasis is intracranial hypertension, which includes severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, including projectile vomiting during meals — all symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. Additionally, if there is significant brain swelling, the patient may experience weakness in the limbs on the opposite side of the body, similar to symptoms of paralysis seen in stroke patients. Furthermore, if the brain metastasis leads to the formation of a brain herniation, the patient may experience symptoms such as coma.