Will ovarian cancer increase AFP levels?

Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
Updated on April 20, 2025
00:00
00:00

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of the female reproductive organs, with an incidence rate second only to cervical cancer and endometrial cancer. Epithelial carcinoma is the most common type of malignant ovarian tumor, followed by malignant germ cell tumors, among which ovarian epithelial carcinoma has the highest mortality rate among all gynecological tumors. In cases of ovarian cancer, an increase in AFP is common, particularly in malignant germ cell tumors. The most common of these is the yolk sac tumor, which has a specific value, as its AFP levels are often significantly elevated.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
1min home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
39sec home-news-image

How many years can one live with ovarian cancer?

The survival period of ovarian cancer patients is influenced by various factors including the specific stage of the cancer, whether there is residual tumor after surgery, the size of any residual tumor, the pathological type of the cancer, the presence of high-risk factors for recurrence such as vascular tumor thrombus, neural invasion, lymph node metastasis, etc., as well as the patient's age, overall condition, the presence of severe comorbidities, and the patient's response and sensitivity to treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Survival periods vary due to differences in stages and treatment sensitivities, meaning it cannot be generalized; there is significant individual variation in survival outcomes.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
40sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
44sec home-news-image

Can ovarian cancer be detected by transvaginal ultrasound?

Ovarian cancer can generally be detected through a transvaginal ultrasound. During this procedure, we can find cystic or cystic-solid, or a solid mass in the ovaries. If a blood test for tumor markers shows a significant increase in CA125, especially in combination with a large amount of ascites, we must strongly suspect ovarian cancer. In such cases, patients should undergo a tumor biopsy. By taking a biopsy and confirming it pathologically, we can definitively diagnose ovarian cancer. Therefore, most ovarian cancer patients can indeed be detected through a transvaginal ultrasound.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
41sec home-news-image

Does ovarian cancer hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy work?

Patients with ovarian cancer are prone to peritoneal metastasis, so many patients develop ascites during the discovery of the disease or its progression. A large amount of ascites is a common concurrent symptom in patients with ovarian cancer. For patients with significant ascites like this, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can be performed, which involves infusing chemotherapy drugs into the abdominal cavity and then combining it with thermotherapy. This treatment generally has a decent effect, especially in controlling the spread of cancer cells in the peritoneum and managing ascites.