Will ovarian cancer recur after complete resection?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on April 04, 2025
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After complete removal of ovarian cancer, there is still a possibility of recurrence, especially in patients with high-risk factors. The recurrence rate can be quite high, for example, if there was rupture of the capsule, low differentiation of the pathology, presence of tumor tissue on the surface of the ovary, severe adhesion of the tumor to the surrounding areas, cancer cells found in the abdominal lavage fluid, or presence of vascular tumor thrombus and nerve invasion. Even after total removal, recurrence can still occur.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Symptoms of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer patients, especially those in the early stages, typically have inconspicuous symptoms, possibly without any noticeable discomfort. The disease is often discovered during gynecological examinations through the detection of abdominal masses. In advanced-stage patients, as the abdominal mass progressively enlarges, symptoms may include abdominal pain, lower abdominal bloating, and pelvic pressure symptoms due to compression of nearby organs. There may be partial intestinal obstruction, presenting as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and inability to pass stool or gas. Another symptom is ascites, characterized by progressive enlargement and bloating of the abdomen. Ascites is a common clinical manifestation in ovarian cancer patients, and a significant portion of patients are diagnosed with ovarian cancer after presenting with ascites as the initial symptom.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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What are the symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer?

The symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer mainly include the following aspects. Patients may experience persistent lower abdominal pain for no apparent reason, and some patients may experience radiating pain in the vulvar area, while others may show early clinical signs of abdominal bloating. The symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer are not very numerous. Some patients may exhibit menstrual irregularities, such as increased or decreased menstruation, prolonged periods, or irregular vaginal bleeding. A few patients may experience abnormal vaginal discharge, which can be mixed with an unusual odor and a small amount of blood.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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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.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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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.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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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.