HJBR Sep/Oct 2020

46 SEP / 2020 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE of ovarian cancer. Ultimately, confirmation of the presence of cancer requires a tissue specimen. MANAGEMENT Once ovarian cancer is suspected, wom- en should be offered evaluation by a spe- cialist trained in treating reproductive tract cancers (gynecologic oncologist). Success- ful treatment usually requires a compre- hensive surgery to remove and evaluate the extent of cancer (staging surgery), and use of additional therapy based on this in- formation. The best treatment for ovarian cancer is based on the stage of cancer, the location of cancer, and some of the genet- ic features identified within the cancer it- self. For most cases, chemotherapy using COLUMN ONCOLOGY OVERVIEW Most cases of ovarian cancer begin in cells that line ovarian surfaces called epi- thelial cells. Thus, the most common type is called epithelial ovarian cancer; this cat- egory will be the focus of the current dis- cussion. The average woman has about a 1.5 per- cent lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer. Postmenopausal women over the age of 50 account for the majority of cas- es. Up to 15 to 20 percent of women with ovarian cancer have an identifiable genetic cause that can be passed along in families. Ovarian cancer is the most deadly of can- cers that start in the female reproductive tract. However, tools for early diagnosis and better treatments have been under de- velopment, and many recent scientific ad- vances have resulted in improved success. DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS Many ovarian cancers have symptoms that can be recognized if women notice a change from normal patterns. These can include such vague, but significant prob- lems as feeling full quickly when eating, pain in the abdomen or pelvis, bloating or enlargement in the midsection, or constant pressure in the bladder or rectal areas. In some people, a suspicious mass is found on a routine exam, on an imaging study performed to evaluate unexplained symp- toms, or during work up for an unrelated diagnosis. Blood tests called tumor mark- ers (such as CA125) can help with detection UNDERSTANDING OVARIAN CANCER: From Risks and Prevention to Diagnosis and Treatment