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...........OVARIAN CANCER
PREVENTION
Undergoing regular pelvic examinations by your trained family physician or gynecologist may decrease the overall risk. This enables early detection. Routine pelvic examinations are recommended for all women over 20 years of age. In high risk individuals, especially patientswith a strong family history, routine screening with pelvic ultrasonography is recommended at least five years prior to the age at which their first or second degree relative developed cancer. Reporting of early symptoms with prompt attention and a high index of suspicion may be helpful in early detection of ovarian cancer. The screening test for ovarian cancer remains an active area of research. To date there is no cost-effective screening test for ovarian cancer, so more than 50% of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the late stages. Recent research has shown that removal of the ovaries in women who are found to have a mutation in BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 genes can dramatically reduce their risk of developing ovarian cancer. Sources:U.S National Library of Medicine,Up-to-date online resources,USPTF guidelines and recommendations.
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SYMPTOMS
As mentioned earlier the symptoms can be very vague and non –specific but should not be ignored especially in individuals who have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
These symptoms include:
• Sense of pelvic heaviness
• Vague lower abdominal discomfort
• Vaginal bleeding
• Weight gain or loss
• Abnormal menstrual cycle
• Unexplained back pain that worsens over time
• Increased abdominal girth
• Non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms:
• Increased gas
• Indigestion
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Bloating
• Easy fullness after fluids or food
• Increased urinary frequency and urgency
• Excessive hair growth
The tests to beperformed should include:
• Complete bloodcount
• Blood chemistry
• CA 125; a tumormarker specific for the ovaries
• Blood pregnancy test
• Alpha fetoprotein; also a tumor marker
• Urinalysis
• GI series
• Ultrasound; pelvic and trans-vaginal
• Abdominal/Pelvic CT (computerized tomographic) scan or MRI (magnetic resonant imaging) of the abdomen and pelvis |
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 Dr. BABAFEMI ADENUGA isclinical assistant professor in the Department of Community
& Family Medicine at Howard University Hospital in Washington DC, USA, he is also the program director for the family medicine residency training program and the medical team leader for the sustainable international medical mission (SIMMs), a non-for-profit health care organizationthat provides access to quality health care through partnerships with federal and state governments in developing countries. Dr. Thomas Gaiter, FAAFP, is the Chief Medical Officer at Howard University Hospital, Washington DC, USA and also an associate academic dean for clinical affairs in the College of Medicine at Howard University Hospital. You can send your healthquestions to ndigest@yahoo.com |
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