Table of contents:
- Tests for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer
- 1. Physical health tests and medical history
- 2. Imaging tests
- 3. Laparoscopy and colonoscopy
- 4. Biopsy
- 5. Blood test
- If the diagnosis of ovarian cancer is positive
The common symptoms of ovarian cancer, such as flatulence, constipation, and abdominal pain, are almost the same as other health problems that affect the digestive system. Therefore, an oncologist (cancer specialist) needs to ask the patient to undergo medical tests to confirm the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. So, what tests should be undertaken as a way to detect ovarian cancer? Come on, see the following reviews.
Tests for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer
In addition to the symptoms that are almost the same as digestive system disorders, ovarian cancer also has several types. That is why patients need to undergo medical tests. This will influence the doctor's decision in choosing the right ovarian cancer treatment.
Cancer specialists are divided into several types. If you are suspected of having ovarian cancer, you will be referred to a gynecological oncologist, a specialist who treats cancer in the female reproductive system.
In this way, the doctor will be more confident in diagnosing the type of ovarian cancer you have, such as epithelial tumors, germ cell tumors, or stromal tumors. Some of the ways that are done can also help doctors to detect ovarian cancer earlier.
Some of the health tests that are intended to help doctors diagnose ovarian cancer include:
1. Physical health tests and medical history
The first way to detect and diagnose ovarian cancer is to do a physical test and check the patient's medical history.
The doctor will ask what symptoms of cancer are felt, when these symptoms began to occur, and how long the patient has had them. The doctor will also ask about various risk factors that they may have, such as the patient's family medical history.
It should be noted that ovarian cancer can be passed on by families due to inherited mutations of certain genes. In addition, the doctor will most likely perform a pelvic exam to see if the ovaries are enlarged or to see signs of ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity).
If the doctor finds anything suspicious based on this test, you will be asked to do further medical tests.
2. Imaging tests
The next test to make a diagnosis of ovarian cancer is an imaging test. The goal is to see a picture of the ovaries, the location of the tumor, and how far it has spread to other tissues or organs (metastatic).
Imaging tests that are commonly used to detect cancer of the ovaries are:
- Ultrasound
Imaging tests use sound waves to confirm the presence of ovarian tumors or cysts and determine their size.
- CT scan
Imaging tests with X-rays to help find out if cancer cells have spread to other organs.
- Barium enema X-ray
Ovarian cancer diagnosis tests to see whether cancer cells have invaded the colon and anus. This test is not necessary, if the doctor recommends a colonoscopy.
- MRI scan
This medical test uses strong magnetic energy to confirm that cancer cells have spread to the spinal cord or brain.
- Chest X-ray
This medical test is done when the doctor wants to make sure cancer cells have spread to the lungs or not which is usually indicated by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion).
- PET scan
This scanning test uses radioactive glucose which is injected into the body. These areas of the body that are high in sugar are likely to have abnormal cells. PET scans are used to see the spread of ovarian cancer.
3. Laparoscopy and colonoscopy
The way to detect cancer and diagnose ovarian cancer that may be chosen is laparoscopy. Laparoscopy can help doctors see how far the cancer has spread and help doctors determine the stage of ovarian cancer a patient has. In fact, it helps find ovarian cancer complications that have struck a patient.
Apart from laparoscopy, ovarian cancer cells that are suspected of having reached the large intestine will be confirmed by colonoscopy. When you see abnormal cells around the colon or anus, the doctor may decide to take a biopsy.
4. Biopsy
A biopsy is a fairly accurate test to diagnose ovarian cancer. The reason is, the doctor will take the abnormal tissue and will make it as a sample. The sample is taken to a laboratory and viewed through a microscope.
5. Blood test
Apart from a biopsy, a medical test that is usually recommended to help confirm a diagnosis of ovarian cancer is the CA-125 blood test. This is because CA-125 levels in women with epithelial tumor types tend to be high.
Then, by detecting ovarian cancer, doctors can see the level human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Low levels of hormones in the blood can also be a sign of a germ cell tumor.
High blood levels of inhibin and the hormones estrogen and progesterone can also indicate a stromal tumor type ovarian cancer.
If the diagnosis of ovarian cancer is positive
If the above health tests show a positive result for ovarian cancer, your doctor will advise you to attend counseling and testing to see changes in certain genes, even if your family has no history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or colon cancer.
Although the cause of ovarian cancer is not known with certainty, health experts believe that the cause of this cancer is the same as cancer in general, namely mutations in DNA in cells.
DNA contains instructions for cells to function normally. When mutations occur, DNA will be damaged, as will the cell's command system in it. This will cause the cells to work abnormally and become cancerous.
According to the American Cancer Society website, the most common mutations occur in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, ATM, BRIP1, RAD51C / RAD51D, MSH2, MLH1, MSH6, and PMS6.
Through genetic counseling and testing, it will be easier for your doctor to find out what type of ovarian cancer you have. That way, the doctor can also determine which chemotherapy drugs and targeted therapeutic drugs are suitable to be prescribed.
