Specialised Units

Patients area

24-hour Emergency Cancer Care

Consultants

Ovarian Cancer Screening Guidelines

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women and the main cause of death due to gynaecological cancer.

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer originates in the ovaries. The ovaries are the female reproductive glands which produce eggs for fertilisation. The eggs travel through the Fallopian tubes towards the uterus where the fertilised egg is implanted and develops into a fetus. The ovaries are also the main source of female hormones: oestrogen and progesterone. There are two ovaries, one in either side of the pelvis.

 

There are more than 30 different types of ovarian tumours, which are classified according to their cell type. Some are benign (non-cancerous) and do not extend outside the ovary. Malignant (cancerous) tumours can spread to other parts of the body.

How does it usually start?

Usually, ovarian cancer does indeed cause symptoms, but they may be very vague at first and can be attributed to common, less serious processes such as indigestion, weight gain or changes frequently associated with ageing.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

 

• General abdominal discomfort or pain (wind, indigestion, swelling, cramps).
• Wind or a feeling of fullness, even after a light meal.
• Nausea, changes in bowel rhythm with diarrhoea or constipation, persistent urinary discomfort.
• Loss of appetite.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Unexplained increase in abdominal girth.
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding.
• Unusual tiredness.

 

The symptoms of ovarian cancer can be very vague, particularly in the early stages, which can lead to diagnosis in more advanced stages. This is why it is so important to have regular gynaecological check-ups, even if there are no symptoms, as this can help to detect any changes before the problem becomes more serious.

What are the risk factors?

There is no way to know for sure whether a woman will develop ovarian cancer. The majority of women who develop it are not considered high risk. However, several factors can increase a woman’s risk of suffering from ovarian cancer, for example:

 

• Being a middle-aged woman, or older.
• Having close maternal or paternal relatives (mother, sister, aunt or grandmother) who have had ovarian cancer.
• Having a genetic mutation called BRCA1 or BRCA2, or a genetic mutation associated with Lynch syndrome.
• Having had colorectal cancer or cancer of the breast or uterus.
• Being of East European Jewish descent.
• Having endometriosis (a condition in which the lining of the uterus grows in other parts of the body).
• Not having children or having difficulty getting pregnant. The more children a woman has, the less likely she is to suffer from ovarian cancer.

 ¿Qué métodos se utilizan para detectarlo?

For the majority of women there is no effective way of detecting cancer of the ovaries, peritoneum or Fallopian tubes. Current tests are not sufficiently reliable or accurate, especially in the initial stages of the disease, and our experts at HC Marbella have reached the conclusion that the risks generally outweigh the potential benefits. This is one reason why it is important that all women understand the risk factors for this disease and remain sensitive to changes which could be symptoms of it.

 

For higher risk women, generally we recommend the following screening guidelines at regular intervals:

 

• Transvaginal ultrasound. Of the varied imaging methods which have been assessed for use in ovarian cancer screening, transvaginal ultrasound is the most effective technique.
• Blood analysis for CA-125 marker. Markers are substances in the blood which can be detected in a blood test. CA-125 is a protein produced by more than 90% of advanced epithelial ovarian cancers, the most common form of the disease. The CA-125 protein has become the most common serum marker assessed for ovarian cancer screening.
• Pelvic examination

HC Marbella International Hospital

At HC Marbella we understand the importance of assessing cancer risk as well as detecting disease at an early stage, when there is a higher possibility of a full recovery.

 

If you have a history of cancer in your family we can provide you with information on hereditary cancer and genetics. Our Oncology Unit’s genetic counsellors and specialist doctors are able to analyse ways of minimising your cancer risk as much as possible.

 
Detection is an essential part of cancer prevention and treatment. Our doctors have developed screening guidelines for the most common cancers: breast, cervical, colorectal, head and neck, ovarian, prostate and skin, in line with their experience in the treatment of patients at HC Marbella.