To plan the best treatment, your doctor needs to know the grade of the
tumor (see Diagnosis) and the extent (stage) of the disease. The stage is
based on whether the tumor has invaded nearby tissues, whether the cancer
has spread, and if so, to what parts of the body.
Usually, surgery is needed before staging can be complete. The surgeon takes
many samples of tissue from the pelvis and abdomen to look for cancer.
Your doctor may order tests to find out whether the cancer has spread:
CT scan: Doctors often use CT scans to make pictures of organs and tissues in
the pelvis or abdomen. An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes several
pictures. You may receive contrast material by mouth and by injection into your
arm or hand. The contrast material helps the organs or tissues show up more
clearly. Abdominal fluid or a tumor may show up on the CT scan.
Chest x-ray: X-rays of the chest can show tumors or fluid.
Barium enema x-ray: Your doctor may order a series of x-rays of the lower
intestine. You are given an enema with a barium solution. The barium outlines
the intestine on the x-rays. Areas blocked by cancer may show up on the x-rays.
Colonoscopy: Your doctor inserts a long, lighted tube into the rectum and
colon. This exam can help tell if cancer has spread to the colon or rectum.
These are the stages of ovarian cancer:
Stage I: Cancer cells are found in one or both ovaries. Cancer cells
may be found on the surface of the ovaries or in fluid collected from the
abdomen.
Stage II: Cancer cells have spread from one or both ovaries to other
tissues in the pelvis. Cancer cells are found on the fallopian tubes, the
uterus, or other tissues in the pelvis. Cancer cells may be found in fluid
collected from the abdomen.
Stage III: Cancer cells have spread to tissues outside the pelvis or
to the regional lymph nodes. Cancer cells may be found on the outside of the
liver.
Stage IV: Cancer cells have spread to tissues outside the abdomen and
pelvis. Cancer cells may be found inside the liver, in the lungs, or in other
organs.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled, sac-like structures within an ovary. Causes of ovarian cysts are numerous. Symptoms of an ovarian cysts may be pain in the belly or pelvis. Treatment of an ovarian cysts depends on type of cyst.
Ascites, the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity is most commonly caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Some of the other causes of ascites include portal hypertension, congestive heart failure, blood clots, and pancreatitis. The most common symptoms include increased abdominal girth and size, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain. Treatment depends on the cause of ascites.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
Most often, caregivers take care of other adults who are ill or disabled. Less often, caregivers are grandparents raising their grandchildren. The majority of caregivers are middle-aged women. Caregiving can be very stressful, so it's important to recognize when it's putting to much strain on you and to take steps to prevent/relieve stress.
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