Ovarian cancer metastasis

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Do Tuong Huan - Oncologist - Oncology Center - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.
Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the ovaries. Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women, the disease often progresses silently, so it is difficult to detect at an early stage.

1. What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the ovaries. There are many types of ovarian cancer: carcinoma (cancer that arises from the surface of the ovary), germ cell cancer (cancer that comes from the cells that produce eggs) and stromal cancer (cancer that occurs in the ovaries). from the supporting tissues around the ovary). Of these, carcinoma is the most common, while the other two are rarer.

2. The metastatic process of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is often not detected early. Most cases are discovered when the cancer has spread to the abdomen and pelvis. This is also the time when the disease has complications and begins to metastasize.

Ovarian cancer entering stage 3 marks the appearance of metastatic factor. After forming in the ovary for a certain period of time, cancer cells grow in more numbers and begin to separate outside the ovary, spreading to other tissues and organs through the process of colon cancer. sowing cancer cells into the abdominal cavity.
When ovarian cancer cells are released, they tend to seed into the peritoneum (peritoneum) and diaphragm (muscle separating the chest and abdomen) to form a new tumor at this location. Intra-abdominal metastatic ovarian cancer can produce abdominal fluid (also known as ascites or ascites), causing the abdomen to enlarge and the patient to feel fullness and swelling in the face and extremities.
Along with that process, ovarian cancer cells can also follow the blood or lymphatic system throughout the body. If going through the bloodstream, cancer cells will travel to other parts of the body such as bones, liver, brain, lungs, ... forming tumors there. When infiltrating the lymphatic system, cancer cells can metastasize to the lymph nodes, causing the lymph nodes to swell, causing pain for the patient.

3. Symptoms of metastatic ovarian cancer

Where ovarian cancer cells metastasize, they will form a malignant tumor there and cause symptoms specific to the organ it affects. Detail:

Ascites: ovarian cancer cells metastasize to the peritoneum, causing fluid to accumulate here and causing the abdomen to swell. Gastrointestinal obstruction: when ovarian cancer cells spread to the intestinal wall, they will create adhesions inside the intestines, causing intestinal spasms and blockages. The nutrients that feed the body are blocked in the digestive system, causing the patient to have anorexia, nausea and vomiting. It is also one of the leading causes of death in patients with end-stage ovarian cancer. Pain, difficulty breathing, jaundice, yellow eyes when cancer cells metastasize to the liver, causing pressure in the diaphragm. Shortness of breath, enlarged lungs, pleural effusion, ... when cancer cells metastasize to the lungs and surrounding pleural fluid. Pain and fatigue when ovarian cancer spreads to bones and joints. Headache, convulsions, muscle weakness, seizures, muscle atrophy, ... when cancer cells metastasize to the brain. If not treated in time, ovarian cancer patients not only face the risk of infertility but also have a high risk of death. Therefore, when seeing abnormal signs, women should go to the doctor early to be detected and treated actively.
Specialist Doctor II Do Tuong Huan has 20 years of experience in the examination, diagnosis and surgical treatment and chemotherapy of cancer pathologies. Dr. Huan used to work for a long time at Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital from 1999 to 2017 and now works at Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital from March 2017.
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