Ovarian Cancer - Early Assessment And Initial Tests

1.    On physical examination done by a doctor, he/she may feel an enlarge ovary and other suspicious abnormalities.

2.    An ultra sound scan assessment, a painless test which uses sound waves to create images of structures inside the body may confirm an enlarged or abnormal ovary. Here the probe of the scanner may be place on the abdomen or inside the vagina to scan the ovaries.

3.    CA-125 blood test – a sample of blood from the patient can detect a protein called CA -125. The level of CA-125 is high in more than 8 in 10 women with advanced ovarian cancer and in about half of women with early ovarian cancer. Other non-cancerous conditions can also cause a high level. This means that this test does not conclusively diagnose or rule out ovarian cancer, but it can be helpful in monitoring the effects of ovarian cancer in those already undergoing medical intervention.

Other Test/Staging The Cancer

Depending on the symptoms that the concern individual has and the results of the initial tests, further tests may be recommended. These tests can help to confirm the diagnosis and ‘stage’ the disease. The aim of staging is to find out:

1.    How much the tumour has grown and whether it has grown to other nearby structures such as the uterus, bladder or rectum.

2.    Whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body (metastasized)

3.    Whether the cancer has spread to local lymph glands (nodes).

Stages of ovarian cancer range from ‘borderline’ and stage 1 (where the cancer is totally confined to an ovary) to stage 4 (where there is extensive spread of the cancer). Tests that are used may include one or more of the following:

•    CT scan or MRI scans of the lower abdomen. These scans can provide details of the structure of the internal organs.

•    A chest x-ray to check if the cancer has spread to the lungs.

•    Blood tests to assess the general health and to check if the cancer has affected the function of the liver or kidneys.

•    Scans of the bowel or urinary tract. These tests are more likely to be needed if there are symptoms such as constipation or too frequent urination which may indicate the cancer has spread to these areas.

•    Aspiration of fluid in the abdomen and screen for cancer cells.

•    Laparoscopy – this is procedure done to look inside the abdomen by using a laparoscope which is passed through a small incision made on the abdomen skin. It light up and magnifies the structures inside the abdomen. The ovaries and other internal organs can be seen whilst small samples (biopsies) can be taken for inspection under the microscope to detect and confirm cancer cells.