Medical History:

The diagnosis of ovarian cancer begins with physical examination. The doctors ask various questions regarding her medical history and some other things. The doctor collect information by asking about  following things previous cancer history , use of contraceptives pills , pregnancy , breast-feeding history , family history relating to ovarian cancer , hysterectomy etc.

Imaging Studies:

The doctor perform various tests in order to know about the the size, shape, location, and consistency of the ovaries.

Ultrasound:

In this test, a transducer probe is used that releases the sound waves which bounce off the ovaries.  These sound waves are collected and afterwards transmitted onto a video screen so that a picture can be created. This picture is named as sonogram. There are two type of ultrasound.

Transvaginal sonography TVS:

In this method the  probe is placed within ovaries therefore the doctors get  clear cut picture .

Transabdominal ultrasonography:

When the doctor placed the probe on the abdominal wall then it is called transabdominal ultrasonography

The doctor sometime accompanied the TVS with a laboratory blood  test i.e. CA125 as this improve the diagnosis’s potential.

Transvaginal color flow Doppler:

In this ultrasound , doctors determine the presence of cancerous growth by measuring the blood flow to the ovaries.  The tumor of ovary requires the many new vessels for proper circulation therefore low resistance and pulsatile indexes pinpoint the presence of a cancerous tumor. A high frequency probe is placed within vagina and then a graph  show the blood measurement in the form of the resistance index (holding back of blood flow) and pulsatile index (speed of blood flow).

Other Ovarian Cancer Tests

Laboratory Tests

CA125/ OC-125:

It is a blood protein known as tumor maker. When the level of this protein exceed from 35 units then it is said that the patient’s ovaries are affected by cancerous cells.

BRCA1 and BRCA2:

These are the genes and when these genes are mutated then the likelihood of ovarian cancer increased. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation screening is performed by doctors to know about the degree of risk.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology :

In this test , a doctor collects that cells which are affected by ovarian tumor and after that doctor examine these cells under microscope. In order to avoid the risk and problem associated with this test , doctor may accompany it with CT scan and ultrasound for getting guidance about the affected areas.

Biopsy:

This test is performed during surgery and it is done to check the extent of cancer and also about he cause of ovarian cancer. In this test a sample of cancerous affected tissue are taken by the doctor and then this sample is examined by a pathologist under microscope.

Ovarian cancer is very common in the women of developed countries and especially in those who faced menopause situation sometime. First risk factor or cause that is quite considerable is the faulty inherited genes that termed as BRCA1 and BRCA2. The presences of these genes increase the development of not only ovarian cancerous cells but also the malignant cells of breast. But it does not mean that if your close relative such as your mother, daughter or sister suffered from this cancer then you may become the victim of it , this cancer occurs as a matter of chance.

According to some researchers the process of tissue-repair may be caused  ovarian cancer. This process follows the monthly egg release by ovulation during the woman’s reproductive years. Sometimes, genetic error results during the formation and division of new cells at the rupture site.

Other causes of ovarian cancer include HRT, obesity, smoking, and endometriosis, overweight. HRT is the Hormone Replacement Therapy. If a woman goes for this therapy more than five year then may be this continuous exposure starts ovarian cancer .It is also said by the researchers that abnormal cell or ovary cancerous cells growth stimulates just because of increased hormonal levels before and during ovulation.

The woman who is overweight or faced the obesity problem may encounter ovarian cancer. Sometime menopause delay or early periods may become the cause of ovarian cancer.The risk of ovarian cancer becomes less common in the women who are using the contraceptive pills or have more children. The more children reduce this risk. The women who breastfed their children or had a hysterectomy may not become the victim of ovarian cancer in their life.

It is normal for old body cells to die and give way for new ones to grow and divide to form other cells. At times, body cells may divide abnormally in excess. These excess cells eventually form a mass of tissue that results in a tumour. Such a tumour can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Cancerous tumours like ovarian cancers are life threatening. They can be removed but will grow back again. They can spread and damage surrounding tissues or organs. The cells spread by breaking away from the original organ (primary), enter the bloodstream or the lymp system and infect other tissues or organs.
There are three main types of ovarian cancer:  benign (non-cancerous), cysts, which are more common than ovarian cancers and epithelial cells on the surface of the ovary. Symptoms of ovarian cancer do not appear immediately. They appear very late when the ovarian cancer has spread extensively. No definite screening for early detection is possible. The symptoms of ovarian cancer include pelvic pain, urgent or frequent urination and feeling full very quickly while eating.The drug paclitaxel has been widely used.

This is a natural or semi synthetic diterpene extracted from the plant Taxus brevifolia. It promotes the assembly of microtubules from tubulin dimmers and stabilizes microtubules by preventing depolymerization, leading to the inhibition of the normal dynamic reorganization of the microtubule network. Before administering, a patient must be pre-medicated with anti-allergic agent like steroids and antihistamines.