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Sign of Final Stages of Ovarian Cancer

When cancer is diagnosed, the patient is given a stage to describe its severity. The stages reflect the progress of the cancer and the doctor has to figure out if it has metastasized and if so, how much. There are generally four stages, the fourth one being the worst. At stage four, the cancer has fully advanced. In ovarian cancer, stage four means the cancer has spread to the liver, lungs and other organs outside the abdomen. Unfortunately, a lot of patients may not experience symptoms until their cancer has advanced to this final stage; by then it is almost always too late to help them.

  1. Risks of Ovarian Cancer

    • If you have a family history of ovarian cancer or even breast cancer, it is wise to have regular checkups with your doctor and possibly even consider genetic testing and other preemptive measures, in order to stay on top of your health. If you have not had at least one child, this could also put you at risk. Certain hormones/hormone treatments may cause ovarian cancer. Your risk is also increased if you are overweight or infertile.

    How it Metastasizes

    • There are basically three different types of tumors: epithelial, germ cell, and stromal. These tumors can metastasize to nearby areas in the abdominal or pelvic region, or the blood and lymphatic system can carry the cancer all over your body.

    Stage Four Ovarian Cancer

    • If you are diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer, this means the cancer has spread to different areas of your body, not just in your abdominal region. It may have spread to your lungs, liver, or other vital organs in your body. With stage four ovarian cancer, only 17.5% of patients will survive for five years or longer.

    Symptoms

    • In the early stages of ovarian cancer, you may not experience any symptoms, or if you do, they may not be very noticeable. It is important to stay aware of these symptoms, so that you can collaborate with your doctor at checkups to make sure that he is not missing any details.
      You may feel pain or even pressure in your abdomen, pelvis, or in your lower back. You may feel the need to urinate quite frequently, as the tumor grows larger, scrunching on your bladder and other organs. As the cancer progresses to the final stages, the pain is going to get much worse, and you may develop a condition called ascites, which is fluid in your abdominal region. You might have a very upset stomach, which leads to losing weight. You may even experience a lot of flatulence, or gas. You will probably feel tired all the time and even experience changes in your periods or with bowel movements.

    Treatment

    • If the doctor is able, he may try to surgically remove the tumor, after which you will undergo chemo. Stage four ovarian cancer carries with it a heavy prognosis, most of the time, leading to death, if not caught early on.

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