Ovarian Cancer Treatment In India

Ovarian Cancer Treatment in India: From Diagnosis to Victory

Ovarian cancer is the abnormal growth of ovarian cells. These cells multiply quickly and can invade and destroy healthy tissues. Ovarian cancer is sometimes difficult to detect because symptoms do not develop until the later stages.

If you have ovarian cancer and you are struggling to find the best treatment options in India, you are in the right place. Here, we will discuss in detail what ovarian cancer is, what treatment options are available in India, and the best hospitals and doctors providing ovarian cancer treatment in India.

Besides, we will also let you know how you can avail the best facilities in India for the treatment of your ovarian cancer.

Let us delve into the details one by one.

What are ovaries?

Ovaries are reproductive glands found only in females. They produce eggs for reproduction and are also the main source of female hormones estrogen and progesterone. One ovary is on each side of the uterus.

Ovarian cancer and its types

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. It develops when abnormal cells in the ovaries grow and multiply, thus leading to the formation of tumors.

Types:

Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Commonest type of ovarian cancer. They start on the outer surface of the ovaries. They can be benign, borderline malignant, or malignant.
This cancer can be further classified into:

● Primary Peritoneal carcinoma: It is a rare type of cancer that is closely related to epithelial ovarian cancer. It starts in the cells lining inside of the fallopian tube.
● Fallopian Tube Cancer: It is another cancer that is similar to epithelial cancer. It begins in the tube that carries an egg from the ovary to the uterus.

Germ Cells Ovarian Tumors: These tumors start from the cells that produce eggs. Most of these tumors are benign, but some are cancerous and life-threatening as well. Its subtypes are:

● Teratomas
● Dysgerminomas
● Endodermal sinus tumors
Stromal Tumors: These tumors start from the structural tissue cells that hold the ovaries together and produce female hormones like estrogen and progesterone. The most common symptom of this tumor is vaginal bleeding.

Ovarian Cysts: A cyst is the collection of fluid inside the ovary. It is concerning for women who are not ovulating. Even though most of these cysts are benign, a few of them could turn out to be cancerous as well.

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

Initially, ovarian cancer does not cause any signs and symptoms. The symptoms develop in the later stages and are as follows:

● Abdominal bloating and swelling
● Quickly feeling full after eating
● Discomfort in the pelvic area
● Fatigue
● Back pain
● Changes in bowel habits
● A frequent need to urinate

Ovarian Cancer Causes

Ovarian cancer begins when cells near the ovaries develop changes in the DNA. The changes tell the cells to grow and multiply quickly, creating a mass of cancer cells. This causes cancer cells to live and healthy cells to die.

Who is at risk?

Factors that increase the risk of getting ovarian cancer are:

● Getting older
● Being overweight or obese
● Women who have their first full-term pregnancy after the age of 35 years
● Women taking hormone therapy after menopause
● Women who have a family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or colorectal cancer
● Endometriosis
● Beginning menstruation at an early age or starting menopause at a later age.
● Never having been pregnant.

Gene mutations: A small percentage of cancers are caused by gene mutations that you inherit from your parents. The genes that increase the risk of ovarian cancer include BRCA1 AND BRCA2. These genes also increase the risk of breast cancer.

Several other genes increase the risk of ovarian cancer, like BRIP1, RAD51C, and RAD51D.

Ovarian Cancer Stages

The stage of cancer tells you how big your cancer is and how far it has spread. The stages are as follows:

Stage 1: In this stage, the cancer is only in the ovaries. Surgery and chemotherapy are the main treatment options at this stage.

Stage 2: At this stage, the cancer has grown outside the ovaries and is growing in the pelvis too. Surgery and chemotherapy are used at this stage.

Stage 3: At this stage, the cancer has spread outside the pelvis and to the lymph nodes as well.
Stage 4: At this stage, cancer has spread to other body organs some distance away from the ovaries, like the liver or lungs.

Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

The tests involved in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer are:

● Imaging tests
● Ultrasound
● CT Scans
● MRI Scans
● PET Scan
● Laparoscopy
● Colonoscopy
● Biopsy
● Blood Tests – (Ca 125)
● Genetic Testing – (BRACA 1 & 2)

Once it is confirmed that you have cancer, your doctor will use information from your tests and procedures to assign a cancer stage. The stages of ovarian cancer are from stage 1 to stage 4.

Treatment Options available in India to treat ovarian cancer

Your treatment decision will depend on :

● How far the cancer has spread
● The type of cancer
● How cells look under a microscope
● Your general health and fitness levels

Surgery

The surgery in India can be done via three methods:

● Traditional Method
● Laparoscopic Method
● Robotic Method

You have to discuss with your doctor which approach he will follow and why.

● Surgery to remove one ovary: if the cancer is at an early stage and has not spread beyond one ovary, then surgery involves removing one ovary and its fallopian tube. This procedure preserves your ability to bear children in the future. It is also known as unilateral oophorectomy.

● Surgery to remove both ovaries: if your cancer is extensive, then your surgeon can remove both your ovaries and both fallopian tubes. You can still become pregnant via frozen embryos if your uterus is left intact.

● Surgery to remove ovaries and uterus: if the stage of the cancer is high and you do not wish to have children in the future, then your surgeon here in India will remove both ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and nearby lymph nodes. This ovarian cancer treatment is called abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

Surgery for advanced ovarian cancer – Cytoreductive surgery in India

Advanced cancer means that your cancer has spread away from the ovaries (stages 2, 3, 4)

● You will have surgery to remove your ovaries, fallopian tube, womb, and cervix. Your surgeon will remove as much cancer as possible if it has spread to your pelvis or abdomen. This surgery is called debulking. It is also known as cytoreductive surgery. This treatment option is available in all the best hospitals in India for ovarian cancer treatment.

● You will have chemotherapy after debulking surgery. The chemotherapy is done to kill the remaining cancer cells.

● You can also have chemotherapy before and after the surgery. This is called interval debulking surgery.

Surgery to the bowel

Sometimes, surgeons have to remove part of the bowel if the cancer has spread there and is blocking the bowel. They may have to create an opening (stoma) on the outside of the abdomen for stool to come out into a bag. This is called a colostomy.

It is often only temporary. The surgeon can do a smaller operation to close the stoma up again. This happens once everything has settled down from your first operation.

Sometimes, part of the small intestine may be removed. In this case, an ileostomy is done.
Debulking surgery can also involve the removal of the urinary bladder if the cancer has spread there.

Debulking surgery also involves the removal of the spleen, gallbladder, or part of the stomach, liver, or pancreas.

Comparing Different Methods of Surgery

Laparotomy

It is an operation to look inside your pelvis and abdomen to find out if ovarian cancer has spread. It is also done to take tissue biopsies.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that is used to kill the fast-growing cancer cells. These drugs can be injected via a vein and can also be taken through the mouth.

● Neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemotherapy before the surgery is used when the cancer is in an advanced stage and surgery is initially not feasible due to the extent of the tumor.
● Adjuvant chemotherapy or chemotherapy after the surgery is given to kill any remaining cancer cells that could not be removed during the surgery.

There are situations during which chemotherapy drugs may be heated and infused into the abdomen during the surgery. The drugs are left for a certain amount of time before they are drained. The operation is then completed.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy, another ovarian cancer treatment, uses high-energy X-rays to kill the cancer cells. It is useful when the cancer has spread either near the main tumor or any distant organ like the brain or the spinal cord.

Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy involves the use of hormones or hormone-blocking drugs to fight ovarian cancer. It is used to treat epithelial ovarian cancer or ovarian stromal tumors.

Targeted Drug Therapy

Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to attack parts of cancer cells that make them different from normal and healthy cells. Each type of targeted therapy works differently, but they all change the way cancer cells grow, repair, and divide.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy involves using medicines to stimulate a person’s immune system so that it can recognize cancer cells and destroy them.

Palliative Care

People with cancer need support and care, no matter what part of the journey they may be on. Communicating with your cancer care team is important as it will help you understand your treatment options and will help you make an informed decision.

After the ovarian cancer treatment:

After the treatment, it is important to keep several things in mind to support your overall recovery. Here is what you need to do:

● Attend all the follow-up appointments
● Adhere to your medications
● Be vigilant for any signs and symptoms of recurrence
● Adopt a healthy lifestyle
● Manage stress
● Be aware of your sexual health
● Seek support
● Stay informed
● Embrace self-care

Success Rate of Treatment or Survival Rate in India

Stage 1: About 95 % of women survive their cancer for five years or more after their diagnosis.
Stage 2: 70% survival rate
Stage 3: 25 %
Stage 4: 15%

What affects survival?

● When your cancer was diagnosed
● The type and grade of ovarian cancer
● Your general health and fitness
● Age

Prevention

There is no sure way to prevent ovarian cancer, but you can reduce the risks:

● Consider taking birth control pills.
● If you have a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer, discuss the risks with your doctor or a genetic counselor.
● Adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Also, read our Blog: Coping Up with Ovarian Cancer.
Also read our Blog: Questions to Ask Your Doctor after diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer.
Also, Read our blog: What is new in Ovarian Cancer Research?

Top Hospitals and Doctors Doing Ovarian Cancer Treatment in India

Above are the best doctors for ovarian cancer treatment in India.

Cost of Treatment: It depends on the stage and type of surgery and number of cycles of chemotherapy needed.

Evaluation on an OPD basis: 1200 USD, including biopsy, followed by treatment based on assessment.

Cross Border Care is the best medical consultant in India. When you contact us, we will help you with: 

• Arranging visa
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• Medicines at reasonable rates
• Affordable options to stay in India
• Over saving of 15% treatment cost through us

To know more about our services, please write to us at info@crossborderscare.com

We will help you to find the best Ovarian Cancer Treatment Doctors in India.