Beforemenopause, or the cessation of menstruation, ovarian cysts are less likely to be cancerous.

They are more likely the result of normal ovulation and other causes.

Ifovarian canceris suspected, a healthcare provider will perform a pelvic exam and run some tests.

Treatment commonly involves surgery, but may include chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, and other therapies.

It also further explains how ovarian cancer may be diagnosed and treated.

There are many other possible reasons, especially before you reach menopause.

The risk of ovarian cancer tends to rise with age, with most cases occurring after menopause.

The 10-year risk rises slightly to 0.4% for a woman at age 70.

The overall lifetime risk of a woman developing ovarian cancer is 1.3%.

There also are risk factors that can increase a womans odds of a malignancy.

The lifetime risk through age 80 and up is 1.3%.

Abnormal ovarian cysts often are calledpathologic cystsin lab reports.

Most pathologic cysts end up being deemed benign.

Many women with ovarian cancer will have few if any symptoms, particularly in the early stages.

If there are symptoms, they often are non-specific.

Its easy to think they are due to less serious conditions.

Women with ovarian cancer will often have vague abdominal symptoms.

They include:

Where these symptoms become more relevant is in women over 50.

Recap

Ovarian cysts rarely lead to a cancer diagnosis in women who have not reached menopause.

In most cases, there is another reason for these cysts.

Diagnosis

Most ovarian cysts are found during an annual pelvic exam.

However, thats not typically the case with ovarian cancer, especially in postmenopausal women.

This is due to concern that the biopsy itself may spread any cancer cells.

Instead, a definitive diagnosis is achieved through surgery.

Of these investigations, 13% to 21% will reveal cancer.

This is called debulking.

Many women with ovarian cancer will undergo ahysterectomywithbilateralsalpingo-oophorectomy.

This means the uterus, both ovaries, and both fallopian tubes are removed.

Most women, however, are likely to have both ovaries removed.

This is true even if they are younger and hope to become pregnant one day.

Chemotherapy

This usually involves platinum-based drugs like cisplatin or carboplatin.

Other drugs may be added to chemotherapy.

They are usually given through an IV every three to four weeks for three to six cycles.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapies help to kill cancer cells but cause minimal harm to normal tissues.

Their use is based on specific genetic mutations, or changes, that are associated with ovarian cancer.

A link between BRCA genes and an elevated risk of ovarian cancer is well-established.

These treatments work by blocking the action ofestrogen, a hormone that can influence the growth of certain cancers.

Hormone therapy options include:

Radiation

Radiation therapyis less commonly used to treat a primary ovarian tumor.

It is more often used to treat areas where cancer hasmetastasized(spread).

Brachytherapy, involving the implantation of radioactive seeds into tumors, is rarely used to treat ovarian cancer.

Treatment for ovarian cancer begins with surgery for most women.

The goal is to remove as much of the cancer as possible.

In many cases, the internal reproductive organs also may be removed.

Surgery is often followed by chemotherapy.

Other options include targeted therapy drugs and hormonal therapy.

Summary

Ovarian cysts are quite common in women.

Most of the time, these cysts are benign.

They do not mean a cancer diagnosis, and some may even resolve on their own.

Others are linked to different conditions, such as PCOS.

But there is a risk of ovarian cancer associated with these cysts.

Though it is rare, that cancer risk increases with age.

Symptoms seen in women age 50 and over become more of a cause for concern.

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