See your doctor as soon as possible if you have any Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer.
Your GP will gently feel your tummy (abdomen) and ask you about your symptoms, general health and whether there’s a history of ovarian or Breast Cancer in your family.
They may carry out an internal examination and may take a blood sample or refer you for an ultrasound scan. If needed, you may also be referred to a specialist (a gynaecologist or gynaecological oncologist) at a hospital.
You may have a blood test to look for a protein called CA125 in your blood. CA125 is produced by some ovarian cancer cells. A very high level of CA125 may indicate that you have ovarian cancer.
However, CA125 isn’t specific to ovarian cancer and it can be raised in conditions including endometriosis, Fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease and pregnancy, so a raised CA125 level doesn’t definitely mean you have ovarian cancer.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance that recommends testing for CA125 if you frequently experience:
If you experience unexplained weight loss, fatigue or changes in your bowel habits, such as diarrhoea or constipation, you may also be tested for CA125.
If you’re 50 or over and you’ve experienced symptoms that could suggest irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the last 12 months, such as bloating, abdominal pain or changes in your bowel habits, your doctor should test your CA125 level.
Around half of all women with early stage ovarian cancer have a raised level of CA125 in their blood. If your CA125 level is raised, you’ll be referred for an ultrasound scan.
An ultrasound scan uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of your ovaries. You may have an internal ultrasound where the ultrasound probe is inserted into your vagina, or you may have an external ultrasound, where the probe is put next to your stomach.
The image produced can show the size and texture of your ovaries, plus any cysts or other swellings that are present.
If you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you may have further tests to see how large the cancer is and if it’s spread. This is called staging.
Other tests you may have include:
Staging helps your doctors to decide on the best kind of treatment for your condition. However, it’s important to remember that the stage of your ovarian cancer alone cannot predict how your condition will progress.
If your test results indicate that you have ovarian cancer, it will be given a stage. The stage describes the size of the cancer and how far it has spread. The four commonly used stages of ovarian cancer are:
This is a simplified guide. Each stage is further divided into categories A, B and C. Ask your doctor if you’re not sure what stage you have.
The grade of cancer refers to the appearance of cells under a microscope. The grades are as follows:
Read More ON:
Ovarian Cancer
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Causes of Ovarian Cancer
Treating Ovarian Cancer
Preventing Ovarian Cancer
Fibroids
Diagnosing Fibroids
Treating Fibroids
Complications of Fibroids
Vaginal Cancer
Causes of Vaginal Cancer
Diagnosing Vaginal Cancer
Treating Vaginal Cancer
Womb Cancer
Symptoms of Womb Cancer
Causes of Womb Cancer
Diagnosing Womb Cancer
Treating Womb Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Causes of Cervical Cancer
Diagnosing Cervical Cancer
Treating Cervical Cancer
Preventing Cervical Cancer
Dry Vagina
SOURCE: NHS UK
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-ovary/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx