Ovarian cancer affects the ovaries, the glands that produce eggs that are used for reproduction. It can often be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Women have a better chance of survival if the disease is diagnosed early.
Pelvic Exam
During a pelvic exam, a doctor looks at and feels the ovaries, vagina, uterus and rectum for abnormal growths.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of the inside of a woman's body. The test is used to find growths in ovaries, but it usually cannot distinguish between cancerous and noncancerous growths.
Imaging Scans
A computerized tomography (CT) scan uses x-rays to get cross-sectional pictures of the body. This test can show how large a tumor is and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. A positive emission tomography (PET) scan utilizes radioactive glucose, which produce pictures of different parts of the body, to look for the presence of cancer.
CA 125 Blood Test
A CA 125 blood test is used to test levels of a protein called CA 125 in the body. Women with ovarian cancer often have high levels of this protein.
Laparoscopy
A laparoscopy is a test that uses a lighted probe to get pictures of the ovaries and pelvic organs and tissues. It can be used to show whether cancer has spread to other organs and tissues.
Biopsy
To determine whether a growth in the ovaries is cancerous, doctors often remove a tumor and send it to a laboratory to be examined.
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