Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer - How Does it Work?.(chemo for ovarian cancer)

chemo for ovarian cancer

There are three main treatments for ovarian cancer, once a diagnosis is made. These are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. In some cases it will be recommended to have two or even all three of these treatments. When chemotherapy is recommended, it is usually given after the surgery in 6 doses spaced 3 weeks apart. This is called "first line" because it is the first time chemo is administered.

The chemotherapy drugs are injected intravenously, often by way of a port which your oncologist will place in your chest or arm. Sometimes intraperitoneal chemo is used which injects the drugs directly into the abdomen.

The standard initial therapy suggested by doctors uses a combination of a platinum-based drug such as carboplatin or cisplatin along with a taxane such as paclitaxel or docetaxel.

Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells that are left in your body after surgery, but they also damage normal cells, as the drugs do not differentiate between normal and diseased. The simple explanation is that they work by destroying rapidly-dividing cells which is a description of cancer cells. Unfortunately, other cells in the body also fall under this category and are also damaged in the process. The hair follicles are an example, which is why most patients experience hair loss. It is only a temporary condition though and the hair will begin to grow back almost immediately after the chemo is stopped, although in some cases it will look different at first. Other healthy cells that are damaged include red and white blood cells, platelets (which are needed for clotting), and cells that line the gastrointestinal tract. This can often cause the nausea which is so common with the treatment.

Because the chemo drugs can damage the bone marrow that normally produce cells, patients can experience low blood cell counts and often must take yet another medication to encourage the bone marrow to begin producing cells again. The combination of all of these drugs sometimes causes people to have mild forgetfulness and memory loss often referred to as "chemo brain." This should go away once treatments end.

Looking for alternative treatments for yourself or a loved one who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer? Go to http://www.ovcainformationandhelp.com to learn about early warning signs and other helpful tips for side effects.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Daniels

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Ovarian Cancer Symptoms.(chemo for ovarian cancer)

chemo for ovarian cancer

The symptoms of ovarian cancer can appear months before the cancer is found. Unless a woman is getting the tests that would reveal the cancer these symptoms many times wont be diagnosed. This alone is one of the problems with detecting ovarian cancer in its early stages. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are quite often dismissed due to the fact that they can be rather benign.

Stomach swelling and digestive problems for instance which are common symptoms of the presence of ovarian can be easily dismissed and ignored. Stomach problems are something everyone experiences at various times in their life. Ovarian cancer afflicts more than twenty-two- thousand women annually in the U.S. If caught in the early stages this cancer is treatable as goes for many other cancers.

If detected in its early stages, before it has spread from the ovaries a woman has a ninety percent chance of living for at least another five years. Unfortunately, less than twenty percent of ovarian cancer is detected in its early stage, Due to the fact that the symptoms of ovarian cancer don't involve the ovaries themselves the cancer many times can be overlooked as tests like stomach imaging can overlook the ovaries.

This is not to say that every time a woman gets a stomach ache or pelvic pain she should dash off to be tested for ovarian cancer. In cases where problems are persistent though researchers have concluded that ovarian cancer should be considered. If tests have ruled out other causes than tests for ovarian cancer should be performed. Ovarian cancer is a relatively rare cancer in women, it afflicts a small part of the general population and makes up a small percentage of the cancers afflicting women in general.

For the woman stricken with this form of cancer the statistics mean nothing though. So it appears from research findings that women have to take a greater part in the detection of this disease due to the nature of the symptoms and the elusive nature of this disease and with early detection so imperative in determining the survival rate of women afflicted with ovarian cancer.

If tests have ruled out other causes for the symptoms than tests for ovarian cancer should be performed earlier in the diagnosis process. A womans early response to the persistent symptoms related to ovarian cancer can be the key to her survival. New research has discovered that ultrasound and the CA125 test were many times not effective in detecting ovarian cancer in its early stages even in women already at high risk for developing the disease.

Women at high risk include women with a family history of the disease and women predisposed to it due to genetic mutations that can make ovarian cancer more likely. Of the two tests the blood test has shown to be more effective in finding ovarian cancer but it can sometimes give false positive results. Statistics are not good for the early detection of the cancer so other means must be developed it seems.

Experts agree that more research is needed in the area of detection of the disease as this seems to be so critical in determining the survival rate for ovarian cancer. The symptoms will always be the same though so for their part women must make themselves more aware of this cancer and its early detection. Tracking the symptoms can only be of help. Keeping an accurate record of your early symptoms and being persistent during the evaluation process can be the difference between surviving and not surviving ovarian cancer.

Article by Sven Ullmann, who runs Deserved Health - information on health for you and your family. Read more about ovarian cancer symptoms.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sven_Ullmann

-chemo for ovarian cancer-

What to Do If You Have a Family History of Ovarian Cancer.(chemo for ovarian cancer)

chemo for ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is a serious and silent disease amongst women. Certain families may even have a history of ovarian cancer. Those with a family history of ovarian cancer are at an increased risk of developing it themselves. While you can’t completely do away with the risk of ovarian cancer through diet and exercise you will be able to significantly reduce the risk of ovarian cancer as well as all other types of cancer. Staying healthy and watching your weight is an important personal strategy to help your body stay healthy and avoid all types of cancer and diseases. However, if you have a family history of ovarian cancer then is it even more important that you pay close attention to your body.

If you have a family history of ovarian cancer then the first recommendation is to have genetic counseling on the issue of ovarian cancer. This will help you learn if you have one of the two gene mutations that can lead to ovarian cancer. If you find out that your family has a negative history of ovarian cancer or that you do not have either of the gene mutations then you can enjoy the good news since is means both yourself and your child will have a better chance at not developing ovarian cancer.

However, if you find you do have either of the gene mutations then you shouldn’t become discouraged. You will have options to help prevent your ovarian cancer. However, you will need to pay more attention to your body and have pap tests done more often and take a more aggressive approach to your diet. Your doctor will help your determine the best prevention strategy to meet your needs.

Jeanette Pollock is a freelance author and website owner of ovariancancerdomain.com. Visit Jeanette's site to learn more about ovarian cancer prevention.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeanette_Pollock

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