Buzz
1. How Long Can One Survive with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer?
Stage 3 ovarian cancer can progress in different ways:
- Stage 3A: Cancer is in one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes and may extend to organs outside the pelvic bones.
- Stage 3B: Cancer is in one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes and may spread or grow into organs outside the pelvic bones. Tumor size is not larger than 2 cm.
- Stage 3C: Cancer is in one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes or has spread to the abdominal lining and extended to organs outside the pelvic bones. The tumor is larger than 2 cm and may be outside the liver, spleen.
Survival duration for stage 3 ovarian cancer patients depends on disease progression and various factors. According to the American Cancer Society, the survival rate is approximately 63% for stage 3A, 53% for stage 3B, and around 41% for stage 3C.
2. What Are the Typical Symptoms of Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer?
In Stage III, the tumor has grown, invaded, and compressed organs near the ovaries. Consequently, symptoms become more pronounced and severe. Clinical and subclinical manifestations in this stage are quite similar to previous stages and include:
- Bloating, abdominal distension
- Stiffness in the pelvis
- Persistent and frequent abdominal pain
- Digestive disturbances, loss of appetite, altered taste
- Unexplained weight loss
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Menstrual irregularities
Unlike Stage 1 or Stage 2 ovarian cancer, symptoms in Stage 3 (especially 3C) are persistent and severe, prompting patients to seek gynecological examination. This explains why most cases of ovarian cancer are detected in this stage.
3. How is Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer Treated?
Just as determining the life expectancy in stage 3 ovarian cancer serves as a basis for evaluation, the treatment approach for patients in this stage depends on several factors. Some treatment methods applicable for stage 3 ovarian cancer include:
- Surgery: Depending on the case, doctors may recommend removing the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix. Surgical intervention at this stage can reduce tumor mass, and debulking surgery remains essential for better prognosis.
- Radiation Therapy: Used as an adjunct therapy post-surgery or for patients unresponsive to chemotherapy. Radiation therapy for ovarian cancer patients can be localized or delivered externally to the entire abdominal and pelvic area, slowing tumor growth and destroying cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy: A common method in ovarian cancer treatment, involving systemic administration of drugs to kill cancer cells. Additionally, chemotherapy may alleviate some disease symptoms.
4. Which Women Are Prone to Ovarian Cancer?
Up to now, the exact causes of ovarian cancer remain unclear. However, if someone in your family, be it your mother, sisters, or daughters, has had ovarian cancer, your risk of contracting the disease is 5%. If you are nulliparous or have a history of using fertility-stimulating drugs for infertility treatment, your risk increases.
Ovarian cancer can occur at any age, but the risk is highest for women as they age, especially postmenopausal women. Being overweight in youth also elevates the risk of developing ovarian cancer after menopause.
