Ovarian cancer: Q&A with Dr Todorovic |11 September 2020
Photo source: The Woman’s Clinic
‘My advice to women is not to wait for signs and symptoms’
As part of observations for Ovarian Cancer Awareness month in September, Seychelles NATION spoke to Dr Miodrag Todorovic at Panafricare Clinic to learn more about this particular type of cancer.
Dr Todorovic also shares his advice to women for avoiding the risk of late detection, since early signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer can easily go unnoticed.
Seychelles NATION: Can you explain to us what the ovaries are and what their main functions are?
Dr Todorovic: Ovaries are parts of the female reproductive system; the ovary is a glandular organ producing hormones and cells (eggs) which enable human reproduction.
There are two ovaries in a normal body; they are next to the uterus, one on each side and they are deep in the pelvis.
They maintain all female functions responding to the control centre in the brain in the gland called hypophyse.
Ovaries regulate mainly through hormonal maturation of the egg cells for fertilisation, and from the pubertal age of every girl, eject one egg for conception once a month for about 280 months in a woman's life. The number of eggs is limited, with one egg for one menstrual cycle.
After menopause, there are no more cycles and no fertility. In pregnancy, ovarian hormonal activity maintains the pregnancy, but it also regulates many things in the female body, including the level of calcium in the bones.
Seychelles NATION: What is ovarian cancer? What is the situation like in Seychelles?
Dr Todorovic: As with any other organ or tissue, ovaries may develop cancer which unfortunately is a nasty cancer which metastatise locally and distally in an early phase when it is not discovered yet. Some of the cancers are also quite resistant to therapy.
It is one of the hormone sensitive or genetically predetermined cancers with higher risk in female siblings, with some genetic mutations possible to determine by DNA testing. Obesity is also a risk factor, as well as hormonal disorders and hormonal treatments; even contraceptives bring the risk.
It is not the number one type of cancer in Seychelles but even sporadic is present. I must say that over the last thirty years I can recall patients who had their ovarian cancer detected early and also successfully treated.
Seychelles NATION: What are the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer?
Dr Todorovic: Very often the first signs and symptoms of an unfortunately advanced cancer are local accumulation of fluid in the abdomen called ascites, and sometimes low abdominal pain, distension and discomfort. Chronic fatigue is also present, sometimes respiratory distress, but all in all some quite atypical beginning.
Seychelles NATION: It is said that the early signs and symptoms can easily go unnoticed, e.g. bloating. What is your advice to women to avoid dismissing these symptoms and being diagnosed at a later stage?
Dr Todorovic: This is true, but as far as no typical signs and symptoms are present, every woman needs a yearly checkup throughout her reproductive age and after. Ovarian cancer is not that much age related. It can happen quite early in life when you don’t usually expect malignancies.
My advice to women is not to wait for signs and symptoms. I recommend having your preventive checkups done once a year, including breast, ovaries and PAP smear. This will always help to evaluate the risk and if cancer develops, to treat it early enough for better outcome.
Once the symptoms are present, it is usually too late. For a woman with a positive history of ovarian or breast cancer, including mother, sisters and close female relatives, genetic testing is also useful.
Seychelles NATION: How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?
Dr Todorovic: There is an ovarian mass cystic or solid which may be visible on ultrasound and also biological screening by tumour markers can help to determine the nature of that mass. There are namely two specific markers such as Ca125 and HE4 marker, which is even more specific than the first one. Final diagnosis is only laparoscopic with biopsy of the respective tissue and for the staging of the disease.
Seychelles NATION: What is your advice for reducing the risk of developing ovarian cancer?
Dr Todorovic: First of all, evaluate the risk by DNA testing, taking into account family history, constitutional factors, obesity, food habits, hormonal treatments or some other medicinal treatments. If the risk is high, do compulsory annual checkups with ultrasound and tumour markers which I mentioned about before.
At Panafricare Clinic we include the screening for ovarian cancer in the ‘General Ladies' Package’, and we also facilitate DNA testing for inherited risk for those who want.
A balanced, healthy and happy life is a precondition for every prevention and risk reduction. Yet personal health consciousness requires a fixed date in every one's yearly calendar, which is saved for a general body check. Prevention and early detection are the guarantors for the best outcomes.
For more information, visit Panafricare Clinic, Le Chantier Mall, Victoria or contact the Clinic:
- Telephone: 4 321 310
- Email: info@panafricare.com
- Follow ‘Panafricare Clinic by Dr Todorovic’ on Facebook
F.P.