Seven out of ten ovarian cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages

Seven out of ten ovarian cancers are diagnosed in their more advanced stages since they present very nonspecific symptoms that become confused with other pathologies, which causes that carcinomatosis is already present in most of the cases, as the specialists of Quirónsalud affirm. Torrevieja and Murcia with Reason for the World Day of this disease that is celebrated next Wednesday May 8.

In Spain, ovarian cancer is the fourth cause of cancer death in women and, although it is not extremely frequent, more than 3,200 new cases are diagnosed each year. The age group with the highest incidence is between 55 and 65 years old, and although it is not very frequent, it is usually very aggressive and insidious at the time of diagnosis because of the non-specificity of its symptoms, confusing it with abdominal discomfort similar to an indigestion. Among the most common symptoms is abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation that may be accompanied by discomfort in the lower area, the appearance of bulges in the abdomen, changes in the intestinal rhythm and, in some cases, the appearance of vaginal hemorrhages between menstrual cycles or in menopausal women. In view of these symptoms, specialists recommend going to the doctor and performing the relevant tests.

According to Dr. Pedro Bretcha, specialist in surgical oncology at the Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja, "the use of technology is important, but what is required above all is a multidisciplinary view of cancer, with a specialized team, since the treatment of the The disease can not be left exclusively in the hands of a surgeon, an oncologist or a gynecologist, but must be carried out in a consensual manner and adapted to each patient. "

HIPEC increases the survival of patients with ovarian cancer

Surgery and, specifically, the use of HIPEC increases the survival of patients with ovarian cancer. This treatment is currently applied by specialists of Quirónsalud Torrevieja and Murcia in patients diagnosed with peritoneal carcinomatosis, a condition defined as the spread of a primary cancer, which may be digestive or gynecological, in the abdominal cavity, and which ends up affecting others. intra-abdominal organs. According to Dr. Pedro Cascales Oncological Surgeon of Hospital Quirónsalud Murcia, "It is precisely in these patients that, with a correct approach, results can be achieved before hardly imaginable, results very dependent on the surgical team that treats them."

In fact, the use of HIPEC increases the survival of patients with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer. In addition, its use does not add any complications to the surgical procedure. This is the conclusion reached by the authors of a clinical trial published in the prestigious scientific journal The New England Journal of Medicine. The treatment with HIPEC allows to combine a high dose intensity of chemotherapy, focused in the affected area, with a lower systemic toxicity due to the limitation in the passage of the drug from the peritoneal cavity to the systemic torrent due to the characteristics of the peritoneal membrane and of the own drug. Its use requires high training centers, with multidisciplinary teams and a high specialization in oncological surgery, as it is a very complex technique.