Complications of ovarian cancer

There are a huge number of different complications that occur with ovarian cancer. The most common of them are:

1. Outgrowth of benign tumors.
2. Ascites.
3. Adhesive processes.
4. Twisting of the stalk of a cancerous tumor.
5. Rupture of the walls, which leads to suppuration.

Very often, among the complications of cystic ovarian tumors, periadnexitis, adhesive peritonitis, or perimetritis are distinguished. Usually, they appear only when cancer cells come out of the ovarian walls. The process of twisting the stalk on which the tumor "sits" is also a very common complication. It is detected in 10% of cases. This happens if the patient loses weight too quickly, rotates or moves the body, overfills the bladder, or suffers from diarrhea.

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Ascites

Ascites in ovarian cancer is considered a very serious condition that causes inflammation, necrosis and abscesses. The development of this process occurs when the fluid in the abdominal cavity circulates poorly. This symptom often appears with a tumor in the ovaries. To eliminate it, special treatment methods must be used.

Fluid in ovarian cancer usually forms because the lymph nodes are affected. Sometimes fluid comes out if one or both ovaries have ruptured. Ascites usually develops in the last stages.

Shortness of breath in ovarian cancer occurs against the background of ascites, when fluid gets into the abdominal cavity and makes breathing difficult. This symptom may also indicate that ovarian cancer is already at a stage when its metastases have reached the lungs.

If the amount of fluid is less than 200 ml, it is quite difficult to see ascites. With a large amount, one or two sides of the abdomen protrude, and it bloats. Also, among the main symptoms of ascites are:

1. Swelling of the lower extremities.
2. Heavy breathing.
3. It is difficult to bend the body.
4. Painful sensations that make you want to take the “embryo” position.
5. Oliguria.
6. Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea.

Ascites can be treated:

1. With the help of conservative methods: medications help to normalize fluid exchange in the body.
2. Using minimally invasive surgery.
3. Using standard surgical interventions.

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Lymphostasis

Lymphostasis of the legs in patients with ovarian cancer is a common symptom. This is the so-called edema of the lower extremities. It occurs when there is a disruption in the functioning of the lymphatic system. To relieve swelling, patients are prescribed:

1. Special massages.
2. Various methods of physiotherapy.
3. Conservative treatment.
4. A special diet without salt.

Swelling of the legs

Swelling of the legs is very common after surgery in patients with ovarian cancer. This is because a large amount of lymph accumulates in the tissues. Most often, swelling of the legs after surgery occurs if:

1. The cancer has already spread to the lymph nodes.
2. Radiotherapy was also performed on the lymph nodes in the groin area.

In this case, swelling appears either a few days or a week after the operation.

Pleurisy

Metastatic or tumor pleurisy often occurs in the late stages of ovarian cancer. This is due to the fact that a large amount of fluid accumulates in the pleura. Treatment consists of removing the fluid that has accumulated. Special medications are prescribed for this purpose.

Where does ovarian cancer metastasize?

First of all, it is important to know that ovarian metastases usually spread through three routes:

1. Hematogenous.
2. Implantation.
3. Lymphatic.

Implantation, which is also called the contact route, is the most common in the early stages of the disease. In this case, metastases move into the abdominal cavity, as well as into other organs of the small pelvis. The transition is carried out by cancer cells that come out of the tumor itself. Usually, the first organs to suffer are those that are adjacent: the fallopian tubes, uterus, and bladder. Then the cells move into the abdominal cavity. Cancer also moves this way to the following organs:

1. Ligaments of the uterus.
2. Rectum.
3. Caecum.
4. Sigmoid colon.
5. Colon.
6. Cervix.
7. Vagina.
8. Liver.

After the implantation, the lymphatic pathway begins to develop. It is characterized by the fact that tumor cells begin to enter the lymph nodes, which increases the chance of their transfer to other organs. The hematogenous pathway is characterized by the fact that the blood flow carries cancer cells throughout the body. But this occurs only in 5% of cases. Metastases can appear in the skin, bones, lungs, and brain.

Metastases in the intestine

If ovarian cancer metastasizes to the intestines or the tumor itself grows to this area, the patient will experience the following symptoms:

1. Frequent digestive disorders.
2. Tenesma.
3. Frequent constipation.
4. Intestinal obstruction.

Bone metastases

In the late stages of ovarian cancer, metastases can spread to the bones or bone marrow. If this happens, the patient may experience the following symptoms:

1. Frequent fractures even from minor falls.
2. Fragility of bones due to their thinning.
3. Neurological disorders.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis

Peritoneal carcinomatosis in ovarian cancer is diagnosed when metastases in the abdominal cavity reach a large number. They can be located in different places. This happens when cancer cells are actively transferred through blood or lymphatic vessels. Peritoneal carcinomatosis develops rather slowly. In the initial stages, a few cells of their tumor enter the cavity and begin to attach to its soft tissues. It is from them that small tumors will appear later. Gradually, they merge, forming one large one. Due to the fact that the area of the peritoneum is quite large (it covers all the organs that are there), metastases can easily move to these organs.

If there are a huge number of metastases in this area, the functioning of all organs is disrupted. Usually, canceromatosis is accompanied by the following symptoms:

1. Pain in the abdomen.
2. Rapid weight loss.
3. Vomiting and nausea.
4. Ascites.

Intestinal obstruction

Intestinal obstruction in ovarian cancer is a fairly common symptom that occurs already in the late stages of the disease. In some cases, so-called mechanical obstruction is observed, when the intestines and its intestines are compressed. Sometimes pseudo-obstruction can occur, which is characterized by the fact that the circular wall of the intestine undergoes infiltration. In the latter case, the peristaltic wave cannot pass.

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