Kennedyw+Ovarian+Cancer

Ovarian Cancer **Description: (TNR, 12, Bold) ** Like any other cancer, the mechanisms that regulate cell growth stop working and cells divide out of control to form tumors. Ovarian Cancer takes place in the ovarian tissue. There is no family history of the disease required; only 5%- 10% are caused by inherited factors. When there are mutations in either the BRCA1 (located on the chromosome 17) or the BRCA2 gene (located in chromosome 13), they don’t do their job properly. Their job is to fix damaged and broken DNA and prevent uncontrolled cell growth. Women who inherit a mutated copy of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene develop broken and deformed chromosomes, and in turn have a greater chance of accumulating mutations that will lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer. Men who inherit the defective genes are also more likely to develop breast and/or prostrate cancer.

**Inheritance: **Most people who develop ovarian cancer have no history of the disease in their family. Only 5 to 10 percent of all ovarian cancers can be traced into the gene pool. It results from either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene (families with that are at a high risk). The mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern and a child only needs to inherit one copy to have an increased cancer risk. Children who have a parent with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation. Inheriting the defective gene doesn’t mean he or she will develop cancer, but just by the inheritance they are at an increased risk.

**Symptoms: ** As the cancer grows, symptoms may include: -Pressure or pain in abdomen, pelvis, back, or legs -A swollen or bloated abdomen -Nausea, indigestion, gas, constipation, or diarrhea-Feeling very tired all the time -Shortness of breath -Feeling the need to urinate often -Unusual vaginal bleeding (heavy periods or bleeding after menopause) -Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly

**Daily Life: ** media type="custom" key="9721296" **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Diagnosis: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The doctor may ask about your personal and family medical history. Then you will be tested in one or more of these ways:
 * 1) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Physical exam- doctor checks general signs of health. Tests may reveal a swollen abdomen and fluid in the abdominal cavity.
 * 2) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Pelvic exam- doctor feels ovaries and nearby organs for lumps or other changes in shape or size. The Pap test detects cervical cancer but it’s not used to diagnose ovarian cancer.
 * 3) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Blood test- doctor orders a blood test. Lab may check the level of several substances, including CA-125. A high CA-125 level could be a sign of cancer or other conditions
 * 4) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ultrasound- device aims sound waves at organs inside the pelvis. A computer creates a picture from the echoes, picture may show ovarian tumor. The device may be inserted into the vagina for a better view.
 * 5) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Biopsy- biopsy is the removal of tissue or fluid to look for cancer cells. Based on the resulted of the blood test and ultrasound, your closed may suggest surgery (laparotomy) to remove tissue and fluid from the pelvis and abdomen.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Treatment: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Surgery is used to treat all stages of ovarian cancer. Surgery involves: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">-Removal of the uterus (total hysterectomy) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">-Removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">-Partial or complete removal of the omentum, the fatty that covers and pads organs in the abdomen. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">-Examination, biopsy, or removal of the lymph nodes and other tissues in the pelvis and abdomen. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">Surgery preformed by a specialist in female reproductive cancer results in a higher success rate. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Chemotherapy is used after surgery to treat any remaining disease and can be used if the cancer comes back. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Radiation therapy is rarely used in ovarian cancer in the US <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">After surgery and chemotherapy patients should have: <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">-A physical exam (including pelvic exam) every 2-4 months for 1st 2 years followed by every 6 months for 3 years, and then annually <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">-A CA-125 blood test at each visit if the level was initially high. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">-Your doctor may order a preempted tomography (CT) scan of your chest, abdomen, and pelvic area and chest x-ray.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Research: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Researchers are conducting studies with women across the country: <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">1. Prevention studies- for women who have a family history of ovarian cancer, the risk of developing the disease may be condensed by removing the ovaries before cancer is spot. This surgery is called prophylactic oophorectomy. Women who are at high risk of ovarian cancer are taking part in trails to study the benefits and harms of this surgery. Other doctors are studying whether certain drugs can help prevent ovarian cancer in women at high risk. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">2. Screening studies- researches are studying ways to find ovarian cancer in women who don't have symptoms. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">3. Treatment studies- doctors are testing novel drugs and new combinations. They are studying biological therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies can attach to cancer cells. They interfere with cancer cell growth and its spreading.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Additional Facts: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Eastern Euroeans (Ashkenazi) Jews inherit only three of several hundred different mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. They are also 10 times more likely to have mutations in those genes than any other ethnic group

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Punnett Square: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Pedigree Chart: ** **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿ **

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Pictures: ** **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿ **

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Resources: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Learn. Genetics. Genetic Science Learning cent. Breast cancer and Ovarian cancer. <span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|http://learn.genetics.utah.edu] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. 2011. 5/18/2011- 5/19/2011 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Medicine Net Inc. Medicine Net.com. Ovarian cancer. Medicinenet.com/ovarian_cancerpage3. 1996-2011. 5/19/2011 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">NCBI. National Center for Biotechnology information. PubMed Health. Ovarian Cancer. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001891. 2011. 5/19/2011.


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<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 115%;">Pub Med Health

<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 115%;">Learn.Geneticcs.Utah.Edu

<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 115%;">Medicnenet.com

<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 115%;">Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov