This May 8 commemorates the World Ovary Cancer Dayso it is necessary to banish myths that delay the diagnosis and disseminate the advances of nuclear medicine, which today allows to change the prognosis of the patients.
He Ovary cancer is a pathology that mainly affects one or both ovar cells, where abnormal growth of cells occurs producing malignant tumorss.
According to the Arturo López Pérez and International Agency for Research on Cancer Foundation (Globocan), by 2020 in Chile they were diagnosing a year More than 800 new cases of this disease, of which around 500 people died.
How can we detect it early?
It is fundamental, to prevent and detect early any disease that people come to health controls in an annual basis. It is complex to talk about self -care in precarious contexts, but it is a social responsibility to encourage and promote health from different spaces.
In that sense, in the specific case of diseases in the reproductive system, it is crucial to attend the gynecologist/oy/or matron to perform an ultrasound and physical exams.
“While none of these exams are diagnoses for ovarian cancer, they can be used to observe any important change in the history of the person,” they say from approximately, adding that “these must be performed at least once a year, together with all gynecological control.”
Ovarian cancer symptoms
According to approximal health professionals, most people who have ovarian cancer are asymptomatic, which is why 75% of this type of cancer is diagnosed in an advanced stage.
“In the case of those people who do present symptoms, these can Be abdominal or pelvic pain, increased abdominal volume, urinary urgency, difficulty eating, early satiety, lumbar pain and lack of energy. However, all these symptoms are quite nonspecific to determine a suspicion, in addition to each person can present different signals, ”they detail.
Horacio Amaral, medical director of Positronmed, explains that early detection is the best tool to save lives. “The latest generation PET technologies allow to evaluate tumor extension with an unprecedented sensitivity and plan more precise treatments,” he says.
Myths and truths about ovar cancer
Only affects older women: Although risk increases with age, it can also occur in young women; So, given persistent symptoms, an evaluation is required regardless of age. “If there is previous family history, it is important to make an annual medical check -up to rule out the presence of tumors,” explains Dr. Amaral.
Chemotherapy is the only option: There are other treatments available such as cytoreductive surgery, directed chemotherapy, anti -angelogenic therapies, PLP and metabolic radiotherapy inhibitors. All these form a combined therapeutic arsenal, which substantially improves the recovery of patients.
The role of the PET -CT in the management of this disease
The latest radiopharmaceuticals allow to generate high -resolution tumor maps to detect peritoneal implants of just a few millimeters with greater contrast than classic radiopharmaceuticals and allows quantifying the response to treatment almost in real time. This precision improves the staging before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and according to recent studies, it reaches a sensitivity greater than 90 % in ovarian cancer, changing the therapeutic strategy in about a third of the patients.
“PET-CT technology allows us to identify minimal lesions and adjust the therapies directed quickly, which not only increases survival; It also avoids unnecessary surgeries and reduces toxicity”, Concludes Amaral.
The call is that all women know their risk factors, listen to their body and immediately consult before persistent symptoms.Detect lives in time, so you should consult with a gynecologist on advanced diagnostic optionsincluding the PET -CT with the latest generation radiopharmaceuticals available in Chile.
More information about positronmed services and additional recommendations on nuclear medicine, are available on the official website www.positronmed.cl or on the official Instagram @positronmed.cl.
