Ovarian cancer: cause, diagnosis, and treatment.

Abstract Early diagnosis is the most effective means of reducing the currently high mortality rate associated with ovarian cancer. A better informed public and profession is aiding in this campaign. The palpation of what appears to be a normal-sized ovary in a premenopausal woman suggests an ovarian tumor in a postmenopausal woman. It is becoming obvious that ovarian cancer is a disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract, and physicians treating ovarian cancer should be prepared to deal with bowel-associated problems. The practice of tapping women with ascites for diagnosis as well as doing an exploration merely to obtain a biopsy should be discouraged. Unless the physician is prepared to carry out the optimal surgical approach for the patient, it is crucial that the patient be referred to either a center or to a physician who is actively engaged in the day-to-day care of cancer patients. Tumor markers such as CA125, alpha-fetoproteins, and human chorionic gonadotropin have been of help in monitoring the management of ovarian cancer. One of the most exciting areas of gynecologic oncology is the effort being made to diagnose ovarian cancer with immunologic techniques as well as treating the patient with immunotherapy. These methods promise a hope for early diagnosis and a method to control the disease without destroying a great deal of normal tissue. With the combined use of all the available treatment methods, patients with ovarian cancer are now living longer and more comfortably.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)