Ovarian cancer ranks 6th among the top 10 female cancers in Hong Kong. There are about 400 new cases every year, in which most patients are over 50 years old.
What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovaries are female reproductive organs in the pelvic cavity. There is one ovary with a walnut-size on each side of the uterus connected by the fallopian tubes. Ovaries produce eggs and secrete female hormones. Every month, each ovary releases one egg during the process of ovulation. While abnormal cell growth is discovered in this process without self-healing, malignant tumours may develop into ovarian cancer.
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Since ovaries are hidden deep inside the pelvic cavity, early-stage symptoms of ovarian cancers are nonspecific, such as abdominal discomfort. The symptoms are easy to overlook as they are similar to common illnesses, like constipation, stomach-ache and indigestion. When there are apparent tumours grown near the abdomen, the cancer is already at the third or fourth stage.
Please consult your doctor if you observe the following signs:
- Abdominal bloating
- Abdominal and pelvic cavity discomfort
- Gastrointestinal discomforts, such as persistent stomach-ache and indigestion
- Poor appetite
- Frequent urination
- Constipation
- Menoxenia or post-menopausal vaginal bleeding
- Feeling tired
- Weight loss
What Causes Ovarian Cancer?
- Ageing: The risk of developing ovarian cancer is getting higher for women along with age. The risk of ovarian cancer for women below 40-year-old is low but way higher among postmenopausal women.
- Obesity: The risk of ovarian cancer is relatively high for the obese.
- No history of or late pregnancy Women who have their first full-term pregnancy after age 35, or who never carried a pregnancy to term have a higher risk of ovarian cancer.
- Post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy Those receiving the treatment are prone to have ovarian cancer.
- Family history Individuals with a family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, uterine cancer or colon cancer are in the high-risk group of ovarian cancer.
Treatments of Ovarian Cancer
Surgical resection is the primary treatment for ovarian cancer. By resecting ovary(ies) and fallopian tubes, the surgery aims to remove all cancerous tissues.
Meanwhile, your doctor may employ intravenous chemotherapy or intraperitoneal chemotherapy to destroy the cancer cells. With recurrence rate up to 70%, your doctor may suggest a new targeted therapy to control tumour growth. However, the costs of this therapy are very high.
| Treatment |
Costs (HKD)* |
|
| Surgery |
Resection of ovaries on both sides, egg tubes, womb etc. (Depends on spreading area of the cancer cells) |
From $30,000 to $100,000, depending on the resection area. |
| Targeted Therapy |
Registered Targeted Therapy Medicine: Bevacizumab |
|
| Cancer Immunotherapy |
Hong Kong Cancer Immunotherapy including: Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, Atezolizumab etc. |
*Treatments for ovarian cancer may vary depending on cancer stages. The costs above are for reference only. Fees, such as hospital expenses, consultation fee and general anaesthesia fee, are excluded from calculations. Please consult your doctor for details.
Preventing Ovarian Cancer with Regular Gynecologic Examination
Women of the above high-risk groups should have regular check-ups at medical centres or hospitals to monitor their health status. Although there are no proven ways for preventing ovarian cancer, the survival rate is as high as 90% for stage I ovarian cancer patients.
Costs of Pelvic Ultrasound Examination
By regularly checking your ovarian cancer index and performing; pelvic ultrasound examinations, gynaecological diseases, such as ovarian cancer and ovarian cyst (e.g. chocolate cyst), can be diagnosed and treated early.
Pelvic ultrasound examination is not a standard item for gynaecological check-ups. Please see the below costs of health check with the test in Hong Kong.
| Medical Centres |
Items |
Fees (HKD)* |
| Graceful Female Health Check II |
$5,800 |
|
| Female Annual Health Check |
$4,680 |
|
| Women Brace STAR Check Plan |
$2,980 |
|
| Female Health Check Plan |
$2,180 |
|
| Basic Female Checkup |
$1,180 |
*Prices as of 10 Feb 2021
If you are suffering from menoxenia, please seek medical advice as soon as possible. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular exercising and controlling your weight are also ways to prevent ovarian cancer or cancer in general.
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