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Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer

If you have a symptom that suggests that you may have ovarian cancer or your doctor has completed a screening test for ovarian cancer and it shows that you likely have cancer; your doctor will want to do some diagnostic testing to confirm that you do have ovarian cancer.

You will be asked some medical questions, personal and family histories. Important information can be obtained from the medical history including use of oral contraceptives, number of pregnancies and live births, family history of cancer, previous gynecologic surgery, and previous personal history of cancer. Other lifestyle questions may also reveal information relevant to cancer such as the history of smoking, and also exposure to harmful occupational or environmental substances.

The doctor may perform several tests such as a physical examination, a pelvic examination, blood tests and an ultrasound.

The physical exam consists of the doctor pressing down on your abdomen to try to detect the presence of any tumors or abnormal buildup of fluid. If this fluid is detected, a sample can be taken to see if cancer cells are present in the fluid.

A pelvic exam is when the doctor will do an internal exam using gloves to feel the ovaries, and nearby organs for the presence of lumps or other changes such as unusual size or shape.

A pap smear will also be done so that a collection of cells can be examined. The pap will not tell if the woman has ovarian cancer, it can only detect cervical cancer.

Blood tests, specifically CA-125 which is a substance found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells and on other normal tissues. A high CA-125 level could be a sign of cancer or it could be a sign of other conditions. The CA-125 test has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to monitor a woman's response to the treatment for ovarian cancer and as a method for detecting if the cancer has returned.

An ultrasound (transvaginal ultrasound) device may be used to create a picture from echoes using a computer. An ovarian tumor may be detected using ultrasound.

Biopsy is another test used to confirm the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Tissue is removed or fluid and these are looked at to detect cancer cells. The doctor may suggest surgery (laparotomy) to remove tissue and fluid from the woman's pelvis or abdomen for examination. A thin tube is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen. This surgery can also tell if the cancer has spread.

A computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) may also be done which can show detailed images of the body's organs in cross-section.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan) is another imaging method using a computer to align water molecules within the body to create a unique internal picture.