Meet Sharon, a 61-year-old endometrial cancer survivor who knows firsthand the importance of being an active participant in her healthcare. After a two-year struggle with misdiagnosed symptoms and a dismissive doctor, she took charge and found the right medical support, leading to a diagnosis of endometrial cancer.
Sharon’s journey, from diagnosis to treatment and recovery, highlights the vital role of self-advocacy and patient activation. Her story is a beacon for others, especially women of color facing similar challenges, emphasizing the power of being informed, asking questions, and seeking support.
Being activated is a critical part of endometrial cancer care, especially for patients like me.
My name is Sharon, I’m 61, and my diagnosis came after a two-year struggle with unidentified symptoms. Sharing my experience is my way of reaching out, hoping it might provide guidance to others facing similar challenges.
My symptoms began with abnormal vaginal bleeding, but my periods had ended over 10 years ago. That had me worried, and my sister encouraged me to see a doctor after I told her about the bleeding. I scheduled an appointment, but my doctor dismissed my symptoms. I felt like he wasn’t really listening to me and decided to find a doctor who looks more like me and would be more likely to listen to me. I found a Black female doctor who was concerned about my symptoms, which had worsened by then. I was also feeling pelvic pain. My new doctor scheduled an endometrial biopsy, and I was diagnosed with papillary serous carcinomashortly afterward.
With an aggressive type of cancer, my oncologist scheduled a laparoscopic hysterectomy to remove my uterus along with my ovaries, fallopian tubes, and sentinel lymph nodes. I had the surgery within a few days, which was quickly followed by radiation to help ensure any remaining cancer cells were wiped out. My recovery went smoothly, and I continue to live a full life while getting regular scans to ensure I remain cancer-free.
After my cancer experience, I want to educate other women about what I’ve learned about endometrial cancer. Black women have nearly twice the death rate from endometrial cancer compared to white women. Hispanic, Black, and Asian women are not represented in clinical trials at equal rates to white women. And Black women are also diagnosed more frequently with rare but aggressive endometrial cancer forms. Remember that you shouldn’t have to suffer with your pain, and you can advocate for yourself and ask about patient advocates to advocate on your behalf.
Here are my activation tips for patients facing an endometrial cancer diagnosis:
Ask your care team questions to learn about the status of your endometrial cancer, treatment options, and what to expect during and after treatment.
Join a patient support group to offer and receive emotional support.
Last but not least, inquire if a clinical trial may be a potential treatment option for your endometrial cancer.
Remember, stay activated by being informed, empowered, and engaged in your cancer care.
Share Your Feedback:
Create your own user feedback survey
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/Empowered-Care-A-Patients-Guide-to-Navigating-Endometrial-Cancer.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2024-06-14 10:58:312024-06-24 14:14:43Empowered Care: A Patient’s Guide to Navigating Endometrial Cancer
Are ovarian cysts and fibroids a concern for ovarian cancer patients? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares her perspective about fibroids and cysts, what she looks for in patients, and her advice to patients to ensure their best care.
Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.
Okay, Dr. Hoskins, are fibroids or ovarian cysts related to ovarian cancer?
Dr. Ebony Hoskins:
So from a gynecologic oncology standpoint, when I see someone who has a documented uterine fibroid, I don’t think that it’s related to ovarian cancer. Certainly when I see a woman that has ovarian cysts, that’s something that potentially could be an ovarian cancer. But then I’m looking at whether it’s a cyst, whether there’s fluid. So there’s other characteristics in the imaging that I have obtained. So I think the question is, are fibroids and ovarian cysts related to ovarian cancer? Not really, but I think it’s important that we are basing this on some objective data, right? So I can press on someone’s belly and say, “Oh, that’s fibroids.” But asking my activation tip would say, “Hey can I get an ultrasound to look at my pelvic organs?” Not just randomly, but if you, if a patient feels like it’s fibroids, let’s prove it, let’s get an ultrasound. And that will look not only at the uterus, it looks at the adnexa, which is the fallopian tubes and the ovaries, and have an objective diagnosis for what’s going on in the GYN organs and pelvis.
Share Your Feedback:
Create your own user feedback survey
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/Ovarian-Cysts-and-Uterine-Fibroids_-Is-There-a-Connection-to-Ovarian-Cancer.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2023-05-03 18:05:532024-06-24 14:14:37Ovarian Cysts and Uterine Fibroids: Is There a Connection to Ovarian Cancer?
What can ovarian patients do if they have sexual health issues that arise during their patient journey? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains issues that may come up for some patients and patient advice on how to seek support.
Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.
Dr. Hoskins, can you speak to the sexual health following a cancer diagnosis, and which healthcare team member should patients have a conversation with?
Dr. Ebony Hoskins:
I think this is a great question. I think sexual health is something that goes undiscussed unless we ask it, and I think sometimes it’s uncomfortable for the patient, it’s uncomfortable for the provider. But I do talk to a lot of women that have decreased libido or pain, or there’s a lot of dysfunction sometimes after surgery or chemotherapy, and some of it is related to the actual treatment itself. Physiologic meaning how the body functions after treatment, and some could be the fact that there is shame associated with that, sometimes the cancer is involving a sexual organ in that area, and so I think bringing discussion up to your…whether the provider is a gynecologic oncologist and is the person who did the surgery, or the who person gave the chemo or the radiation oncologist. Also, there are mid-level providers who do survivorship, and it just kind of depends on who’s taking care of you after completion of treatment, butI know there are survivorships, and these are times to bring it up. Bring it up to your provider, number one, and they may have resources to refer you to in terms of getting through these difficult times, because I think ultimately you can get your sexual life back.
Share Your Feedback:
Create your own user feedback survey
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/Sexual-Health-After-a-Cancer-Diagnosis_-An-Expert-Weighs-In.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2023-05-03 18:01:142024-01-24 14:05:21Sexual Health After a Cancer Diagnosis: An Expert Weighs In
What do ovarian cancer patients need to know about clinical trial participation? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains the importance of clinical trial participation and key advice for patients who are considering participation in a clinical trial.
Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.
[ACT]IVATION TIP
“…inquire with your doctor, ‘Am I a candidate for a clinical trial? Do you offer a clinical trial, are there clinical trials that would fit my scenario that’s local that I could go to? Are there clinical trials that are available, say, out of state that you think I will be a good fit for?’”
Dr. Hoskins, why is clinical trial participation so important in ovarian cancer, and what advice do you have for patients considering a clinical trial?
Dr. Ebony Hoskins:
One, I always tell patients is the reason we know what to give you now, treatment is based off a clinical trial. So we need these trials. We didn’t just create a new drug and just gave it. We need to know, is it going to improve survival? What are the side effects? Is it going to kill the cancer? And so it’s important to be on the cutting edge if you will, of advancement in the field. The only way I know what to give patients is based off a clinical trial.
Right, so that’s number one. The advice for patients I have is, I think understanding what the options are for treatment, whether they come off of trial. So knowing if I’m not on trial, what am I going to get? If I am on trial, what am I going to get? What are the side effects? Side effects is an important thing. What are the safety issues? Because not only are there side effects, there can be a safety issue. I think one thing that we don’t really talk about that could be there, is some of the clinical trials depends on who’s sponsoring it, provide the drugs, and some of the drugs are quite costly, so that’s something that we’re not talking about.
The financial toxicity and sometimes coming under their trial, the drugs are covered, so you’re getting cutting-edge care that comes as maybe it’s not as costly to you, so I think, again, my activation tip for a patient is inquire with your doctor, “Am I a candidate for a clinical trial? Do you offer a clinical trial, are there clinical trials that would fit my scenario that’s local that I could go to? Are there clinical trials that are available, say, out of state that you think I will be a good fit for?” And sometimes…again, not every patient is a clinical trial candidate for a number of reasons, but asking the question, I think is huge.
Share Your Feedback:
Create your own user feedback survey
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/Ovarian-Cancer-and-Clinical-Trial-Participation_-What-Patients-Should-Know.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2023-05-03 17:54:332024-01-24 14:05:20Ovarian Cancer and Clinical Trial Participation: What Patients Should Know
What do ovarian cancer patients need to know about immunotherapy and targeted therapy? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains how immunotherapy and targeted therapy are used, research about them, and advice to patients.
Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.
[ACT]IVATION TIP
“…asking ‘Has my tumor been studied, or has there been any sequencing to determine if they are a candidate for targeted therapy?’”
Dr. Hoskins, what is the role of immunotherapy or targeted therapy in ovarian cancer care?
Dr. Ebony Hoskins:
So the role of immunotherapy, I think is still kind of ongoing. We’ve seen some improvements with endometrial cancer, not so much the same with ovarian cancer. In terms of targeted therapy, there are new drugs that are coming out that are targeting a different molecular markers in the actual tumor that are now offered for patients with ovarian cancer. And that’s been shown to be proven to work and improve the response and survival. My activation tip, particularly for patients who are affected by ovarian cancer, is asking, “Has my tumor been studied, or has there been any sequencing to determine if they are a candidate for targeted therapy?”
Mikki:
Thank you.
Share Your Feedback:
Create your own user feedback survey
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/What-Should-Ovarian-Cancer-Know-About-Immunotherapy-and-Targeted-Therapies.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2023-05-03 17:47:552024-01-24 13:59:22What Should Ovarian Cancer Patients Know About Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapies?
What should patients know about ovarian cancer and hereditary risk? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains the incidence rate of hereditary ovarian cancer and shares advice about when it’s important to ensure you get genetic testing.
Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.
[ACT]IVATION TIP
“…if you know someone who has ovarian cancer or if you’re affected yourself, make sure you have gotten genetics testing standard of care.”
Dr. Hoskins, can ovarian cancer be hereditary? Should patients suggest that their family members undergo genetic testing?
Dr. Ebony Hoskins:
So, yes, ovarian cancer can be hereditary. Approximately 10 to 15 percent are associated with an increased risk with family history. It is now recommended that any patient with ovarian cancer get genetics testing period, even if there’s no family history that they should be offered genetics testing. I always recommend that an affected person, when I say affected person, I mean the person that have the cancer diagnosis get the genetics testing first. So sometimes I see patients where they’re…have several family members with, say, breast cancer, which could be indicative of a breast like a BRCA mutation, which is associated with an ovarian cancer. And come to find out they’ve had genetics testing, but they don’t have the gene for ovarian cancer. So again, it’s important that the affected person, meaning the person that have the cancer, get genetics testing. My activation tip for this is if you know someone who has ovarian cancer or if you’re affected yourself, make sure you have gotten genetics testing standard of care.
Share Your Feedback:
Create your own user feedback survey
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/Hereditary-Ovarian-Cancer_-Whats-Your-Risk.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2023-05-03 17:43:522024-06-24 14:14:37Hereditary Ovarian Cancer: What’s Your Risk?
What ovarian cancer risk factors should patients know about? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains common risk factors and shares advice for patients to ensure their best care.
Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.
[ACT]IVATION TIP
“…understanding the risk factors for ovarian cancer by also understanding the cancers that we know that we don’t have a screening for.”
Dr. Hoskins, what are the risk factors for developing ovarian cancer?
Dr. Ebony Hoskins:
So, risk factors for developing ovarian cancer, I mentioned this, is genetics, could be genetics. So someone with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, a BRCA mutation, Lynch syndrome. We also see it in women who are of later in age. Women who’ve had numerous ovulation cycles. Those are some of the risk factors. And I think the difference with, say, ovarian cancer is we don’t have a known precursor lesion to look for, to detect it early, if you will.
So it’s a little bit different than, say, some other cancers like a cervical cancer or colon cancer, where we can kind of find an early lesion and prevent it, with ovarian cancer we don’t. So these risk factors are kind of risk factors, but not necessarily diagnostic of it, if you will. So my activation tip would be understanding the risk factors for ovarian cancer by also understanding the cancers that where we know that we don’t have a screening for.
Share Your Feedback:
Create your own user feedback survey
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/Ovarian-Cancer-Risk-Factors_-What-Patients-Should-Know.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2023-05-03 17:18:292024-06-24 14:14:37Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors: What Patients Should Know
What do ovarian cancer patients need to know about subtypes? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains ovarian cancer subtypes and shares questions to ask your doctor.
Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.
[ACT]IVATION TIP
“…understand the subtype, not only just the stage and also, kind of again, what will be the treatment options based off the subtype and stage.”
Dr. Hoskins, what are the various subtypes of ovarian cancer?
Dr. Ebony Hoskins:
Well, you want to get complicated. I’ll try to make it really simple. [laughter] So when we typically you may hear people say, oh, such and such had ovarian cancer, they’re typically talking about someone who has an epithelial ovarian cancer. There are actually two other subtypes of ovarian cancer. There’s sex cord-stromal tumors, and there’s germ cell tumor. And these are all kind of tumors based off of the origin of the cancer, if you will, from the ovary. When we’re talking here today, I’m going to refer mainly to the epithelial type of ovarian cancer, because that’s the most common type. The most common type is a high-grade serous carcinoma. There’s low-grade serous carcinoma.
There’s endometrioid carcinoma, clear, serous carcinoma, carcinoma sarcoma. So there are different subtypes, and how we treat them sometimes are the same and sometimes they’re different. It all kind of depends on it. So my activation tip for a patient would be understand the subtype, not only just the stage and also, kind of again, what will be the treatment options based off the subtype and stage.
Share Your Feedback:
Create your own user feedback survey
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/What-Are-the-Subtypes-of-Ovarian-Cancer.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2023-05-03 17:14:372024-01-24 14:05:22What Are the Subtypes of Ovarian Cancer?
What are the ovarian cancer stages, and what do patients need to know about them? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins provides an overview of the stages and explains why they are important in both diagnosis and treatment planning.
Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.
[ACT]IVATION TIP
“…for patients with a stage of ovarian cancer, understanding what the stage is, what organs that were involved, and kind of the plan of attack.”
Dr. Hoskins, what are the stages of ovarian cancer, and why is it important for treatment planning?
Dr. Ebony Hoskins:
Well, stages of ovarian cancer, typically we stage cancers in four stages. Stage I, I would look at it very generally as a disease, confined to the ovary. Stage II is disease that’s in the pelvis, kind of below the pelvic bones in that area. Stage III can be disease in the lymph nodes or in the upper abdomen. And when I think stage IV for any disease, I think metastatic disease or distant metastases. So someone who may have an ovarian cancer and now we see liver lesions, that is a stage IV. Someone who may have an ovarian disease, ovarian cancer that is now in the lung, that’s stage IV. So those are the way I look at it I, II, III, IV. In terms of treatment planning, we look at that and there’s data that look and say, “What are the best options for treatment in someone?” It depends on their stage and the grade. And that’s all kind of important in terms of treatment, but as well as for prognosis. So my activation tip for patients with a stage of ovarian cancer is understanding what the stage is, what organs that were involved, and kind of the plan of attack.
Share Your Feedback:
Create your own user feedback survey
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/Understanding-Stages-of-Ovarian-Cancer_-What-Should-Patients-Know.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2023-05-03 17:09:322024-01-24 14:05:20Understanding Stages of Ovarian Cancer: What Should Patients Know?
What should patients know about ovarian cancer symptoms? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains common symptoms that patients experience and patient types who are considered high-risk.
Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.
[ACT]IVATION TIP
“…if you have any of these symptoms that are vague in nature, and you really can’t put your hand or on what it is, and it’s been going on for a week or two, pop into the doctor. There’s no, please don’t let it get to three months. Literally let it be no more than two weeks and then pop into the doctor.”
What are some symptoms of ovarian cancer, and who is considered high risk?
Dr. Ebony Hoskins:
So the symptoms for ovarian cancer are vague, which makes it difficult to diagnose. So abdominal bloating, abdominal distinction, a pelvic pain, abdominal pain. Sometimes patients can feel a mass, difficulty in urination, difficulty with bowel movements. So these are some of the symptoms I typically tell someone, “Okay, well I felt bloated last night. I’m not talking about one night. Usually we’re talking over say, one or two weeks. Those are things that to prompt a visit either to the primary care doctor, GYN, or kind of whoever your provider is.
The persons who are at risk for are typically people who have a family history. So family history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer. Older women we tend to see it in women who are greater than 60. So you see that in an older age woman. But probably the biggest risk factor is genetics. Yeah.
So my activation tip, for patients would be, if you have any of these symptoms that are vague in nature, and you really can’t put your hand or on what it is, and it’s been going on for a week or two, pop into the doctor. There’s no, please don’t let it get to three months. Literally let it be no more than two weeks and then pop into the doctor.
Share Your Feedback:
Create your own user feedback survey
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/What-Are-Common-Symptoms-of-Ovarian-Cancer.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2023-05-03 16:26:082024-01-24 14:05:23What Are Common Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?
How can ovarian cancer be explained to patients? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares how she explains the diagnosis to newly diagnosed patients.
Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.
[ACT]IVATION TIP
“…my activation tip for someone who is newly diagnosed or may want to know more about it is distinguishing, whether it’s from the ovary, fallopian tube, or a primary peritoneal cancer.”
Dr. Hoskins, what is ovarian cancer, and how do you explain it to your newly diagnosed patients?
Dr. Ebony Hoskins:
So, ovarian cancer sounds like it’s just cancer from the ovary, but really in a gynac world, it could be a couple of things. So ovaries are where a woman ovulates, and she has follicles and kind of where we have menses and hormones, but in terms of when we say ovarian cancer, this could also include a cancer of the ovary, the fallopian tube, or a cancer of the primary peritoneum. So sometimes we may say, oh, it’s ovarian cancer, and it could be a person who has fallopian tube cancer. We treat it the same, we stage it the same. And so that’s why we kind of use it interchangeably. So my activation tip for someone who is newly diagnosed or may want to know more about it is distinguishing, whether it’s from the ovary, fallopian tube, or a primary peritoneal cancer.
Share Your Feedback:
Create your own user feedback survey
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/What-is-Ovarian-Cancer_-An-Expert-Explains.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2023-05-03 16:21:082024-06-24 14:14:37What Is Ovarian Cancer? An Expert Explains
During the process of diagnosing ovarian cancer, doctors will use several tests to learn more about the tumor. The first test that doctors usually recommend is an ultrasound. This painless imaging test helps doctors see what the inside of the abdomen looks like. Doctors can use ultrasounds to detect various problems with the ovaries and nearby organs.
How Do Ultrasounds Work?
An ultrasound machine uses a small handheld tool called a transducer to send sound waves into the body. These sound waves are painless and are so high-pitched that humans can’t hear them. Echoes of the sound waves bounce back to the transducer, and the machine converts the sound waves into an image. The result is a sonogram — a picture of the tissues and organs within a particular part of the body.
There are a couple of types of ultrasound. When diagnosing potential cases of ovarian cancer, doctors often use a transvaginal ultrasound, in which a probe is placed into the vagina. Doctors may also perform a pelvic ultrasound, in which the transducer is placed on the skin of the lower part of the abdomen. Both of these approaches can capture pictures of the ovaries and uterus.
What Does the Ovary Look Like on an Ultrasound?
Sonograms from an ultrasound test can show several features of the ovary. They allow doctors to see the size and shape of the ovary. A sonogram can also look at the texture of the outer surface of the ovary. Additionally, ultrasound imaging can detect abnormalities or masses on the ovary, which may or may not be cancerous.
The Normal Ovary on an Ultrasound
In general, the ovaries appear as almond-shaped structures on either side of the uterus. In individuals who have given birth multiple times, the ovaries may have moved slightly from their original position. The ovaries also shrink after menopause, so an ultrasound may not be able to detect them in older people.
For individuals who have not yet gone through menopause and are still getting their period, their ovary will contain follicles. Ovarian follicles are small sacs. Each one contains an egg cell. Follicles develop and grow larger throughout the beginning phase of the menstrual cycle. Then, a single follicle will continue to grow until it releases an egg, called ovulation.
On an ultrasound, the follicles may appear as small, dark, round shapes around the edge of the ovary. Follicles may be different sizes depending on where a person is within their menstrual cycle.
Cysts on an Ultrasound
Sometimes, an ultrasound may detect other more unusual features within an ovary. Most of these findings are not cancerous, and many are not harmful
A common ultrasound finding is a cyst (a fluid-filled sac). About 8 percent to 18 percent of women have cysts on their ovaries. Occasionally, ovarian cancer may appear as a cyst. However, ovarian cysts are usually benign (noncancerous). Often, cysts develop when a follicle fails to release an egg or fails to disappear after ovulation. These cysts usually go away over time. Occasionally, cysts are caused when blood or tissue from the uterus attaches to the ovary, called endometriomas. Cysts can also be teratomas — masses that form when an egg cell begins growing within the follicle.
Like follicles, cysts usually appear round and black on an ultrasound. They often have thin walls and don’t look like they contain anything inside. However, they are often larger than normal follicles.
Cysts don’t usually need any treatment and are often not a cause for concern. In some cases, doctors may recommend a follow-up ultrasound a few months later to see if the cyst has grown.
Ovarian Cancer on an Ultrasound
In rare cases, ovarian cysts or solid masses may be malignant (cancerous). The ultrasound doesn’t show for sure whether an abnormality is cancer, but it can provide clues. Malignant cysts and masses usually look a little different on an ultrasound. They may:
Be very large
Have papillary structures (bulges) on their outer or inner surface
Be divided into multiple segments called loculations
Contain blood or other material inside them, making them not look solid black all the way through
Some cases of ovarian cancer begin in the fallopian tubes (the tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus). Fallopian tubes are usually invisible on an ultrasound. However, if there is a problem with the fallopian tube, it may appear as a long, thin mass. This may happen when the fallopian tube grows larger or fills with fluid due to conditions like a blockage, pelvic inflammatory disease, or cancer.
Doctors consider other information when deciding how likely it is that a cyst or mass is malignant. Risk factors that help indicate whether an abnormality is malignant include:
Your age
Whether you have gone through menopause
Levels of CA-125 (a protein that can serve as a sign of ovarian cancer)
How big the mass is
How much solid tissue is inside of the mass, as opposed to fluid
How many bulges or projections a mass contains
How many masses are present
Whether you have ascites (fluid in your abdomen)
If these factors indicate that you may have a malignancy, your doctor may recommend additional diagnostic tests or surgery to get a better look.
What Don’t Ultrasounds Tell You?
Although ultrasounds have several very useful purposes, they also have limitations. Doctors rely on additional diagnostic tests to gather more information about problems with the ovaries.
Whether You Have Cancer
Ultrasounds can detect abnormalities, and they can provide a clue as to whether an ovarian mass or cyst might be cancerous. However, biopsies are the only way to tell for sure whether a mass contains cancer cells.
For people with ovarian cancer, a biopsy is usually taken during surgery. Biopsies of the ovary are not usually performed before surgery because a needle biopsy of the ovary might potentially release cancer cells that were otherwise contained. The surgeon will send pieces of the mass to a laboratory where the cells will be studied under a microscope to determine whether they are cancerous. Biopsies also help determine the type of ovarian cancer.
Whether Ovarian Cancer Has Spread
The later the ovarian cancer stage is, the farther cancer cells have metastasized (spread within the body). Determining cancer’s stage is important for determining the prognosis (outlook) and knowing which treatment plan may be best.
Doctors don’t use ultrasounds to tell how far ovarian cancer cells have spread. Ultrasounds can’t distinguish whether cells are cancerous or not, and they are only used to look at one part of the body at a time. In order to determine cancer stage and locate metastases, doctors use other imaging tests or procedures. These other tests, which are often better at detecting cancer cells and show larger areas of the body, include:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Computed tomography (CT) scan
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Surgery
Ultrasounds and Cancer Screening
Ultrasounds can be used to detect potential ovarian tumors. Does this mean that this test can help screen people for ovarian cancer?
Researchers have studied whether a transvaginal ultrasound helps detect ovarian cancer during its early stages. They have also studied whether adding blood tests to measure CA-125 levels helps improve ultrasound screening. However, the results were not promising. These tests often pick up benign, noncancerous conditions, which means that individuals who use these screening methods often undergo additional and sometimes unnecessary tests and surgeries. Additionally, ultrasound and CA-125 screenings don’t seem to reduce the overall number of people who die from ovarian cancer.
Experts say that individuals who have an average risk of developing ovarian cancer should not be screened using the currently available methods. However, some doctors recommend regular screening for those with a high risk of ovarian cancer. This includes women who have many family members who have had ovarian or breast cancer or women with genetic mutations in high-risk genes such as BRCA1 or BRCA2.
Talk With Others Who Understand
MyOvarianCancerTeam is the social network for people with ovarian cancer. More than 3,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with ovarian cancer.
Are you living with ovarian cancer? Have you had to get an ultrasound test? Start a conversation by posting on MyOvarianCancerTeam.
https://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/Ultrasound-Pictures-of-Ovarian-Cancer.png600600Kara Rayburnhttps://powerfulpatients.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Logo-300x126.pngKara Rayburn2022-11-10 14:23:122023-01-30 12:01:55Ultrasound Pictures of Ovarian Cancer