Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month highlights diagnostic challenges

September is recognized internationally as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. This malignancy remains a significant therapeutic challenge in gynecological oncology due to the lack of effective population-wide screening methods and the non-specific nature of early-stage symptoms.

Medical experts from the Therapeutic Clinic of Alexandra Hospital and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, including Dr. Maria Kaparelou and Professor Thanos Dimopoulos, note that ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous group of neoplasms rather than a single disease. The most common subtype is high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), which is believed to originate from the fallopian tube epithelium in many cases. Other subtypes, such as endometrioid, clear cell, mucinous, and low-grade serous carcinomas, exhibit different biological behaviors requiring specialized treatment approaches.

Early diagnosis is difficult because symptoms can be non-specific. Persistent abdominal pain, pelvic pressure, bloating, increased abdominal girth, early satiety, changes in bowel habits, and frequent urination are symptoms that require medical investigation if they are new and persistent. Currently, there is no standardized screening method for medium-risk women, though the CA-125 marker and transvaginal ultrasound are utilized.