The symptoms of fallopian tube cancer are very vague, and are typical of many other gynecologic conditions. It is a very rare cancer, so in most cases, the symptoms are related to other less serious conditions, not fallopian tube cancer. The most common symptoms of fallopian tube cancer are:
Vaginal Discharge: Vaginal discharge that is white, clear, or tinged with pink can be a symptom of fallopian tube cancer. However, it is much more likely to be caused by something far less severe. If you are experiencing this type of vaginal discharge, you can expect your doctor to swab your vagina and perform a microscopic examination of the sample. Depending on when your last Pap smear was done, your doctor may want you to have one as well.
Pelvic Pain: Pelvic pain is a non-specific symptom and can be related to something as minor as PMS to more severe conditions, like cancer. Again, because fallopian tube cancer is rare and pelvic pain is common with many other conditions, this symptom does not raise flags for the disease. If you are experiencing pelvic pain, your doctor will want to know when it occurs, what may trigger it, and what you are taking to relieve it. Pelvic pain that is persistent and lasts for two weeks definitely needs to be evaluated by your doctor.
Pelvic Mass: A pelvic mass that can be felt during a pelvic exam is an important symptom, but is often related to benign conditions, like ovarian cysts. If a pelvic mass is discovered during an exam, your doctor will want to follow up with other tests, such as an ultrasound or CT scan to gather more information about the mass.
Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding: Abnormal vaginal bleeding can occur with fallopian tube cancer. Vaginal bleeding is considered abnormal when it occurs between periods, after sex or douching, or if you have very heavy periods. Any type of vaginal bleeding in post-menopausal women is abnormal.
Pelvic pain, discharge, and a pelvic mass are the most common symptoms present when women are diagnosed with fallopian tube cancer. Rarely do these symptoms present all together, however.
Post-Menopausal Women and Fallopian Tube Cancer Symptoms
Menopausal status can play a role in how symptoms are managed and in the diagnostic process of fallopian tube cancer. Post-menopausal women who are experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding warrant a thorough and timely evaluation.While vaginal bleeding in a post-menopausal woman does not immediately indicate fallopian tube cancer, it does signal that something is wrong and needs to be evaluated. It could be a simple side effect of hormone replacement therapy, or it could be something more serious, like cancer.
If you are post-menopausal and are experiencing vaginal bleeding, it is important to report it to your doctor.
Who Develops Fallopian Tube Cancer?
The disease is rare, and we don't have a lot of definitive information about its causes and risk factors. Women who have inherited a mutated BRCA gene are at an elevated risk of developing fallopian tube cancer.We do know that fallopian tube cancer is most commonly seen in Caucasian women who are between 50 to 60 years of age. Don't let the statistics fool you, though. The disease can strike minority women as well as those younger and older than the 50-60 year age bracket - just less commonly.
Source: http://cancer.about.com
Fallopian Tube Cancer Diagnosis
Because fallopian tube cancer is so rare, and its symptoms can resemble other problems, it can be difficult to diagnose. Additionally, in some cases, women don't learn they have fallopian tube cancer until a tube has been removed surgically during an operation to treat another illness or problem.
However, there are several tests that may be performed in order to make a definite diagnosis of the condition. First your doctor will start by asking about any symptoms you may be experiencing, as well as reviewing your medical history and conducting a thorough physical exam. Other tests that may be performed include:
- Pelvic Exam — This test involves feeling the uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and rectum to find any abnormality in their shape or size.
- CA125 Test — This is a blood test that checks levels of a blood protein known as CA125, which is a tumor marker for gynecological diseases such as fallopian tube cancer. An estimated 85 percent of women with gynecological disease have increased levels of CA125.
However, it is important to note that increased levels of CA125 may not necessarily mean that a woman has cancer, since CA125 levels also may be increased during pregnancy, menstruation, in the presence of other non-cancerous gynecologic diseases or cancers affecting other parts of the body. - Computed tomography (CT) Scan — This imaging test takes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are created by a computer, which is linked to an X-ray machine. A special dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly.
- Ultrasound — An ultrasound of the pelvis may be performed. This test involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to create images of organs and systems within the body. These waves, which cannot be heard by humans, create a pattern of echoes called a sonogram. Healthy tissues, fluid-filled cysts, and tumors look different on this picture.
Source :http://www.ucsfhealth.org
Treatment for Fallopian Tube Cancer
Surgery
Surgery is the removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue during an operation. A surgical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer using surgery. The stage of the tumor determines the type of surgery used. Early stage fallopian tube cancer, when the tumor is limited to the fallopian tubes, is treated by surgical removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries (called a salpingo-oophorectomy). If the cancer has spread, the surgeon may remove the uterus (called a hysterectomy) and other structures in the pelvis, including nearby lymph nodes, to evaluate them for the presence of cancer cells. Learn more about cancer surgery.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells, usually by stopping the cancer cells’ ability to grow and divide. Systemic chemotherapy is delivered through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy is given by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication. A chemotherapy regimen (schedule) usually consists of a specific number of cycles given over a set period of time. A patient may receive one drug at a time or combinations of different drugs at the same time.
Chemotherapy is usually given after surgery for fallopian tube cancer. The most common types of chemotherapy to treat fallopian tube cancer are paclitaxel (Taxol) and carboplatin (Paraplat, Paraplatin).
The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the individual and the dose used, but they can include fatigue, risk of infection, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. These side effects usually go away once treatment is finished.
Learn more about chemotherapy and preparing for treatment. The medications used to treat cancer are continually being evaluated. Talking with your doctor is often the best way to learn about the medications prescribed for you, their purpose, and their potential side effects or interactions with other medications. Learn more about your prescriptions by using searchable drug databases.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to kill cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist. The most common type of radiation treatment is called external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. When radiation treatment is given using implants, it is called internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy.
Radiation therapy may be used before surgery to shrink the size of the tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. A radiation therapy regimen (schedule) usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period of time.
Side effects from radiation therapy may include fatigue, mild skin reactions, upset stomach, and loose bowel movements. Sometimes, doctors advise their patients not to have sexual intercourse during radiation therapy. Women may resume normal sexual activity within a few weeks after treatment if they feel ready. Most side effects go away soon after treatment is finished. Learn more about radiation therapy.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to normal cells, usually leading to fewer side effects than other cancer medications.
Recent studies show that not all tumors have the same targets. To find the most effective treatment, your doctor may run tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors in your tumor. As a result, doctors can better match each patient with the most effective treatment whenever possible. In addition, many research studies are taking place now to find out more about specific molecular targets and new treatments directed at them. Learn more about targeted treatments.
In a 2010 study, adding the targeted therapy drug bevacizumab (Avastin) to chemotherapy and keeping patients on the drug after chemotherapy ends increased the amount of time it takes for advanced fallopian tube cancer and other cancers of a woman’s reproductive system to grow and spread.
Recurrent fallopian tube cancer
Once your treatment is complete and there is a remission (absence of cancer symptoms; also called “no evidence of disease” or NED), talk with your doctor about the possibility of the cancer returning. Many survivors feel worried or anxious that the cancer will come back. Learn more about coping with this fear.
If the cancer does return after the original treatment, it is called recurrent cancer. It may come back in the same place (called a local recurrence), nearby (regional recurrence), or in another place (distant recurrence).
When this occurs, a cycle of testing will begin again to learn as much as possible about the recurrence. After testing is done, you and your doctor will talk about your treatment options. Often the treatment plan will include the therapies described above (such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy) but may be used in a different combination or given at a different pace. Your doctor may also suggest clinical trials that are studying new ways to treat this type of recurrent cancer.
People with recurrent cancer often experience emotions such as disbelief or fear. Patients are encouraged to talk with their health care team about these feelings and ask about support services to help them cope. Learn more about dealing with cancer recurrence.
Metastatic fallopian tube cancer
If cancer has spread to another location in the body, it is called metastatic cancer.
Patients with this diagnosis are encouraged to talk with doctors who are experienced in treating this stage of cancer, because there can be different opinions about the best treatment plan. Learn more about seeking asecond opinion before starting treatment, so you are comfortable with the treatment plan chosen. This discussion may include clinical trials.
In addition to treatment to slow, stop, or eliminate the cancer (also called disease-directed treatment), an important part of cancer care is relieving a person’s symptoms and side effects. It includes supporting the patient with his or her physical, emotional, and social needs, an approach called palliative or supportive care. People often receive disease-directed therapy and treatment to ease symptoms at the same time.
Source : http://www.cancer.net
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