Download Genetics of Breast and Ovarian Cancer (PDQ®)

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Rebecca Gomez
Mr. Gill
English 12
Compare & Contrast
Ovarian Cancer and Breast Cancer
In Ovarian cancer the most common place for a tumor to arise in is from the
epithelium, or lining cells of the ovaries. This includes, epithelial ovarian, from the cells
on the surface of the ovaries, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal (the lining inside the
abdomen that coats abdominal structures) cancer. And these are all considered to be one
disease process. Often ovarian cancer is diagnosed by a suspicion that leads the person to
make an appointment with their doctor, from there the doctor will do a biopsy to diagnose
if it is the cancer or not. CAT scans or an ultrasound are used to view the suspicion, and
if the cancer exists the pictures will show masses in the abdomen and pelvis, fluid in the
stomach, obstructions of the bowel and kidneys, or disease in the chest or liver. If any of
these signs appear the person would then promptly be referred to a specialist. The signs
are a high suspicion of ovarian cancer.
Symptoms that occur that would lead a person to make an appointment with their
doctor in the first place include; fatigue, getting full quickly, abdominal swelling, clothes
fitting tightly, leg swelling, changes in bowel habits, changes in bladder habits,
abdominal pain, and shortness of breath. These symptoms are very common, making
diagnosing the disease much more difficult, but with a physical exam and CAT scans
showing signs of the cancer it would then be diagnosed.
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Epithelial ovarian cancer treatment often consists of surgery and chemotherapy.
The surgery consists of trying to remove the visible disease in the abdomen, known as
surgical debulking. The job is to remove all masses as possible, this results in removal of
both tubes and ovaries, the uterus, the omentum (a large pad of fat that hangs off the
colon), lymph node biopsy, and any other organ involved in the disease.
Breast cancer occurs in the breasts or in nearby lymph nodes, usually starting with
an unusual lump, swelling in the armpit, pain or tenderness in the breasts, any change in
the size, contour, texture, or temperature of the breasts. It is usually painless, but those
symptoms may occur when the tumor has developed. The major goals of breast cancer
are to; rid the body completely of the cancer as much as possible, and to prevent the
cancer from returning. The type of breast cancer treatment will depend on the size of the
tumor, the extent of the disease in the lymph nodes and throughout the body; also age,
menstrual status, underlying health issues, and personal preferences.
Possible treatments include; surgery, radiation therapy (used to control cancer
cells all over the body), chemotherapy (uses drugs to kill off cancer cells), hormone
therapy (uses drugs to prevent the hormones such as estrogen from promoting the growth
of breast cancer cells, that may remain after breast cancer surgery), and biological
therapy (uses drugs that target breast cancer cells that contain high levels of protein called
HER2.)
Ovarian cancer and breast cancer are not alike because they start in different
regions of the body and they affect the body differently. Ovarian cancer is harder to
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diagnose and breast cancer is known to be fairly easy because of the uncommon
symptoms. They are alike because they both are common in women, the percentage of
acquiring both increases as women get older, the reproductive history may or may not
increase the risk of developing both cancers, along with the history of oral contraceptives
that increase the risks as well. The percentage of women diagnosed with breast cancer
who also had a mother or sister diagnosed was 5% to 10% and that number doubles in
women who have had either a first-degree relative or a second-degree relative diagnosed
as well. Ovarian cancer as well as breast cancer has the greatest risk of occurring with
family history.
Works Cited
"National Cancer Institute." Genetics of Breast and Ovarian
Cancer (PDQ®) -. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
"Ovarian Cancer Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What Is the
Treatment for Ovarian Cancer? - MedicineNet." MedicineNet. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
"Treatments for Breast Cancer." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 15
Jan. 2014.