Learn about childhood ovarian cancer

Regarding childhood ovarian cancer, there are many types of ovarian cancer, which cannot be generalized. Germ cell tumors, which are common in adolescents, account for 3% to 5% of all ovarian cancers. The age of onset can range from 10 to 60 years old. The cause is currently unclear and may be related to genetic and environmental factors.

Patients may not have any symptoms in the early stage, but may sometimes experience abdominal pain and other discomfort. Abdominal pain can also be caused by kidney stones, appendicitis, acute enteritis, genital malformations, etc. To confirm whether it is ovarian cancer, imaging examinations (B-ultrasound, CT, MRI) can be used to identify it, and blood tests for ovarian tumor markers can also be performed.
Some girls with ovarian cancer may feel a mass in their abdomen, or even a swollen abdomen. If the tumor grows and compresses the bladder and rectum, the patient will have symptoms related to urination and defecation, such as frequent urination. The menstruation of these patients may be normal, and some even had regular menstruation before diagnosis.
Early detection has a high five-year survival rate. If ovarian germ cell tumors are detected early, surgery + chemotherapy can be performed, and the five-year survival rate can reach 70% to 90%.
The reason for this effect is that ovarian cancer cells are more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs. If this type of ovarian cancer has not metastasized, only the ovary on the affected side can be removed, leaving the other ovary and uterus. Before chemotherapy, drugs can be used to inhibit the development of ovarian follicles to minimize the damage to follicles by chemotherapy drugs. These measures can allow young patients to retain their fertility in the future.