Every year there are more and more cancer patients. This attack spares no one. Scientists and doctors are still trying to figure out the causes of cancer and find effective treatments. Unfortunately, in the early stages of the development of the disease, it is asymptomatic. Many patients, coming to the doctors with complaints, find that they have an extreme degree of illness, with which it is too late to fight. Therefore, mortality due to cancer is high. Nevertheless, scientists managed to get closer to solving the problem. Many types of cancer can be detected in the early stages, simply by visiting doctors on time and donating blood for tests. Special laboratory methods make it possible to isolate "beacons" - tumor markers from human blood, signaling a problem. This allows you to detect the disease in the early stages, which will increase the chances of recovery several times.
Today, one of the most dangerous female tumors is ovarian cancer. Mortality from it is the highest among other malignant tumors of the female genital organs. There is no need to panic. After all, to determinethe onset of the disease can be at the first stages of its development and minimize dangerous risks. A special blood test for the presence of the HE4 tumor marker will save you from danger.
Causes of ovarian cancer
It is not yet possible to name the exact causes that contribute to the appearance of ovarian tumors in women. There are a number of factors that provoke the development of a tumor:
- Changes in the hormonal background. Most often, hormonal imbalance occurs in women during menopause. During this period, the amount of female sex hormones in the body increases. As a result, this contributes to the occurrence of oncological neoplasms, including on the ovaries. Hormonal surges can also occur in girls and young women. Therefore, individuals with irregular menstrual cycles need to pay special attention to their he alth.
- Bad habits. Every sane person knows that smoking, alcohol, junk food are assistants to various kinds of diseases. Ovarian cancer is no exception. For example, women who abuse products containing trans fats, carcinogens, dyes and other harmful additives are at risk of being seen by a cancer doctor.
- Constant change of sexual partners, abortions. If you change men like gloves, not caring about your he alth, then contracting sexually transmitted infections is easy. In the future, this will lead to a decrease in local immunity and, as a result, the emergence of malignant neoplasms. Unwanted pregnancy can be the result of promiscuity. Many women, not seeingAnother way out is to have an abortion. This surgical intervention is a huge stress for the female body, which changes the hormonal background. The result is infertility, cancer.
- Ovarian surgeries that promote the formation of atypical epithelial cells of the organ.
- Genetics. Scientists have proven cases when the presence of certain genes in the DNA chain contributes to the appearance of malignant tumors in humans.
- An ovarian tumor in women sometimes develops as a consequence of another cancer.
Signs of disease
In the early stages, it is almost impossible to determine the development of ovarian cancer. Symptoms appear when the disease has deeply affected the organ. Main signs of ovarian cancer in women:
- menstrual irregularity;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- pressive sensation in the lower abdomen;
- aching pain in the ovaries;
- problems with bowel movements;
- discomfort, pain during intercourse.
These manifestations of the disease are not specific to ovarian cancer. Therefore, in order to avoid tragedy, a mandatory visit to the gynecologist is necessary.
Diagnosis
A routine examination on a gynecological chair will determine changes in the structure of the ovaries. To confirm the primary diagnosis, the patient is sent to do a series of instrumental studies:
- ultrasound examination of the genital organs;
- tissue biopsy to determine cancer structure;
- MRI is a method due to which the localization and boundaries of the neoplasm are visible in detail;
- X-ray and contrast solution will also allow you to see the location of the tumor.
Also, for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, patients are sent to a special blood test, where the presence of tumor markers is detected. According to their concentration, the presence of the disease is judged. To determine ovarian cancer, blood is taken to identify two tumor markers - CA125 and HE4. The latter type of marker has been identified recently, but it most accurately indicates the development of the disease.
What is HE4?
Tumor markers are specific substances that the body begins to secrete when an organ is affected by a tumor. Also, markers can be produced normally in a he althy person, but by increasing their concentration, specialists detect cancer and monitor its course.
HE4 - a tumor marker of ovarian cancer in women, is produced in a small amount in a he althy body to maintain physiological functions. If the epithelium of the ovaries is affected by cancer, then the concentration of a specific protein increases.
Previously, the CA-125 marker, which was determined by a specific blood test, was used to confirm the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. But this method was not reliable, since the concentration of this marker could also increase in non-oncological diseases or in tumors of other organs. Raisethe level of CA-125 in the blood serum may be at the 3rd or 4th stage of the disease. At the initial stages, it is almost impossible to determine the disease using this marker. Most often, the level of the "beacon" rises when clinical signs of ovarian cancer appear in women.
HE4 has higher specificity (95%) and sensitivity (76%) than CA-125. Studies have been conducted that have shown that in women with an increased concentration of the HE4 marker in the blood, CA-125 remains normal. Therefore, to detect ovarian cancer at an early stage, it is better to use the method that determines HE4.
In order for the results to have a greater percentage of accuracy, experts determine two tumor markers at once (CA-125 and HE4). Then a special mathematical algorithm is used, which is more likely to talk about the development of oncoprocesses in the ovaries. The specificity and sensitivity of this method increases many times (up to 96%).
Oncomarker HE4: the norm in women
To make a diagnosis, focusing only on the result of the analysis that determines HE4, is unacceptable. For diagnosis, only an integrated approach is used: examination, instrumental methods for determining and testing for tumor markers. When conducting an analysis to determine the marker of ovarian cancer, it is necessary to indicate whether a woman has menopause or not, since the range of values for women in menopause is higher.
Premenopausal women should have a HE4 score less than 70pmol/ml.
A post-menopausal woman has normal HE4 levels up to 140 pmol/mL.
Oncomarker HE4: transcript
Let's figure it out. If the HE4 tumor marker is elevated, then this indicates the occurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer. We note right away that with other types of ovarian cancer (for example, mucinous), the amount of HE4 in the blood serum does not increase.
High concentration of HE4 does not always indicate ovarian cancer. Sometimes the level of this marker increases with kidney failure, lung cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney fibrosis.
Proper preparation for analysis also affects the level of the marker in the blood.
Preparing for analysis
To determine the oncomarker HE4, blood is taken from a vein on an empty stomach. Therefore, before taking the test, 12 hours before the procedure, you can not eat fatty foods, alcohol, sweets, smoked meats, you can not smoke. On the day of the test, you can only drink water in small quantities.
Conclusion
Only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis, relying on the data of several types of diagnostics. To avoid he alth problems, make it a habit to undergo a medical examination once a year. After all, knowing that you are he althy is priceless.
