Fallopian tube cancer: Basic knowledge to know

Tubular cancer is a very rare condition and can be difficult to detect in its early stages. Because the symptoms of the disease are often vague, it is easy to confuse them with other diseases. Fallopian tube cancer can occur at any age, but is most common in women between the ages of 50 and 60.

The fallopian tubes are a pair of tubes that connect from the ovary to the uterus. Fallopian tube cancer is a malignant tumor formation in the fallopian tubes. This is because the cells in the fallopian tubes grow out of control. Tubal cancer that has spread from the fallopian tubes to another location in the body is called metastatic cancer. More than 95% of fallopian tube cancers are adenocarcinomas, which develop from glandular cells. A few are sarcomas, which develop from connective tissue.
Fallopian tube cancer is rare and accounts for only 1-2% of gynecological cancers. Approximately 1500 to 2000 cases of fallopian tube cancer have been reported worldwide. Fallopian tube cancer can occur at any age, but is most common in women between the ages of 50 and 60. The disease is more common in white women with few or no children. Fallopian tube cancer can be divided into stages similar to ovarian cancer. The FIGO and TNM systems are both used to stage fallopian tube cancer.

Because fallopian tube cancer is so rare, the exact cause of the disease is unknown at present. There are several factors that may be associated with fallopian tube cancer, including:
Infection or inflammation of the fallopian tubes. Childless. Do not use contraception. Family history of fallopian tube cancer. Gene mutations: There is evidence that women who inherit a gene linked to breast and ovarian cancer, called BRCA1, also have a higher risk of developing fallopian tube cancer.

Signs of fallopian tube cancer include:
Unusual vaginal bleeding White, clear, or pink discharge from the vagina Pain or feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen A lump in the pelvis or swelling in the pelvis lower abdomen As the cancer progresses, the abdominal cavity can fill with fluid and is called ascites. However, many other conditions can also cause these symptoms. If you have the above symptoms, you should go to medical facilities to be examined and diagnosed by a doctor.

When a patient is suspected of having fallopian tube cancer, the doctor will order the following tests and procedures.
Pelvic exam: The doctor inserts a speculum into the vagina. This device widens the vagina so that the cervix can be seen and makes it easier to examine the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Pap test: The Pap test (or cervical smear) looks for precancerous cells, cell changes that can become cancerous if not treated appropriately. The doctor uses a thin instrument to scrape some cells from the cervix. The sample of cells will then be sent to a laboratory for testing. The Pap test is also used to screen for and diagnose cervical cancer. Ultrasound: An ultrasound uses high-energy sound waves to create images of the fallopian tubes and other organs in the pelvis. The ultrasound can be done outside the abdomen or inside the vagina (called a transvaginal ultrasound). Blood tests: Abnormalities in blood counts can also aid your doctor's diagnosis Biopsy: These tests are important, but a biopsy is the only way to know for sure if you have ductal cancer. eggs or not. A biopsy is a procedure in which a portion of a tumor is removed for examination under a microscope. Biopsy is used to find out the type, extent, and spread of the tumor.

Treatment for fallopian tube cancer depends on many factors such as the stage of the cancer, medical history, current health and also the goal of treatment of the patient. The doctor will decide the best treatment depending on the patient's condition and needs. Treatments used in fallopian tube cancer include:
Surgery: The surgical approach will depend on the stage of the cancer. In early stage tubal cancer, tubal ablation (removal of one or both fallopian tubes and one or both ovaries) may be indicated. In more advanced patients, total hysterectomy, bilateral hysterectomy, and appendectomy may be necessary. Surgery may be used along with radiation or chemotherapy to improve treatment (also known as adjuvant therapy). Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy is a method of using high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is not the main treatment for fallopian tube cancer because it may not be very effective and patients will experience some side effects. Radiation therapy may be used before surgery to shrink the size of the tumor. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. The drugs commonly used in chemotherapy are cisplatin, docetaxel, carboplatin, gemcitabine, liposomal doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel. In some cases, intraperitoneal chemotherapy will be used. This is a method of chemotherapy that injects drugs directly into the abdomen, where the drug will be absorbed by nearby tissues and organs to destroy cancer cells. Targeted therapy: This therapy can be used to treat recurrent or advanced fallopian tube cancer. Bevacizumab, entrectinib, and larotrectinib may be used in the treatment of fallopian tube cancer. And neratinib, rucaparib, and olaparib are targeted therapies used in fallopian tube cancer with BRCA+ results. In summary, the prognosis for patients with fallopian tube cancer is similar to that for patients with ovarian cancer. Prognosis depends on the stage of the cancer and the age of the patient. The 5-year survival rate after being diagnosed and treated in stage I is about 90%. Therefore, early detection and treatment is extremely important. When there are abnormal signs such as bleeding or abnormal vaginal discharge, continuous lower abdominal pain, patients should immediately go to specialized medical facilities for timely examination.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is the first modern medical facility capable of implementing cancer screening by combining 4 technologies: genetic testing, endoscopy, ultrasound and immunoassay. . In particular, cancer screening with genetic technology is a method that is considered a breakthrough in medicine.
Early screening is considered the "golden key" to detect and provide prevention methods, reduce the risk of death and costs for patients. Due to late detection (70% of patients are treated when they are at the end stage), the death rate from cancer in Vietnam is very high.

Reference source: oncolink