31 July 2004	Saturday	13 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, July 30: Experts in their group meeting held at PMA House here on Friday underscored the need for early detection of ovarian cancers to ensure adequate treatment and better outcome.

Speakers, including Dr Fizz, Dr Gule Rana, Dr Tehmina, Dr Shagufta, Dr Yasmin Wajahat, Dr Narjis Muzaffar, Prof. Peter Bailley, representing different government and private medical institutions, reminded that symptoms of ovarian cancers are non- specific, and, therefore, such cancers are often detected late - when the disease is widely spread.

According to them, it thus makes necessary that a high index of suspicion is kept in mind of different cancers occurring in different age groups. With specific reference to ovarian cancers, it was maintained that ovary, an important organ in the body, gives rise to a number of cancers presenting in different forms.

The speakers discussed various types of ovarian cancers on the occasion. Dr Narjis Muzzafar, an oncologist associated with Ziauddin Hospital, in her presentation, expressed deep concern that many of the gynaecologists were performing surgical procedures without proper training consequently exposing patients to serious conditions.

Dr Fizza of Liaquat National Hospital, in her presentation, said that borderline epithelial cancer occurs in women in younger age and that its diagnosis at an early stage is helpful because it usually runs an indolent course and the prognosis is extremely good with a 19-year survival of about 95 per cent.

According to her, in the given situation, an extensive sectioning of the cancer is necessary to exclude its invasive nature, adding treatment comprises surgical staging and its removal.

Dr Gule Rana of Sindh Government Qatar Hospital talked about oestrogen producing granulosa cell which were stated to be of two types -juvenile and adult. These are slow growing cancers and show late recurrence, the speaker said mentioning that detecting cancer at an early stage, adequate removal of the disease and follow-up of the patient are associated with good prognosis.

Dr Tehmina from Liaquat National Hospital discussed germ cell variety of ovarian cancers that are broadly divided into dysgerminoma and non-dysgerminoma. Abdominal pain, mass distension and abnormal vaginal bleeding are the usual complaints of these patients, the doctor said.

Dr Shagufta from Sindh Government Qatar Hospital said that the primary sarcoma of the ovary is extremely rare and that it occurs in post menopausal women and its prognosis is poor. Accurate and early diagnosis and differentiation from other primary ovarian cancers is important to have a better survival chance, she added. -APP