KARACHI, June 14: High index of malignancy suspicion on part of doctors while dealing with any case of abdominal mass was recommended at a meeting held at the PMA House here on Friday.

The session largely attended by local gynaecologists and oncologists were reminded that unusual growth in the size of abdomen, particularly among young women, was often a manifestation of ovarian cancer.

On the occasion, two different cases of ovarian cancer, reported at the Sindh Government Qatar Hospital and Sobhraj Maternity Home, respectively, were presented and extensively discussed.

Participants observed that it was not only delayed referral on part of patients suffering from the disease which reduced chances of effective therapy but improper diagnosis may lead to serious conditions.

Doctors were particularly warned to be extremely cautious and cognizant about tumours at unusual locations and growing in an unusual way. Ovarian Cancer was said to have recently emerged as the commonest type of malignancy, reported at local tertiary care hospitals, followed by cervical and uterine tract malignancies.

The very kind of cancer was also cited as the silent killer which grows rapidly and in no time while women having a family history, particularly among their first degree of relatives as mother or any of sister suffering from the disease, may have increased chances to be inflicted with Ovarian Cancer.

Such high risk groups were strictly advised to ensure regular self-examination besides an ultrasound of pelvis. It was also mentioned on the occasion that the exercise may at the same time lead to unnecessary anxiety among the women concerned exposing them to other conditions.

Women seeking multiple therapy for infertility were also observed to be at high risk of ovarian cancer and were thus advised to ensure proper therapy for their condition and not haphazard treatment. Gynaecologists were urged to play due role in sensitizing women about the consequences.

Dr Naila of Ziauddin Medical University, in her presentation titled “Role of Chemotherapy and Cancer among Young”, regretted that patients often feared of the consequences of the therapy which included frequent nausea feeling, baldness, loss of weight and so forth were reluctant to resort the option.

This she said was despite the fact that chemotherapy generally improved the quality of survival and also often combated chances of recurrence of the disease.

Prof Siraj-ud-Daula, a senior pathologist, discussed different cases of highly malignant tumours and elaborated the same with the help of slides.

Dr Sabeen from the Qatar Hospital presented the case of a 35-year-old woman whose condition could not be diagnosed in time and had to be operated in emergency and then was found to be suffering from cancer.

Dr Majida Khanum from Sobhraj Maternity Hospital discussed the case of a 13-old-girl from Peshawar, who emerged to be a victim of taboo as could not be taken to any hospital or even gynaecologist for her sufferings related to genital tract ailment.—APP