A Primary Care Approach to Identifying, Investigating and Managing a Patient with Suspected Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer is one of the leading causes of cancers worldwide associated with high mortality in females. This is due to difficulties in early detection and primary prevention of disease. Most women present with vague gastrointestinal, urological and abdominal symptoms. Conventional diagnosis involves investigating pelvic tumour markers and imaging but in most cases tissue biopsy is the only way to confirm the diagnosis and staging of the disease. Early stage is usually managed with microscopic resection of tumour with consideration to fertility sparing treatment in young women. Advanced ovarian cancer needs primary debulking surgery with or without neoadjuvant therapies. The role of target therapies still faces the challenges of overcoming side effects and toxicity and choosing the correct target populations.