Hives & Ovarian Cancer
Early detection is a key part of the successful treatment of ovarian cancer. Doctors use internal imaging tests to locate and diagnose the cancer. The dye used in some of these tests, like CT scans, can cause side effects that include allergic reaction symptoms like hives on a woman's skin.
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Ovarian Cancer
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Ovarian cancer occurs when malignant growths develop within a woman's ovaries. It is most common in women who have gone through menopause and the risk for developing it increases with age. A family history of ovarian cancer, with or without an inherited gene mutation, also increases the risk for developing this disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors have also found an association between ovarian cancer and women who have taken hormone replacement therapy, or HRT.
Symptoms
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The symptoms associated with ovarian cancer are not usually recognized until after the cancer has metastasized and spread to other parts of a woman's body, but they are also present during the early stages of the cancer. Symptoms include pain in the abdominal or pelvic region. A woman with ovarian cancer might have trouble eating because she feels full very quickly. Urinary frequency and urgency are also common symptoms. Early symptoms of ovarian cancer are often mistaken for other, less serious conditions.
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Diagnosis
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The earlier ovarian cancer is diagnosed, the earlier treatment can begin. A CT scan allows a doctor to obtain detailed cross-sectional images of a woman's body. This reveals how large an ovarian tumor is, where it is located and if it has spread to other organs. Contrast dye for the CT scan can be administered intravenously. According to the American Cancer Society, some women may be allergic to the dye and develop hives in reaction to it.
Treatment
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Ovarian cancer is usually treated first with surgery to remove the malignant growth. Surgeons usually remove a woman's ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and some surrounding tissue to be certain that no cancer cells remain. If ovarian cancer is discovered very early, only the ovaries need to be removed. Most women receive chemotherapy as follow-up to surgery, to be sure that any remaining cancer cells are destroyed.
Considerations
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If a woman has experienced an allergic reaction to contrast dye in the past, she is more likely to develop hives or other symptoms of an allergic reaction during a CT scan. Doctors can prescribe medication to prevent and treat an allergic reaction. Tests to diagnose and locate a tumor are an important part of early detection. The earlier a woman's treatment for ovarian cancer begins, the better her chances for survival.
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