In a rare case, doctors in Nashik successfully removed a massive 8.5kg cancerous ovarian tumour from a 50-year-old woman, according to news reports. The patient, according to the doctors, suffered from persistent abdominal pain, swelling, and sudden weight gain.

And so, a surgical team - led by Dr. Vikas Jain and Dr. Raj Nagarkar meticulously removed the tumour intact, ensuring no spillage of tumour tissue into the body. “The successful removal of such a large ovarian tumour without any complications speaks volumes about the capabilities of our surgical team,” Dr. Nagarkar, Managing Director and Chief of Surgical Oncology and Robotic Services, at HCGMCC hospital.

Dr. Nagarkar said the patient was also suffering from hypothyroidism and hypertension and was worried about sudden weight gain over the past two months. Upon examination, a massive 20x30 cm lump was discovered in the lower abdomen, occupying the entire abdominal cavity.

The patient said she experienced significant relief from abdominal heaviness and discomfort and was discharged just three days after the surgery.

Ovarian tumours are also known as ovarian neoplasms, which represent growths that can be benign or malignant and are found in the ovary. They can be solid or contain fluid like the ovarian cysts. Doctors say ovarian tumors can be difficult to detect until they are advanced in size or stage.

However, according to experts, the vast majority of ovarian neoplasms in girls and young women are not cancerous.

Tumours are generally formed when there is no control over cell division in your body, resulting in the accumulation of more and more cells without order. Eventually these cells grow into a mass, known as tumours.

According to Johns Hopkins, ovarian tumours are of three types:

These are derived from the cells on the surface of the ovary and are the most common form of ovarian cancer that occurs primarily in adults.

Germ cell tumours are derived from the egg-producing cells within the body of the ovary and happen mainly in children and teenagers.

These tumours are rare in comparison to epithelial tumors and this class of tumors often produces steroid hormones.

According to doctors, ovarian tumour symptoms can be vague and ill-defined in the early stages. However, most of these symptoms include: