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Tubal

Cancer of the Fallopian Tube - General Information

Contents:

	Anatomy.
	What is Cancer of the Fallopian Tubes?
	Symptoms.
	Causes.

Anatomy

The fallopian tubes are the tubular structures which connect the upper, outer-most part of the uterus with the ovary, and provide a means for fertilisation of the female egg.

What is Cancer of the Fallopian Tubes?

Cancer of the fallopian tube is very uncommon. For instance the Centre for Gynaecological Cancer saw only 5 cases of cancer of the fallopian tube in 1998.

Very often there are no symptoms in the early stages of cancer of the fallopian tube and many are only found by chance during a routine gynaecological check-up. However, if a woman notices any of the following, she should see her family doctor:

	increasing swelling or her lower abdomen without weight gain elsewhere;
	increasing swelling of her lower abdomen which does not improve with diet or exercise;
	a lump or mass in her abdomen, especially her lower abdomen;
	lower abdominal/pelvic pain that does not settle quickly and simply;
	feelings of pressure on the bowel or bladder and a feeling that the bowel or bladder cannon be completely emptied
	abnormal bleeding from the vagina, especially bleeding after menopause

Causes

As has been mentioned, cancers of the fallopian tube are extremely rare. They may occur in middle aged women who have had children and often after menopause, but their cause is not known.

Prof Alex Crandon PhD (Leeds), F.R.C.O.G. (Lond), F.R.A.C.O.G., C.G.O.
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Tubal

Cancer of the Fallopian Tube - General Information

Anatomy

What is Cancer of the Fallopian Tubes?

Symptoms

Causes