Ovarian Cancer

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries. Women have 2 ovaries, one on each side of the uterus in the pelvis, as shown in the picture below. The ovaries produce eggs (called ova). They are also the main source of a woman's female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. The eggs travel through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. Here they may be fertilized and develop into a fetus.

Many types of tumors can start in the ovaries. Some are benign (not cancer) and never spread beyond the ovary. Women with these types of tumors can be treated by taking out either the ovary or the part of the ovary that has the tumor. Other types of tumors are cancerous (or malignant) and can spread to other parts of the body. They need more treatment which we will explain later.

As a rule, tumors in the ovary are named for the kinds of cells the tumor started from and whether the tumor is benign or cancerous. There are 3 main types of tumors:

Epithelial tumors:  These tumors start from the cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary. Most ovarian tumors are epithelial cell tumors.

Germ cell tumors:  These start from the cells that produce the eggs.

Stromal tumors:  These start from cells that hold the ovary together and make the female hormones.

Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer

Some of the risk factors for the most common type of ovarian cancer (epithelial ovarian cancer) are listed below.

• Age
• Obesity
• Having Children
• Female surgery
• Fertility drugs
• Male Hormones
• Estrogen Replacement Therapy
• Family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or colorectal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Talcum powder
• Diet
• Smoking and alcohol use

 

Can Ovarian Cancer be prevented?

Most women have one or more risk factors for ovarian cancer. But risk factors only partly explain the disease, since most of them increase risk only slightly. So far, knowledge about risk factors has not led to ways to prevent the disease. Some of the things listed below may reduce the risk of the most common type of ovarian cancer (epithelial) only slightly, while others may decrease it much more. If you are concerned about your risk, especially if you have a family history of cancer, you should talk to your doctor.

• Birth control pills
• Surgery

 

Signs and Symptoms

• Swelling of the stomach (abdomen) or bloating caused by a build-up of fluid or a tumor
• Pelvic pressure or stomach pain
• Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
• Having to urinate often or feeling like you have to go right away
• Tiredness
• Upset stomach
• Back pain
• Pain during sex
• Constipation
• Menstrual changes

 

Test to Find Ovarian Cancer

• Ultrasound
• CT scans
• Barium enema x-rays
• MRI magnetic resonance imaging
• Chest x-rays
• PET Scan

 

Treatment for Ovarian Cancer

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy

 

Treatment is based on the type of tumor, and in many cases a combination of treatments is used. The effectiveness of the treatment depends on the number of factors including the type, size and location of the tumor.

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/OvarianCancer/OverviewGuide/index