Ovarian Cancer
Introduction : Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells in your ovaries or fallopian tubes grow and multiply out of control.
Ovaries are part of the female reproductive system. These two round, walnut-sized organs make eggs during your reproductive years.
Ovarian cancer can develop and spread throughout your abdomen before it causes any symptoms. This can make early detection difficult. Ovarian cancer symptoms may include:
- Pelvic or abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating.
- Changes in your eating habits, getting full early and losing your appetite.
- Vaginal discharge or abnormal bleeding, especially if the bleeding occurs outside of your typical menstrual cycle or after you’ve gone through menopause.
- Bowel changes, such as diarrhea or constipation.
- An increase in the size of your abdomen.
- Peeing more often (frequent urination).
The exact cause of ovarian cancer isn’t yet known. But some people have a slightly higher risk of developing the condition. Ovarian cancer risk factors include:
- Being over the age of 60.
- Obesity.
- A family history of ovarian cancer (others in your biological family have had the disease) or have inherited a gene mutation (BRCA1 or BRCA2) or Lynch syndrome.
- Never being pregnant or having children later in life.
- Endometriosis.
If your healthcare provider suspects ovarian cancer, they’ll ask about your symptoms and perform a pelvic exam. During the exam, they’ll check for any abnormal growths or enlarged organs.
They may recommend additional tests, including:
Imaging tests
Providers may use several imaging tests, including:
- Pelvic ultrasound.
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
- CT scan (computed tomography).
- PET scan (positron emission tomography).
Blood tests
Blood tests look for a substance called CA-125. High levels of CA-125 in your blood can be a sign of cancer. However, CA-125 levels can be normal, even when cancer is present, and higher in many conditions that aren’t cancer. Because of this, providers use blood tests in combination with other tests to diagnose ovarian cancer.
Surgical evaluation
Providers can diagnose ovarian cancer during surgery. Typically, if they find abnormal growths, they’ll remove them during the same procedure.
Laparoscopy
During laparoscopic surgery, a surgeon places a thin camera (laparoscope) through a small cut (incision) made in your abdomen. Using the scope as a guide, along with additional ports to hold instruments, the surgeon can assess the cancer, perform staging biopsies and, in some circumstances, remove ovarian tumors.
The goal in treating cancer is to remove as much, if not all, cancer from your body as possible. Common ovarian cancer treatments include:
- Surgery. This typically involves the removal of your reproductive organs and any organ that has cancer on it. Your surgeon may use laparoscopy (a minimally invasive surgery) or laparotomy (open surgery that requires an abdominal incision).
- Chemotherapy. Your provider may recommend chemotherapy either before or after surgery. Chemotherapy are drugs designed to target and kill cancerous cells. Your provider may give you chemotherapy intravenously (through a vein) or orally (in pill form).
- Targeted therapy. This cancer treatment uses drugs to identify and attack cancer cells. Targeted therapy changes the way cancer cells grow and divide.
- Hormone therapy. Some ovarian cancers use hormones to grow. This type of therapy blocks hormones, slowing or stopping the growth of cancer.
- Radiation therapy. Providers rarely use radiation therapy for treatment of ovarian cancer.
The stage wise (based on FIGO staging) 5-year survival percentages
Stage 1 (Localized, confined to the ovaries)
- Stage 1A: ~94%
- Stage 1B: ~92%
- Stage 1C: ~85%
Stage 2 (Cancer has spread to nearby pelvic organs)
- Stage 2A: ~78%
- Stage 2B: ~73%
Stage 3 (Cancer spreads to the abdomen or nearby lymph nodes)
- Stage 3A: ~59%
- Stage 3B: ~52%
- Stage 3C: ~39%
Stage 4 (Distant metastasis, such as the liver, lungs, or other organs)
- Stage 4A: ~25%
- Stage 4B: ~17%
There’s no way to prevent ovarian cancer completely. But knowing your biological family history can help you prepare for any heightened risk of developing ovarian cancer.
If you have a genetic mutation such as BRCA mutation, your healthcare provider may recommend risk-reducing surgery to remove your ovaries and tubes before they become cancerous.