Ovarian cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the ovary or ovaries of the female reproductive system. Ovarian cancer, also called cancer of the ovary, is a very serious cancer and one of the leading causes of death from cancer in women.
There are two ovaries in a woman's body, which contain a woman's eggs and produce female hormones. This hormone-rich environment may encourage the growth of ovarian cancer cells.
Ovarian cancer begins as a malignant tumor that grows on the ovary. From the ovary, ovarian cancer can spread to other organs in the pelvis and abdomen or through the bloodstream to other parts of the body.
The cause of ovarian cancer is not yet known, but ovarian cancer may be due to mutations of certain genes. Risk factors for the development of ovarian cancer include having breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) or breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2), which also increases the risk of developing breast cancer.Women more likely to carry these gene mutations are those of Eastern European or Ashkenazi descent.
Other risk factors for ovarian cancer include having a mother, sister or daughter with ovarian cancer, or having a personal history of breast cancer or colorectal cancer. Women who have never had children or have taken fertility drugs are also at higher risk for developing ovarian cancer. Women past the age of 50 also have a higher risk.
On the flip side, there is a decreased risk for ovarian cancer in women who have been on the birth-control pill.
There are generally no symptoms of ovarian cancer until it has progressed to an advanced stage. For detailed information about important symptoms of advanced stages of ovarian cancer and its complications, refer to symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Diagnosing ovarian cancer and its stage of advancement begins with taking a thorough personal and family medical history, including symptoms and risk factors for ovarian cancer. Diagnosis also includes completing a physical examination that includes a pelvic exam. During the pelvic examination, the health care practitioner uses an instrument called a speculum to help visualize and assess some reproductive organs, including the vagina and cervix. The ovaries will also be felt for size and shape during the pelvic exam.
There is no screening test to screen for ovarian cancer. A Pap smear test only screens for cervical cancer.
If ovarian cancer is suspected, an imaging test called an ultrasound will be performed to visualize the size and shape of the ovaries. Other imaging tests that may be done include CT and PET scans.
A blood test, called a CA-125 test may also be performed in conjunction with imaging tests and exams. A CA-125 test result may be altered in a variety of other less serious diseases, such as uterine fibroids and endometriosis, and is not a definitive test for diagnosing ovarian cancer.
If test results, medical history, risk factors, and exams point to a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, surgery will be performed to do a biopsy of the ovaries. A biopsy is the only definitive diagnostic test for ovarian cancer. It includes taking a sample of the ovaries to examine under a microscope for the presence of ovarian cancer cells.
Because there are generally no symptoms of ovarian cancer in early stages, seeking medical care and making a diagnosis can be delayed. When symptoms do appear they can mimic symptoms of less serious diseases and conditions. For information about misdiagnosis and diseases that can mimic ovarian cancer, refer to misdiagnosis of ovarian cancer. More than half of all women with ovarian cancer will die of the disease. The best chance for successful treatment and a cure occurs when the disease is caught in its earliest stage. Treatment of ovarian cancer involves surgery, medication, and radiation therapy. For more detailed information on treatment, refer to treatment of ovarian cancer. ...more »
Ovarian Cancer: Cancer of the ovaries. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Ovarian Cancer is available below.
Ovarian cancer generally produces no symptoms in its earliest stages. When symptoms do occur, they may indicate that ovarian cancer has progressed to advanced stages. Symptoms may include bloating, pelvic pain, loss of appetite, and feeling full quickly after eating a small amount of food. A woman with ovarian cancer may also experience strong urges ...more symptoms »
In some cases, ovarian cancer may be prevented in women who are at a high risk for the disease by removing the ovaries.
Once ovarian cancer has developed, the best chance for successful treatment and a cure occurs when ovarian cancer is caught in its earliest stage. Unfortunately, more than half of all women with ovarian cancer will die of the disease.
Treatment of ovarian ...more treatments »
Because most women have no symptoms of ovarian cancer in its early stage, it is easy to miss a diagnosis of the disease when it is most treatable and most curable. Untreated or advancing cervical cancer is often fatal.
Symptoms of cervical cancer often do not appear until late stages of the disease. These symptoms are vague and mimic symptoms of many less serious conditions, such as ...more misdiagnosis »
See full list of 31 symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
See full list of 11 treatments for Ovarian Cancer
Home medical testing related to Ovarian Cancer:
Read more about Deaths and Ovarian Cancer.
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed in various sources as possibly beneficial for Ovarian Cancer may include:
See full list of 12 Types of Ovarian Cancer
Possibly curable types of Ovarian Cancer include:
Rare types of Ovarian Cancer include:
Test for Ovarian Cancer in your own home
Click for TestsSee full list of 10 diagnostic tests for Ovarian Cancer
Read more about complications of Ovarian Cancer.
See full list of 15 causes of Ovarian Cancer
More information about causes of Ovarian Cancer:
Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Ovarian Cancer:
Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:
Unnecessary hysterectomies due to undiagnosed bleeding disorder in women: The bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand's disease is quite...read more »
Alzheimer's disease over-diagnosed: The well-known disease of Alzheimer's disease is often over-diagnosed. Patients tend to assume that any memory loss or forgetulness symptom...read more »
Dementia may be a drug interaction: A common scenario in aged care is for a patient to show mental decline to dementia. Whereas this can, of course, occur due to various medical conditions, such as a stroke or ...read more »
Rare type of breast cancer without a lump: There is a less common form of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer. Its symptoms can be an...read more »
Tremor need not be Parkinson's disease: There is the tendency to believe that any tremor symptom, or shakiness, means Parkinson's disease. The reality is that there are various...read more »
Spitz nevi misdiagnosed as dangerous melanoma skin cancer: One possible misdiagnosis to consider in lieu of melanoma is spitz nevi. See melanoma and spitz...read more »
Rare diseases misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease: A rare genetic disorder is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease for men in their 50's. The disease Fragile X disorder can show only mild symptoms in...read more »
Interstitial cystitis an under-diagnosed bladder condition: The medical condition of interstitial cystitic is a bladder condition that can be...read more »
Misdiagnosed weight-related causes of infertility: A woman's weight status can affect her level of fertility. Although obesity or overweight can in themselves reduce...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Ovarian Cancer
Research related physicians and medical specialists:
Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:
Research quality ratings and patient safety measures for medical facilities in specialties related to Ovarian Cancer:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings »
Choosing the Best Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Ovarian Cancer, on hospital performance and surgical care quality:
Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:
See full list of 23 latest treatments for Ovarian Cancer
Medical research articles related to Ovarian Cancer include:
Click here to find more evidence-based articles on the TRIP Database
More Ovarian Cancer animations & videos
Prognosis for Ovarian Cancer: Ovarian cancer is a particularly aggressive cancer and is rarely detected in its early stages.
More about prognosis of Ovarian Cancer
Visit our research pages for current research about Ovarian Cancer treatments.
The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.
Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Ovarian Cancer include:
See full list of 412 Clinical Trials for Ovarian Cancer
Prevention information for Ovarian Cancer has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Ovarian Cancer.
Read more about prevention of Ovarian Cancer
Related forums and medical stories:
Read about other experiences, ask a question about Ovarian Cancer, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:
A malignant neoplasm originating from the surface ovarian epithelium. It accounts for the greatest number of deaths from malignancies of the female genital tract and is the fifth leading cause of cancer fatalities in women. It is predominantly a disease of older white women of northern European extraction, but it is seen in all ages and ethnic groups. Adenocarcinomas constitute the vast majority of ovarian carcinomas. The pattern of metastatic spread in ovarian carcinoma is similar regardless of the microscopic type. The most common sites of involvement are the contralateral ovary, peritoneal cavity, para-aortic and pelvic lymph nodes, and liver. Lung and pleura are the most common sites of extra-abdominal spread. The primary form of therapy is surgical. The overall prognosis of ovarian carcinoma remains poor, a direct result of its rapid growth rate and the lack of early symptoms. --2002 - (Source - Diseases Database)
Ovarian Cancer is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of
Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). This means that Ovarian Cancer, or a subtype of Ovarian Cancer,
affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Search Specialists by State and City
By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use.
Copyright © 2011 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 1 February, 2012 (2:31)
