Ovarian Cancer: 10 Things to Know

Doctor William C Lloyd Healthgrades Medical Reviewer
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Written By Sarah Lewis, PharmD on February 18, 2021
  • African American woman in conversation with friend on couch
    Ovarian Cancer Facts
    Ovarian cancer accounts for about 3% of cancers affecting American women. Each year in the United States, more than 20,000 women find out they have ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, only 1 in 5 will be in an early stage at diagnosis. Here are some of the most important things to know about ovarian cancer.
  • Patient talking with his doctor
    1. Being a woman is the main risk factor.
    Age is another major risk fact. Most ovarian cancers develop after menopause. It’s rare for premenopausal women to have the disease. Other risk factors include Caucasian race, genetic mutations, never being pregnant or carrying a first full-term pregnancy after age 35, and family or personal history of breast, ovarian or colon cancer. Fertility medication use and long-term estrogen hormone replacement use are risk factors as well. Lifestyle factors, such as being overweight and eating a high-fat diet, can also increase your risk.
  • Senior African American woman in park with hand on stomach
    2. Ovarian cancer can be hard to detect.
    The ovaries lie deep in the abdomen, making it virtually impossible to find tumors in early stages. There are also no reliable screening tests. Symptoms usually don’t develop until ovarian cancer is in advanced stages and they tend to be vague. They include bloating, constipation, fatigue, menstrual changes, pain during sex, and abdominal, pelvic or back pain. Urinary symptoms, such as having to go frequently or urgently, can also occur. Women sometimes have trouble eating, feel full quickly when eating, or have stomach upset.
  • doctor using microscope
    3. A biopsy is the only way to know for sure if a tumor is cancerous.
    If your doctor suspects ovarian cancer, he or she may recommend diagnostic testing. This may include an abdominal ultrasound, transvaginal ultrasound, and blood tests, including CA-125 tumor markers. The results of these tests will guide your next steps. If the results are unclear or suspicious, your doctor may recommend a biopsy. A biopsy removes a small tissue sample to check it for cancer. It is the only way to know for sure if the tissue is cancerous or benign.
  • magnetic resonance imaging scanner, mri
    4. A complete diagnosis is necessary to stage ovarian cancer.
    After diagnosing ovarian cancer, your doctor may order imaging exams, such as CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), to determine the extent of cancer. Exploratory surgery may be necessary for a complete diagnosis. This information helps your doctor determine the cancer stage and plan the most effective treatment.
  • Woman with doctor
    5. Ovarian cancer stage guides treatment decisions.
    There are four stages for ovarian cancer: I, II, III and IV. Lower stage ovarian cancers usually have a better outlook because they are more likely to respond to treatment. Higher numbers indicate more severe disease. The stage of your cancer depends on the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to your lymph nodes or other organs. Once your doctor knows the stage, you can begin to develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
  • Senior Caucasian woman at doctor's office looking at tablet
    6. The goal of treatment is to cure ovarian cancer.
    The goal of treatment is to cure the cancer if possible. Unfortunately, most ovarian cancers are in advanced stages at diagnosis. When a cure is not likely, treatment is palliative. It aims to relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life. For ovarian cancer, two or more types of treatments are usually necessary.
  • Surgeons
    7. Surgery is the main treatment for most ovarian cancers.
    The two main goals of surgery are to stage and debulk the disease. Debulking means removing as much of the cancer as possible. To stage the disease, doctors typically remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. If the cancer appears to have spread throughout the abdomen, debulking can involve more extensive removal of abdominal organs and tissue. Chemotherapy typically follows surgery.
  • Chemotherapy
    8. Chemotherapy is another common treatment.
    Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. For ovarian cancer, doctors usually combine two or more chemotherapy medicines. They give these drugs either through a vein or directly into the abdominal cavity. Chemotherapy is often successful at shrinking or clearing ovarian cancer. However, cancer cells may eventually start growing again.
  • Blood vials
    9. Targeted therapy may be useful in advanced stages.
    Targeted therapy uses specific markers to identify and attack cancer cells without damaging normal cells. As a result, side effects tend to be less severe than traditional chemotherapy. These drugs can help shrink ovarian tumors and stop them from growing. This can help relieve symptoms in advanced stages.
  • Young Caucasian woman holding packet of pills
    10. You can take charge of your reproductive health.
    While there is no absolute way to prevent ovarian cancer, you can take steps to protect your health. Research suggests using oral contraceptives, carrying a full-term pregnancy, and breastfeeding all have the potential to decrease the risk of ovarian cancer. Certain women at high risk may also want to consider preventive surgery. This may involve removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. Talk with your doctor about your risk of ovarian cancer and ask if any of these strategies make sense for you.
Ovarian Cancer: 10 Things to Know
  1. Can Ovarian Cancer Be Found Early? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-detection
  2. Can Ovarian Cancer Be Prevented? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-prevention
  3. How Is Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-diagnosis
  4. How Is Ovarian Cancer Staged? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-staging
  5. How Is Ovarian Cancer Treated? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-treating-general-info
  6. Ovarian Cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-what-is-ovarian-cancer
  7. Ovarian Cancer. American Society of Clinical Oncology. http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/ovarian-cancer/overview
  8. Ovarian Cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/
  9. Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/patient/ovarian-epithelial-treatment-pdq
  10. Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/patient/ovarian-germ-cell-treatment-pdq
  11. What Are the Key Statistics About Ovarian Cancer? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-key-statistics
  12. What Are the Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-risk-factors
  13. What Is Ovarian Cancer? National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. http://www.ovarian.org/what_is_ovarian_cancer.php
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Last Review Date: 2021 Feb 18
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