Ovarian Cancer - Highlights

Highlights

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cancer in women, and the fifth leading cause of female cancer death. Detection of ovarian cancer while it is in its early stages significantly improves prognosis. Unfortunately, most cases of ovarian cancer are discovered when the cancer is already advanced.

Symptoms

Ovarian cancer grows quickly and can progress from early to advanced stages within a year. Paying attention to symptoms can help improve a woman's chances of being diagnosed and treated promptly. If you have the following symptoms on a daily basis for more than a few weeks, you should see your doctor (preferably a gynecologist):

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• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly

Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer

The main risk factors of ovarian cancer are:

• Older age
• Family history of ovarian, breast, or hereditary colorectal cancer
• BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutations
• Obesity
• Hormone replacement therapy use for 5 or more years
• Not having had children

Preventive Factors for Ovarian Cancer

Factors that reduce the risk of ovarian cancer include:

• Having taken birth control pills
• Giving birth to at least one child
• Tubal ligation (tying fallopian tubes) or hysterectomy (removal of uterus) after childbearing
• Risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy surgery (removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes) may be recommended for women at high risk for ovarian cancer, particularly those who have BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations

Treatment

Ovarian cancer is usually treated by surgery, followed by chemotherapy. Surgery involves removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and the omentum (a layer of fatty tissue in the abdomen).

Patients with ovarian cancer should seek care from a qualified gynecologic oncologist (a surgical specialist in female reproductive cancers) and a qualified medical oncologist with special expertise in the chemotherapeutic management of gynecologic cancer.

Review Date: 11/04/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).