What is Ovarian Cancer:

The American Cancer Society defines Ovarian cancer as cancer that begins in the ovaries. Ovaries are reproductive glands found only in women. The ovaries produce eggs (ova) for reproduction. The eggs travel through the fallopian tubes into the uterus where the fertilized egg implants and develops into a fetus. The ovaries are also the main source of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. One ovary is located on each side of the uterus in the pelvis.  The most recent estimates from the American Cancer Society for ovarian cancer:

about 21,550 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed
about 14,600 deaths

Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer among women, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers. It ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Ovarian cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in women. A woman's risk of getting invasive ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 71. Her lifetime chance of dying from invasive ovarian cancer is about 1 in 95. (These statistics do not count low malignant potential ovarian tumors.)

The ovaries contain 3 kinds of tissue:

1) epithelial cells, which cover the ovary

2) germ cells, which are found inside the ovary. These cells develop into the eggs (ova) that are released into the fallopian tubes every month.

3) stromal cells, which produce most of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone

Types of ovarian tumors

Many types of tumors can start growing in the ovaries. Most of these are benign (non-cancerous) and never spread beyond the ovary. Benign tumors can be treated successfully by removing either the ovary or the part of the ovary that contains the tumor. Ovarian tumors that are not benign are malignant (cancerous) and can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Their treatment is more complex and is discussed later in this document.

In general, ovarian tumors are named according to the kind of cells the tumor started from and whether the tumor is benign or cancerous. There are 3 main types of ovarian tumors:

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

Germ cell tumors start from the cells that produce the ova (eggs).

Stromal tumors start from connective tissue cells that hold the ovary together and produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Symptoms:

Early ovarian cancer may not cause obvious symptoms. But, as the cancer grows, symptoms may include:

Pressure or pain in the abdomen, pelvis, back, or legs
A swollen or bloated abdomen
Nausea, indigestion, gas, constipation, or diarrhea
Feeling very tired all the time

Less common symptoms include:

Shortness of breath
Feeling the need to urinate often
Unusual vaginal bleeding (heavy periods, or bleeding after menopause)

Most often these symptoms are not due to cancer, but only a doctor can tell for sure. Any woman with these symptoms should tell her doctor.

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