Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in
women in the U.S. with over 25,000 women newly diagnosed each year with this
disease. It is the fifth
leading cause of cancer deaths in women and frequently does not result in
symptoms until the cancer has spread extensively. Less than one-third of ovarian
cancers are detected before they have spread outside of the ovaries.
Ovarian cancer actually represents a group of different
tumors that arise from diverse types of tissue contained within the ovary. The most common type of
ovarian cancer arises from the epithelial
cells (the outside layer of cells ) of the surface of the ovary. Other, rare
types of ovarian cancer develop from the egg-forming germ
cells or from the supporting tissue (stroma) of the organ. Benign
(non-cancerous) tumors and cysts are also found in the ovary and are much more
common than ovarian cancers.
The majority of ovarian cancers are diagnosed late, after the cancers have spread. Only about 20% of women are diagnosed early, when the disease may be curable. There is no definitive screening test for early ovarian cancer. Regular pelvic examinations, sometimes supplemented by ultrasound examinations or blood tests for cancer-related markers, have been routinely used for ovarian cancer screening, but none of these tests
are specifically able to detect ovarian cancer. Traditionally, it was believed that ovarian cancer does not produce any characteristic symptoms until the tumor is widespread, and that early symptoms of ovarian cancer were not recognizable.
However, in June 2007, the American Cancer Society, along with other medical societies including the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, released a consensus statement about possible early symptoms of ovarian cancer. This statement was based on research suggesting that some of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer can, in fact, be recognized. In particular, possible early ovarian cancer symptoms include the following:
Most ovarian growths in women under age 30 are benign,
fluid-filled cysts.
There are several types of ovarian cancer.
The exact causes of ovarian cancer are unknown.
Risk factors that increase the chance of developing ovarian
cancer include a family history of
cancer, being over 55
years of age, and never being
pregnant.
The ovarian cancer symptoms and signs can be vague but may include abdominal swelling, pressure, or pain, frequent urination or urinary urgency,
back pain, leg pain, unusual vaginal bleeding, and feeling full quickly.
There are no routine screening tests for ovarian cancer.
A physical
examination (including pelvic exam), ultrasound, X-rays, the
CA 125 blood test,
and biopsy of the ovary may be needed to detect and diagnose ovarian cancer
and determine staging.
The treatment, prognosis, and survival rate for ovarian cancer depend on the stage of the
disease and
the age and health of the woman.
The ovaries
The ovaries are part of a woman's reproductive system. They are in the
pelvis. Each ovary is about the size of an almond.
The ovaries make the female hormones -- estrogen and progesterone. They also
release eggs. An egg travels from an ovary through a fallopian tube to the womb
(uterus).
When a woman goes through her "change of life" (menopause), her ovaries stop
releasing eggs and make far lower levels of hormones.
Understanding ovarian cancer
Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues
make up the organs of the body.
Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them.
When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes, this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does
not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can
form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.
Tumors can be benign or malignant:
Benign tumors are not cancer:
Benign tumors are rarely life-threatening.
Generally, benign tumors can be
removed. They usually do not grow back.
Benign tumors do not invade the tissues
around them.
Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant tumors are cancer:
Malignant tumors are generally more serious than benign tumors. They may be
life-threatening.
Malignant tumors often can be removed. But sometimes they grow
back.
Malignant tumors can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs.
Cells
from malignant tumors can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells spread
by breaking away from the original (primary) tumor and entering the lymphatic
system or bloodstream. The cells invade other organs and form new tumors that
damage these organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
Benign and malignant cysts
An ovarian cyst may be found on the surface of an ovary or inside it. A cyst
contains fluid. Sometimes it contains solid tissue too. Most ovarian cysts are
benign (not cancer).
Most ovarian cysts go away with time. Sometimes, a doctor will find a cyst
that does not go away or that gets larger. The doctor may order tests to make
sure that the cyst is not cancer.
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer can invade, shed, or spread to other organs:
Invade: A malignant ovarian tumor can grow and invade organs next to
the ovaries, such as the fallopian tubes and uterus.
Shed: Cancer cells can shed (break off) from the main ovarian tumor.
Shedding into the abdomen may lead to new tumors forming on the surface of
nearby organs and tissues. The doctor may call these seeds or implants.
Spread: Cancer cells can spread through the lymphatic system to lymph
nodes in the pelvis, abdomen, and chest. Cancer cells may also spread through
the bloodstream to organs such as the liver and lungs.
When cancer spreads from its original place to another part of the body, the
new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the original
tumor. For example, if ovarian cancer spreads to the liver, the cancer cells in
the liver are actually ovarian cancer cells. The disease is metastatic ovarian
cancer, not liver cancer. For that reason, it is treated as ovarian cancer, not
liver cancer. Doctors call the new tumor "distant" or metastatic disease.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled, sac-like structures within an ovary. Causes of ovarian cysts are numerous. Symptoms of an ovarian cysts may be pain in the belly or pelvis. Treatment of an ovarian cysts depends on type of cyst.
Ascites, the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity is most commonly caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Some of the other causes of ascites include portal hypertension, congestive heart failure, blood clots, and pancreatitis. The most common symptoms include increased abdominal girth and size, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain. Treatment depends on the cause of ascites.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
Most often, caregivers take care of other adults who are ill or disabled. Less often, caregivers are grandparents raising their grandchildren. The majority of caregivers are middle-aged women. Caregiving can be very stressful, so it's important to recognize when it's putting to much strain on you and to take steps to prevent/relieve stress.
The ovary is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women that are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and female hormones. The ovaries are the main source of female hormones, which control the development of female body characteristics such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair. They also regulate the
menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Ovarian cysts are closed, sac-like structures within an ovary that contain a liquid, gaseous, or semisolid substance.
The ovary is also referred to as the female gonad.
What causes ovarian cysts?
Ovarian cysts form for numerous reasons. The most common type is a follicular cyst, which results from the growth of a follicle. A follicle is the normal fluid-filled sac that contains an egg. Follicular cysts form when the follicle grows larger than normal ...
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in
women in the U.S. with over 25,000 women newly diagnosed each year with this
disease. It is the fifth
leading cause of cancer deaths in women and frequently does not result in
symptoms until the cancer has spread extensively. Less than one-third of ovarian
cancers are detected before they have spread outside of the ovaries.
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