1. Ovarian Cancer Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Ovarian Cancer Quiz
3. 15 Cancer Symptoms Women Ignore Slideshow

In this Article

• Ovarian cancer facts*
• What are the ovaries?
• What is ovarian cancer?
• What are risk factors for ovarian cancer?
• Ovarian cancer symptoms
• How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?
• How is staging for ovarian cancer determined?
• What is the treatment for ovarian cancer?
• Treatment methods
• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• What are the side effects of treatment for ovarian cancer?
• What follow-up care is necessary?
• Where can ovarian cancer patients find support?
• What research is available for ovarian cancer patients?
• What resources are available to patients with ovarian cancer?
• Pictures of Ovarian Cancer - Slideshow
• Take the Ovarian Cancer Quiz
• 15 Cancer Symptoms Women Ignore - Slideshow
• Ovarian Cancer FAQs
• Patient Comments: Ovarian Cancer - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Ovarian Cancer - Diagnosis
• Patient Comments: Ovarian Cancer - Treatments
• Find a local Oncologist in your town
• Ovarian Cancer Index

Doctors all over the country are conducting many types of clinical trials (research studies in which people volunteer to take part). They are studying new and better ways to prevent, detect, and treat ovarian cancer.

Clinical trials are designed to answer important questions and to find out whether new approaches are safe and effective. Research already has led to advances, and researchers continue to search for more effective methods.

Women who join clinical trials may be among the first to benefit if a new approach is effective. And even if the women in a trial do not benefit directly, they may still make an important contribution by helping doctors learn more about ovarian cancer and how to control it. Although clinical trials may pose some risks, researchers do all they can to protect their patients.

Researchers are conducting studies with women across the country:

• Prevention studies: For women who have a family history of ovarian cancer, the risk of developing the disease may be reduced by removing the ovaries before cancer is detected. This surgery is called prophylactic oophorectomy. Women who are at high risk of ovarian cancer are taking part in trials to study the benefits and harms of this surgery. Other doctors are studying whether certain drugs can help prevent ovarian cancer in women at high risk.



• Screening studies: Researchers are studying ways to find ovarian cancer in women who do not have symptoms.



• Treatment studies: Doctors are testing novel drugs and new combinations. They are studying biological therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies can bind to cancer cells. They interfere with cancer cell growth and the spread of cancer.

If you are interested in being part of a clinical trial, talk with your doctor. You may want to read the NCI booklets Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know and Taking Part in Clinical Trials: Cancer Prevention Studies. NCI also offers an easy-to-read brochure called If You Have Cancer...What You Should Know About Clinical Trials. These NCI publications describe how clinical trials are carried out and explain their possible benefits and risks.

NCI's Web site includes a section on clinical trials at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials. It has general information about clinical trials as well as detailed information about specific ongoing studies of ovarian cancer. NCI's Information Specialists at 1-800-4-CANCER or at LiveHelp at http://www.cancer.gov/help can answer questions and provide information about clinical trials.