Ovarian cancer is uncontrolled multiplication of cells of the ovaries, a pair of female sex organs that store and release eggs. The ovaries also secrete estrogens and progesterone, the female sex hormones. Ovarian cancer occurs most often in women over age 60. The disease is more common among women in developed countries and relatively rare among women in Asia and many Third World countries. A high fat diet, early onset of menstruation, late menopause, never being pregnant, and having a close relative with the disease are all factors that may increase an individual’s risk of developing ovarian cancer.
In the early stages of ovarian cancer, when the chance for successful treatment is greatest, the disease causes few or no symptoms. Also, early symptoms are often mistaken for those of other, less serious, conditions. By the time symptoms develop, the cancer is often in a more advanced stage. Early symptoms of ovarian cancer include discomfort, bloating (abdominal swelling), a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, and a frequent, urgent need to urinate. Loss of appetite and unusual vaginal bleeding may also occur.
If ovarian cancer is suspected, doctors may begin by performing a blood test. Cancers of the ovary may produce a protein called CA 125, which can be measured in the blood. Elevated levels of CA 125 occur in about 80 percent of cases of ovarian cancer. To make a definite diagnosis, however, physicians must perform a procedure called a biopsy. In a biopsy, a surgeon removes a sample of ovary tissue. Experts then examine the tissue with a microscope, looking for cancer cells. If the biopsy reveals cancer, doctors may order additional tests to determine the extent of the disease. These tests include computed tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen and pelvis, and X rays of the chest and other organs.
The treatment for ovarian cancer usually starts with surgical removal of the ovaries and nearby tissues, including the fallopian tubes and often the uterus. The patient may also receive chemotherapy (drugs that kill cancer cells). Chemotherapy is more effective in some cases when the drugs are pumped directly into the abdomen of the patient. Patients whose cancer has not spread have an excellent chance of being cured. Physicians often monitor the level of CA 125 in the blood of patients to detect any recurrence of the cancer.
