Cancer that forms in tissues of the ovary (one of a pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed). Most ovarian cancers are either ovarian epithelial carcinomas (cancer that begins in the cells on the surface of the ovary) or malignant germ cell tumors (cancer that begins in egg cells).

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is called a "silent killer" because symptoms were not thought to develop until the disease had advanced and the chance of cure or remission poor. However, the following symptoms are much more likely to occur in women with ovarian cancer than women in the general population. These symptoms include:

Pressure or pain in the abdomen, pelvis, back, or legs

A swollen or bloated abdomen

Nausea, indigestion, gas, constipation, or diarrhea

Abnormal periods

Unexplained back pain that gets worse

Gas, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite

Causes of Ovarian Cancer

An ovarian tumor is a growth of abnormal cells that may be either noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Although benign tumors are made up of abnormal cells, these cells don't spread to other body tissues (metastasize). Ovarian cancer cells metastasize in one of two ways. Most often, they spread directly to adjacent tissue or organs in the pelvis and abdomen. Rarely, they spread through your bloodstream or lymph channels to other parts of your body.

Obesity

Various studies have looked at the relationship of obesity and ovarian cancer. Overall, it does seem that obese women (those with a body mass index of at least 30) do have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. A study from the American Cancer Society also found a higher rate of death from ovarian cancer in obese women.

High-fat Western diet

Diets that are high in meat and animal fats have been linked to the development of ovarian cancer. Such diets are more common in industrialized Western countries, which have higher rates of ovarian cancer than undeveloped nations.

Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer

To diagnosis ovarian cancer, the doctor asks about the woman's personal and family medical history and does a physical exam, including a pelvic exam and pap smear. If there is a history of ovarian, breast, colorectal, uterine or bladder cancer a woman should be evaluated with two tests: CA 125 (a blood test that detects a protein sometimes produced by ovarian tumors); and transvaginal ultrasound (TVS).

Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

Surgery

Almost all women with ovarian cancer will need surgery for the best chance of successful treatment. The extent of surgery depends on the specific type of cancer and how far it has spread. If it hasn't spread beyond the ovary, it may be possible to remove only the single affected ovary and fallopian tube.

Generally women with Stage I ovarian cancer have a total abdominal hysterectomy, removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes, omentectomy, biopsy of lymph nodes and other tissues in the pelvis and abdomen. Young women whose disease is confined to one ovary are often treated by a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the affected ovary and fallopian tube) without a hysterectomy and removal of the opposite ovary being performed. Omentectomy and the other parts of the staging procedure are performed.