Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Ovarian cancer is 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.

Causes of Ovarian Cancer

Women who have not had children are slightly more likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who have, although the risk is still very low. Having two or more children may provide more protection than just one.

Breast feeding your children may slightly decrease your risk.

Starting your periods early or having a late menopause slightly increases your risk of ovarian cancer.

If a woman has ovarian cancer and her daughter develops ovarian cancer, the daughter will probably develop the cancer at a relatively young age (younger than 60 years).

Family history: A woman's risk for developing ovarian cancer increases if she has a first degree relative (like sister, mother, grandmother) that suffered from ovarian cancer. The risks do not necessarily increase because of a family history ovarian cancer - but when the inherited genetic mutations are present. However, a woman's risk for ovarian cancer can be tied to a family history of breast or colon cancer. Also the risk for ovarian cancer is indirectly proportional with the age of the relative that suffered from ovarian cancer.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Early stage ovarian cancer may not cause many symptoms, or they may be vague and overlooked. In addition, vague abdominal or pelvic symptoms are most often NOT caused by cancer. If they go away within a few days to a week, they may simply be intestinal disturbances due to something you ate or a viral infection.

Abdominal/pelvic discomfort or pressure

Back or leg pain

Bloating

Changes in bowel function or urinary frequency

Germ Cell Tumors — Ovarian germ cell tumors develop from cells that produce the ova or eggs. Most germ cell tumors are benign, although some are cancerous and may be life-threatening. The most common germ cell malignancies are maturing teratomas, dysgerminomas and endodermal sinus tumors. Teenagers and women in their 20s are most often diagnosed with germ cell malignancies. Before combination chemotherapy was available as a treatment, the most aggressive of these tumors — the GNP abnormal sinus tumor — was associated with a one-year disease-free survival rate of only 10 percent to 19 percent, even though 70 percent of these tumors were diagnosed very early. Today, however, 90 percent of women with ovarian germ cell malignancies can be cured and their fertility preserved.

Treatments for Ovarian Cancer

Surgery is the preferred treatment and is often needed to diagnose ovarian cancer.

Studies have shown that surgery performed by a specialist in gynecologic oncology results in a higher cure rate.

Chemotherapy is used as after surgery to treat any remaining disease. Chemotherapy can also be used if the cancer comes back.

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Can childbirth cause a woman to get ovarian cancer?

My mother might have ovarian cancer and being the youngest child i can't help but think it is some how my fault. So i guess i'm asking any one who has a history in medicine if it is possible for a birth to cause a mother to develope ovarian cancer.

About the Ovaries
The ovaries are small, almond-shaped female reproductive organs. There are two ovaries and they are located deep in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries produce female hormones and store all of the egg cells, which are released once a month during ovulation.

About Ovarian Cancer
Unusual growth of ovarian cells can result in a cancerous or non-cancerous ("benign") tumor. Many ovarian tumors are benign; women with benign tumors can be cured by surgically removing part or all of the affected ovary or ovaries.1 Cancerous ovarian tumors, however, may be typically advanced at the time they are diagnosed, which means they have spread to other areas of the abdomen or to distant sites in the body.1

Types of Ovarian Cancer
The three main types of ovarian cancers are described by the cells within the ovary where the cancer started.1

Epithelial ovarian cancers
The majority of ovarian cancers develop from the cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary, called "epithelial" cells.1 Epithelial ovarian cancers account for 85 to 90 percent of all ovarian cancers.

Epithelial ovarian cancers come in several forms, which differ only in thier appearance when viewed under a microscope.
The other two major types of ovarian cancer — germ cell tumors and stromal tumors — are much less common than epithelial ovarian cancer.

Germ cell tumors
Approximately five percent of ovarian cancers begin in the cells that form the eggs, called "germ" cells. Germ cell tumors can occur in women of any age, but they tend to be found most often in women in their early 20s.
Stromal tumors
Ovarian stromal tumors develop in the tissue that hold the ovary together and the cells that produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.1 Unlike epithelial ovarian cancers, 70% of the cases of stromal tumors are diagnosed early.
Since germ cell tumors and stromal tumors are rare and treated differently than the epithelial type, the term "ovarian cancer" refers only to epithelial ovarian cancers throughout this website.2

A risk factor is something that can affect a person's chance of getting a disease such as ovarian cancer.2Risk Factors
The exact cause of ovarian cancer remains unknown, although several "risk factors" have been linked to the disease. Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person's age or race, can't be changed. Having one or more risk factors does not mean that a person will get the disease

Ovarian cancer awareness campaign-Laura's Smile Foundation

 

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Ovarian Cancer