Information From Your Health Care Provider

OVARIAN CANCER

Basic information

description

Ovarian cancer is cancer that grows in one or both ovaries. The ovaries are female reproductive organs that store eggs and produce most of the female hormones. This cancer usually affects females over age 40.

FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Early symptoms can be mild and vague or absent.
Bloating.
Pelvic or abdominal pressure or pain.
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly.
A need to urinate often.
Increase in size of waist or abdomen. May feel a firm swelling in lower abdomen.
Nausea, gas, or indigestion.
Changes in bowel habits (e.g., constipation).
Menstrual period changes; irregular vaginal bleeding.
Pain or discomfort with intercourse.
Lack of energy, fatigue, weight loss or gain, or fever.

causes

The exact cause is unknown. There are different types of ovarian cancer. Epithelial tumors account for the majority, and they grow more rapidly. They can progress from an early to advanced stage within a year. Other ovarian cancers may be slow growing, or they have spread from other cancer in the body.

risk increases with

Having had breast, endometrial, or colon cancer.
Family history of breast, ovarian, or hereditary colon cancer.
Mutated genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Advancing age.
Never having had children.
Obesity.
Hormone replacement therapy (for 5 or more years).
Infertility (with or without use of fertility drugs).

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

No specific preventive measures. Birth control pill use, giving birth at least once, and tubal ligation or hysterectomy can reduce risks.
Women with high-risk factors should get medical advice about cancer preventive options. Surgical removal of the ovaries reduces, but does not entirely remove, the cancer risk.
Routine pelvic exams are not a specific test for ovarian cancer, but are important for women's health care.

expected outcomes

The outcome depends on the stage of the disease when it is first diagnosed. Other factors that affect the outcome are a woman's age and her general health. Early diagnosis and treatment produce the best outcome.

possible complications

Spread of cancer to other places in the body. This can lead to excess pain, other complications, and death.
Side effects occur from treatments.
Infertility if both ovaries are removed.
Bowel obstruction or fluid in lungs or abdomen.
Cancer returns or persists after treatment.

diagnosis & treatment

general measures

Your health care provider will do a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms. A number of medical tests will be done. The tests help diagnose the cancer and also determine if it has spread (staging).
Treatment varies and depends on the location and size of a tumor, any spread of the cancer, health, age and preferences of the patient. Treatment includes surgery and/or chemotherapy (anticancer drugs). Other new therapies may be recommended.
The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the cancer as possible. In patients who desire pregnancy, surgery may remove only the ovary and the fallopian tube (infertility may still result).
Treatment may involve steps to relieve symptoms and make you comfortable, rather than treating the cancer.
Counseling may help you cope with having cancer.
To learn more: American Cancer Society; (800) ACS-2345; website: www.cancer.org or National Cancer Institute; (800) 4-CANCER; website: www.nci.nih.gov.

medications

Anticancer drugs (chemotherapy) and pain relievers, as needed, may be prescribed.

activity

Your health care provider will advise you about any limits depending on treatments. Full strength recovery after surgery may take weeks or months.