Ovarian Cancer

This information was provided with permission from The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation.

Ovarian cancer, the seventh most common cancer among women, usually starts on the surface of the ovary in cells that are called epithelial cells. About 85 percent to 90 percent of ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian cancers.

Symptoms: Bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly and/or urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency).

Women with ovarian cancer report that symptoms are persistent and represent a change from normal for their bodies. The frequency and/or number of such symptoms are key factors in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Several studies show that even early stage ovarian cancer can produce these symptoms.

Women who have these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks should see their doctor, preferably a gynecologist. Prompt medical evaluation may lead to detection at the earliest possible stage of the disease. Early stage diagnosis is associated with an improved prognosis.

Several other symptoms have been commonly reported by women with ovarian cancer. These symptoms include fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation and menstrual irregularities. However, these other symptoms are not as useful in identifying ovarian cancer because they are also found in equal frequency in women in the general population who do not have ovarian cancer.

Risk factors: The risk of epithelial ovarian cancer increases with age, especially around the time of menopause. A family history of epithelial ovarian cancer is one of the most important risk factors. Infertility and not bearing children are also risk factors for getting ovarian cancer, while pregnancy and the use of birth control pills decrease the risk. A personal history of premenopausal breast cancer, or a family history of epithelial ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, primary peritoneal cancer or premenopausal breast cancer are important risk factors.

Screening/Prevention: Currently, there is no widely accepted and effective screening test for epithelial ovarian cancer. High-risk women may be candidates for screening using transvaginal ultrasound and CA 125 blood tests on an annual or biannual schedule, though the benefits of such screening is unproven. For most women, ultrasound and CA 125 screening is not presently advised due to problems with false positive results leading to unnecessary surgery.

Incidence:  It is estimated there will be over 21,900 new cases diagnosed and approximately 15,400 deaths from ovarian cancer in the United States during 2011. (American Cancer Society)