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Ovarian cancer occurs when cells of the ovaries grow abnormally and develop malignant tumors. There are three main types of ovarian tumors:
Germ cell tumors start from the cells that produce eggs.
Stromal tumors start from connective tissue cells that hold the ovary together and produce female hormones.
Epithelial tumors start from the cells that cover the ovary’s outer surface.
Ovarian cancer does not often cause symptoms in the patient until the cancer grows; however, some symptoms like pressure or fullness in the pelvic area, abdominal bloating, or increased urinary frequency may occur. Discussing the symptoms with a doctor early after they begin may ensure successful treatment and lead to better outcomes.
There are types of ovarian cancer that can grow and spread to the surfaces of other organs surrounding the ovaries, which makes early detection of ovarian cancer very important. Performing a biopsy will help determine if the tissue in these organs is cancerous.
The doctor’s choice of treatment will be based on the type of cancer and the stage of the disease. As with many other cancers, the three main treatments for ovarian cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Sometimes more than one of these treatments and possibly all three will be used.
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