Ovarian Cancer
What is ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells in your ovaries or fallopian tubes grow and multiply out of control. Ovaries are part of the female reproductive system. These two round, walnut-sized organs make eggs during your reproductive years.
Types
The type of cell where the cancer begins determines the type of ovarian cancer you have and helps your doctor determine which treatments are best for you. Ovarian cancer types include:
- Epithelial ovarian cancer. This type is the most common. It includes several subtypes, including serous carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma.
- Stromal tumors.. These rare tumors are usually diagnosed at an earlier stage than other ovarian cancers.
- Germ cell tumors.. hese rare ovarian cancers tend to occur at a younger age.
Symptoms
Ovarian cancer can develop and spread throughout your abdomen before it causes any symptoms. This can make early detection difficult. Ovarian cancer symptoms may include:
- Pelvic or abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating.
- Changes in your eating habits, getting full early and losing your appetite.
- Vaginal discharge or abnormal bleeding, especially if the bleeding occurs outside of your typical menstrual cycle or after you’ve gone through menopause.
- Bowel changes, such as diarrhea or constipation.
- An increase in the size of your abdomen.
- Peeing more often (frequent urination).
Risk factors
Older age.
The risk of ovarian cancer increases as you age. It's most often diagnosed in older adults.
Inherited gene changes
A small percentage of ovarian cancers are caused by genes changes you inherit from your parents. The genes that increase the risk of ovarian cancer include BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes also increase the risk of breast cancer. Several other gene changes are known to increase the risk of ovarian cancer, including gene changes associated with Lynch syndrome and the genes BRIP1, RAD51C and RAD51D.
Family history of ovarian cancer.
If you have blood relatives who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you may have an increased risk of the disease.
Being overweight or obese
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of ovarian cancer.
Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy
aking hormone replacement therapy to control menopause signs and symptoms may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that lines the inside of your uterus grows outside your uterus.
Age when menstruation started and ended.
Beginning menstruation at an early age or starting menopause at a later age, or both, may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
Never having been pregnant
If you've never been pregnant, you may have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
Staging
Stage I: Cancer is confined to one or both ovaries
- Stage IA: Growth is limited to 1 ovary with no tumor on external surfaces
- Stage IB: Growth is limited to both ovaries with no tumor on external surfaces
- Stage IC: Tumor is either stage IA or IB, but with tumor on surface of one or both ovaries
Stage II: Cancer has spread to the uterus or other nearby organs
- Stage IIA: Extension and/or metastases of cancer to the uterus and/or fallopian tubes
- Stage IIB: Extension of the cancer to other pelvic tissues
- Stage IIC: Tumor is at either stage IIA or IIB, but with tumor on surface of one or both ovaries
Stage III: Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or abdominal lining
- Stage IIIA: Tumor limited to the true pelvis
- Stage IIIB: Metastasis of abdominal peritoneal surfaces ≤ 2 cm. in diameter
- Stage IIIC: Peritoneal metastasis beyond the pelvis > 2 cm. in diameter
Stage IV: Cancer has spread to distant organs, such as the lungs or liver
Grade
Grade 1 means the cancer cells look like normal cells. This is also called low grade or well differentiated. These tend to grow more slowly.
Grade 2 means the cancer cells look less like normal cells. This is also called moderately differentiated.
Grade 3 means the cancer cells look very abnormal. This is also called high grade or poorly differentiated. These tend to grow more quickly.
5-Year Survival Rate
At a glance:
| Estimated new cases in 2024 | 20,890 |
| % of all new cancer cases | 1.0% |
| Estimated deaths in 2024 | 12,730 |
| % of all cancer deaths | 2.1% |
| 5-year relative survival (2014–2020) | 51.6% |