Ovarian Cancer - Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Abdominal bloating or swelling, unusual discharge from the vagina, lack of appetite can sometimes be the tell-tale signs of ovarian cancer. Females suffering from these symptoms must not ignore these conditions and, most importantly, must not confuse them with other diseases causing similar symptoms.

Hence, every female must have complete knowledge regarding Ovarian cancer, cause, symptoms, prevention method etc. Read along!

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What Is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer refers to a medical condition in which cells grow in ovaries, multiply quickly, and then destroy other healthy tissue.

Ovaries are a vital part of the female reproductive organ. Women have two ovaries and are placed on each side of the uterus. These ovaries produce eggs and hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone.

Ovarian cancer can start in one or both ovaries, in fallopian tubes and even in the abdominal lining named peritoneum.

With a clear understanding of the basics of ovarian cancer, let’s learn about other important details of this disease.

Who Is at Risk of Developing Ovarian Cancer?

Following is a list of cases that can lead to ovarian cancer -

Women of 63 years of age or older
Overweight or obesity
Never having full-term pregnancy or pregnancy at a later age
Opting for Hormone therapy after menopause
Females who have ovarian cancer or other family cancer syndrome cases in their family (family cancer syndrome includes Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC), Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, MUTYH-associated polyposis, Hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) and other genes that are linked to hereditary ovarian cancer)

Other risk factors of ovarian cancer include -

Presence of high levels of androgens, or male hormones. This may concern transgender people who use hormone treatment in their transition.
Certain dietary factors increase the chances of ovarian cancer.

What Are the Types of Ovarian Cancer?

Depending on the type of cells from which this disease starts, ovarian cancer types include:

Stromal Tumours: These variants are rare and develop from the cells of ovaries. This type of ovarian cancer grows slowly.
Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: This type of ovarian cancer begins in the lining of the outside of the ovaries. This type has several sub-types, such as carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma. Epithelial Ovarian Cancers are the most typical.
Germ Cell Tumours: This type of ovarian cancer starts inside the cells of ovaries that produce eggs. Germ cell tumours can be large and have a tendency to grow faster. This variant usually develops at a younger age.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?

There are no such early symptoms of ovarian cancer; hence ovarian cancer at an early stage might not cause any noticeable symptoms. This is because ovaries are very small (like the size of an almond) and are located deep in the abdomen. However, this disease starts to cause some symptoms with each advancing stage.

Below is a list of signs of ovarian cancer -

Feeling bloated or swelling
Loss of appetite
Fullness even after eating a small quantity of food
Abnormal discharge of blood or other substance from vagina
Pain in the belly
Urge to urinate frequently
Discomfort in the pelvic area

Apart from these, there are other ovarian cancer signs and symptoms. These are -

Fatigue
Back pain
Constipation
Weight loss

What Are the Stages in Ovarian Cancer?

Below are the different stages of Ovarian Cancer –

Stages	Description
1	Only affects ovaries and fallopian tubes and has not spread beyond ovaries and fluids around them.
2	Invades nearby organs such as the pelvis, uterus and fallopian tubes.
3	Moves to the abdomen but not to the distant organs of the body.
4	Invades the distant body organs.

What Causes Ovarian Cancer?

The causes of ovarian cancers are yet to be discovered. However, doctors have identified certain factors (follow the section of who is at risk of developing ovarian cancer) that might increase the chances of developing such disease.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Ovarian Cancer?

If routine checkup or screening of a female gives doctors a slight hint of ovarian cancer, they might ask a question such as, if patients have a family history of ovarian cancer. Conversely, they might conduct pelvic examination and prescribe the following tests,

Blood test
Imaging test
Biopsy
Laparoscopy

How Do Doctors Treat Ovarian Cancer?

When doctors diagnose ovarian cancer, they follow specific treatment methods depending on the stages of this disease.

Treatment for Ovarian cancer may include the following methods -

Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy (biotherapy)
Palliative Care

In case ovarian cancer has spread to others, doctors may follow both surgery and radiation or chemotherapy combination.

How to Prevent Ovarian Cancer?

There are no proven ways to prevent ovarian cancer. However, females can reduce the chances of developing Ovarian Cancer by following the ways mentioned below,

Taking birth control pills
Full-term pregnancy
Opting for tubal ligation
Breastfeeding
Hysterectomy

Note: Individuals must opt for Tubal ligation and Hysterectomy for valid medical reasons (reducing the risk of ovarian cancer can be one of such reasons). Hence, patients should discuss thoroughly with doctors regarding the process and other available prevention methods.

If you have recently started experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, consult your doctor immediately. Do not ignore these signs of ovarian cancer if you have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How can individuals know if gene mutations run in their families?

Individuals can know if gene mutations run in their families by taking genetic testing. These tests help in identifying mutations or changes one may have in their gene structure.

What is the ovarian cancer survival rate?

90% of cancers that begin at ovaries and stay there have a five-year survival rate. The percentage ranges from 57%-94% when it moves to nearby organs. The percentages reduce further, i.e. 30%-70% when cancer invades distant organs.