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Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is treated in our Gynecology Oncology Program within the Upstate Cancer Center.

For more information or answers to your questions about our Cancer Care, please call 315 464-HOPE (4673) to speak with an Upstate Cancer Center representative.

Definition

Ovarian cancer is when cancer cells start and grow in the ovaries. The ovaries make eggs for reproduction and female hormones.

Cancerous Mass in the Left Ovary
Ovarian Cancer
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Causes

Cancer happens when cells divide without control or order. These cells grow together to form a tumor. They can invade and damage nearby tissues. They can also spread to other parts of the body.

It is not clear what causes changes in the cells. It is likely due to genes and the environment.

Risk Factors

Ovarian cancer is most common in females 50 years of age and older. Other things that may raise the risk are:

Symptoms

A person may not have symptoms until ovarian cancer is advanced. Problems may be:

  • Belly pain
  • Gas, indigestion, bloating, or cramps
  • Diarrhea or problems passing stool (poop)
  • Lack of hunger
  • Losing or gaining weight without trying
  • Abnormal bleeding from the vagina
  • Feeling tired
  • Problems breathing

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. A physical and pelvic exam will be done.

Blood tests will be done to look for signs that point to a tumor.

Pictures will be done to look for tumors and the spreading of cancer. They include:

The exam and test results are also used for staging to find out how much cancer has spread.

Treatment

The goal is to remove the cancer. Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer. More than one treatment may be needed. Options are:

  • Surgery—to remove cancer, and often the nearby tissues, such as:
    • The uterus and fallopian tubes
    • Lymph nodes
  • Chemotherapy—to kill the cancer cells

Radiation therapy may be used to treat areas where the cancer has spread.

Prevention

The risk of this problem may be lowered by:

  • Eating a low fat, high fiber diet with lots of vegetables
  • Surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes—in females with a genetic or family history of ovarian cancer
  • Taking birth control pills
  • Breastfeeding

References

  • General information about ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/patient/ovarian-epithelial-treatment-pdq.
  • Ovarian cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer.html.
  • Ovarian cancer. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/ovarian-cancer.
  • Tew WP. Ovarian cancer in the older woman. J Geriatr Oncol. 2016;7(5):354-61.

Library resources related to ovarian cancer.

For more information:

Internet Links
The detailed guide includes descriptions of the causes, risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, staging, treatments and what's new in ovarian cancer research.
Approved drugs for treatment of ovarian cancer from the National Institute of Health.
Summaries of Newsworthy Clinical Trial Results.
Information on the different types and stages of ovarian cancer from the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
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