Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. The cancer begins in the ovaries or the ends of the fallopian tubes. The ovaries are the main source of the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. The ovaries are made up of three main kinds of cells. Each type of cell can develop into a different type of tumor.

Generally, women are more likely to have symptoms if the disease has spread beyond the ovaries, but even early-stage ovarian cancer can cause them. The most common symptoms include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, frequent urination and pelvic pressure with difficulty having bowel movements.

Treatment of ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. If the disease is confined to one or both ovaries, with no obvious spread to other organs, the primary disease is removed and a staging procedure is performed. This could involve removal of the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the uterus and nearby lymph nodes, biopsies from the pelvis and abdomen and removal of a fold of fatty abdominal tissue where ovarian cancer often spreads, called the omentum. For more advanced disease there would be an effort to remove all of the obvious disease if possible. After surgery, chemotherapy would be offered to kill any remaining cancer cells.