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OVARIAN CANCER
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OVARIAN CANCER
While most ovarian cancers are aggressive, and historically were very lethal, new research provides better hope than ever before for ovarian cancer patients. Commonly, patients first get diagnosed with advanced disease, since early disease rarely produces symptoms.
It is crucial to understand your treatment options for ovarian cancer, selecting the proper treatment can literally make the difference between life and death. It is important to have the peace-of-mind of knowing you have done everything possible to fight this cancer successfully.
What is Ovarian Cancer?
The ovary is composed of individual cells, including the eggs (oocytes), supporting cells of the
organ (epithelial cells), and hormone-producing cells (granuloma and theca cells). These cells
divide to produce new ones, and grow very rapidly during womb life, early childhood and puberty. In
adulthood, new cells are produced only to replace those that die of old age, injury or disease. As
mentioned, no more egg cells are ever produced after womb life, however other ovarian cells are.
Normally, division of cells is under very tight control. This control is exerted by the "genes"
inside each cell, which are housed in long clumps forming "chromosomes", which are visible under a
light microscope. The genes themselves are made up of DNA, the master genetic code material. If the
genes are damaged, say by chemicals or radiation, the control over cell division may be lost in one
particular cell. Ultimately, cancer is considered a disease of the DNA. Ovarian cancer starts in a
single cell. That cell starts dividing haphazardly, making millions and billions of copies of
itself. It takes up the nourishment needed by other cells, depriving them so the cancer can continue
to grow. Quickly growing cells can clump up to form a "tumor". A tumor simply means a swelling, it
can be caused by inflammation or infection. A "benign" tumor only grows in it's local area (although
it may get quite large)-- it cannot spread and is not cancer. By contrast, a tumor which can spread
to other body areas is called "malignant" and this is cancer. The process of cancer spread to other
areas is called "metastasis", so only malignant tumors (i.e. cancer) can metastasize. Theoretically,
cancer can spread to any area of the body, and it often grows better in it's area of spread than in
It's area of origin ("primary site"). It is this capacity for spread that makes cancer so dangerous.
Cancer commonly kills by causing anemia (low red blood cell counts), infection (from poor immune
function and low white blood cells counts) and debility (from general malnutrition, dehydration and
weakness). With ovarian cancer, a common reason for death is by the tumor pressing on the nearby
kidney drainage system leading to kidney failure, called "uremia". In younger women, most ovarian
tumors are benign cysts and are not dangerous. Unfortunately, most ovarian tumors in post-menopausal
women are cancerous, and lethal if their growth is not arrested.
How Common Is Ovarian Cancer?
Each year in the U.S.A. there are 23,000 new cases of ovarian cancer causing 13,000 deaths. It is
the 4th most common lethal cancer in women. The annual number of cases has increased 10% over the
past 25 years. Some of this increase is due to better detection and recognition of ovarian cancer.
About 1 woman in 70 will develop ovarian cancer, and the average patient is 60 years old. It is more
common in industrialized countries, and very rare in children.
What Causes or Increases the Risk for Ovarian Cancer?
Like any cancer, the exact reason why one woman gets ovarian cancer and another does not remains
unknown. However, several "risk factors" have been noted.
The Cancer Group Institute's materials explains the definition, types, frequency, symptoms, evaluation, historic treatment, and latest effective treatment for ovarian cancer. We describe surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormones. We tell you everything you must know to help you make the right choices today for an ovarian cancer problem.
