Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a disease where abnormal cells grow out of control in the ovaries. These almond-sized organs are part of a woman's reproductive system, located on either side of the uterus. Their job is to make eggs (ova) and the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which are important for many bodily functions.

When ovarian cancer develops, these abnormal cells multiply rapidly, potentially spreading and damaging healthy tissues. This uncontrolled growth can affect other parts of the body.

Treatment for ovarian cancer typically combines surgery to remove the cancerous cells and chemotherapy, a type of drug therapy that targets rapidly dividing cells.

The female reproductive system is made up of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and vagina. These organs work together to allow women to get pregnant.

Sometimes, ovarian cancer develops without any obvious signs in the early stages. When symptoms do appear, they can be easily mistaken for other, more common problems. This makes early detection challenging.

If ovarian cancer is present, some possible symptoms include:

• Feeling bloated or swollen in the abdomen: This is a common early symptom, often mistaken for other issues.
• Feeling full quickly after eating: Even small portions of food might leave you feeling overly satisfied.
• Unexplained weight loss: This can be a sign of a serious underlying issue, including cancer.
• Pelvic pain or discomfort: Pain or pressure in the lower abdomen and pelvis can sometimes indicate a problem.
• Feeling tired or exhausted (fatigue): This is a common symptom of many conditions, but it can also be linked to cancer.
• Back pain: Pain in the lower back is another symptom that can be caused by various things, including ovarian cancer.
• Changes in bowel habits: This could include more frequent bowel movements, constipation, or other issues with digestion.
• Frequent urination: Having to urinate more often than usual can sometimes be a symptom of ovarian cancer.

It's important to remember that these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions. If you experience any of these symptoms, it's crucial to talk to your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Early detection is key to successful treatment.

If you're concerned about any health issues, it's important to schedule a visit with your doctor. This includes any unusual or worrying signs or symptoms. Don't hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your well-being.

Ovarian cancer's exact cause is unknown, but doctors have found factors that can raise a person's risk.

Ovarian cancer starts when cells in or around the ovaries change. These changes, called mutations, are like faulty instructions in the cell's DNA. DNA holds the instructions that tell cells what to do. These faulty instructions tell the cells to grow and multiply very quickly, forming a clump of cancer cells called a tumor. Crucially, these cancer cells keep living even when healthy cells would normally die. They can also invade nearby tissues and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body by breaking off from the original tumor.

The type of cell where the cancer starts determines the specific type of ovarian cancer a person has. This, in turn, helps doctors decide on the best treatment. There are different types of ovarian cancer:

• Epithelial ovarian cancer: This is the most common type. It has various subtypes, like serous carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma.

• Stromal tumors: These are less common and often found in the early stages.

• Germ cell tumors: These are also less common and are more likely to happen in younger people.

Things that can make ovarian cancer more likely:

• Getting older: The chance of developing ovarian cancer goes up as you get older. Most cases are diagnosed in older adults.

• Inherited genes: Some ovarian cancers are caused by specific genes passed down from your parents. Important genes linked to a higher ovarian cancer risk include BRCA1 and BRCA2. These same genes also raise your risk of breast cancer. There are other genes, like those connected to Lynch syndrome, and BRIP1, RAD51C, and RAD51D, that can also increase your risk.

• Family history: If you have close relatives who've had ovarian cancer, your risk is higher. This suggests a possible genetic link or shared lifestyle factors.

• Weight: Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for ovarian cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight is important for overall health and can potentially lower your risk.

• Hormone replacement therapy: Taking hormone replacement therapy after menopause might slightly increase the risk of ovarian cancer. This is something to discuss with your doctor.

• Endometriosis: Endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, can also slightly increase your risk of ovarian cancer. This is often a painful condition.

• Menstrual history: Starting your period at a young age or going through menopause later in life could be slightly connected to a higher risk. This is a complex relationship, and other factors play a role.

• Pregnancy: Not having children can slightly increase your risk of ovarian cancer. This is thought to be related to the effects of pregnancy on the ovaries.

Inherited gene changes (again): A small number of ovarian cancers are caused by genes passed down through families. Key genes linked to increased risk include BRCA1 and BRCA2, which also increase the risk of breast cancer. Other gene changes, including those related to Lynch syndrome and BRIP1, RAD51C, and RAD51D, are also associated with a higher risk of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer can't always be prevented, but there might be ways to lower your chances of getting it.

One possibility is taking birth control pills. Talk to your doctor about whether birth control pills (also called oral contraceptives) are a good option for you. Taking these pills can help reduce your risk of ovarian cancer. However, birth control pills do have some potential side effects, so it's important to discuss the pros and cons with your doctor, considering your individual health situation.

Another thing to do is talk to your doctor about your risk factors. If you have a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, this is important information to share with your physician. Your doctor can assess how this might affect your own risk of developing ovarian cancer. They might recommend a genetic counselor. A genetic counselor can help you understand if genetic testing is a good idea for you. If genetic testing shows you have a gene change that increases your risk of ovarian cancer, one option your doctor might discuss is having your ovaries removed surgically to help prevent the cancer from developing. This is a serious decision, and your doctor can explain the benefits and drawbacks in more detail.

Diagnosing ovarian cancer involves several steps to find out if you have the disease and how far it has spread.

Looking Inside Your Body:

Doctors use imaging tests, like ultrasounds and CT scans, to see the size, shape, and structure of your ovaries. These images can help doctors spot anything unusual. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image, while a CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional pictures.

Taking a Closer Look:

Sometimes, surgery is needed to remove an ovary for testing. This can help doctors know for sure if you have cancer. During the surgery, the removed ovary is examined under a microscope to look for signs of cancer cells.

Checking Your Genes:

Your doctor might recommend a blood test to look for gene changes that could increase your risk of ovarian cancer. If these changes are found, it can help doctors make better treatment plans and inform you and your family about possible risks. This information can be important for your close relatives, such as your siblings and children, because they might also have a higher chance of having the same gene changes.

Blood Work:

Blood tests are also used to check your overall health. These tests look at how well your organs are working. Some blood tests check for substances called "tumor markers." These markers can sometimes be found in higher levels in people with cancer. For example, a CA125 test checks for a protein often found on ovarian cancer cells. However, these blood tests alone cannot confirm a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. They can only suggest possible clues.

Staging the Cancer:

Once ovarian cancer is confirmed, doctors use the results of all the tests and procedures to determine the cancer's stage. The stages are numbered from 1 to 4 (often written as Roman numerals I to IV). Stage 1 means the cancer is only in the ovaries. As the stage increases to 4, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This information helps doctors decide on the best treatment plan.