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Types of Cancer - Ovarian Cancer

About 1 in every 57 women in the United States will develop ovarian cancer, with most cases occurring in women over the age of 50.

Types of Cancer

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer occurs when cells in the ovaries become abnormal and grow at an unnatural rate to form a malignant tumor; cancerous cells from the tumor can then break away from it and travel to other regions of the body in a process called shedding.

If shedding of ovarian cancer occurs, then it may seed (form new tumors) on the peritoneum and diaphragm. In this case, fluid may collect in the abdomen, swelling it to create a condition known as ascites. Ovarian cancer can also shed into the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Once there, the cancer cells may travel along these routes to form tumors in any other part of the body.

Types of Ovarian Cancer

There are several types of ovarian cancer that vary according to their location. Ovarian cancer that begins on the surface of the ovary (epithelial carcinoma) is the most common type, and although ovarian cancer can also occur in the egg-producing cells (germ cell tumors) and in the supportive tissue surrounding the ovaries (stromal tumors), these last two types are rare.

Treatment

Treatment for ovarian cancer depends upon a variety of factors, including the stage of the disease and the patient's general health. Most patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer are treated with surgery. In most cases, the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix are removed in an operation called a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The surgeon may also remove the omentum and abdominal lymph nodes. Staging (determining whether the cancer has spread) is also done during surgery by removing lymph nodes, samples of tissue from the diaphragm and other abdominal organs, and abdominal fluid.

If the cancer has spread, or all of the cancer has not been removed, then the patient may be treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy to kill off the remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given intravenously, by mouth, or directly into the abdomen through a catheter. This last method is called intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and allows most of the drug to remain in the abdomen instead of circulating throughout the body. Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells in the treated area. Sometimes, a treatment called intraperitoneal radiation therapy in which radioactive liquid is put directly into the abdomen through a catheter is used. Many women with ovarian cancer also take part in clinical trials. By doing this, they are able to become a part of the research process to create new and more effective cancer treatments. To learn more about clinical trials, please visit the clinical trials section of the web site.

Researchers are still finding safer and more effective ways of treating ovarian cancer, and the chances of recovery keep improving. Still, it is natural for patients and their families to be concerned about their future. There are many resources available both on and off the web for patients and their families. For more information, visit our web resources page or our recommended reading list for patients and their families.

Source: NCI Cancernet