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Ovarian cancer begins in a woman’s ovaries. These small organs in the female reproductive system produce eggs. However, detecting this type of cancer can be difficult because it often doesn’t cause any symptoms until later stages.

Furthermore, inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes greatly increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer.

Moreover, most doctors diagnose ovarian cancers in advanced stages because no reliable early cancer-related symptoms or signs of ovarian cancer exist. In fact, even in more advanced tumors, doctors find symptoms and signs to be vague and nonspecific.

Types of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian tumors usually arise from the epithelium, or lining cells, of the ovary. These tumors include epithelial ovarian cancer, which consists of the cells on the surface of the ovary, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers that coat many abdominal structures.

Researchers consider all of these to be one disease process. Doctors identify an entity called ovarian low malignant potential tumor. However, these tumors exhibit some microscopic features of cancer but tend not to spread like typical cancers.

Additionally, lesser common forms of ovarian cancer exist within the ovary, including germ cell tumors and nd sex cord-stromal tumors .

Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC)

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), a majority ((85%-90% ) of all ovarian cancers is accounted for by epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) or ovarian carcinoma. Furthermore, experts generally categorize it as one of three types of cancer that include ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer.

However, doctors often find it hard to identify the sources of these cancers when they discover them at advanced stages, which is very common.

Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumor (OLMPT; borderline tumor)

Ovarian tumors of low malignant potential (OLMPT; formerly referred to as borderline tumors) make up about 15% of EOC. Specifically, they most often consist of serous or mucinous cell types.

Furthermore, they often grow into large masses that may cause symptoms; however, they only rarely metastasize, spreading to other areas. In many cases, doctors can cure patients by removing the tumor, even at more advanced stages.

Germ Cell Ovarian Cancers

Additionally, germ cell tumors develop from the reproductive cells of the ovary. Notably, these tumors are uncommon and typically affect teens or young women.

Moreover, sex cord-stromal tumors represent another category of ovarian tumors. In particular, supportive tissues within the ovary itself give rise to these tumors.

Stromal Ovarian Cancer

Stages of Ovarian Cancer 

Once they diagnose ovarian cancer, the doctors will need to determine the stage and grade to decide on a treatment plan. First, stage refers to how far the cancer has spread. For example:

To illustrate, localized cancer means cancer cells affect only the ovaries or fallopian tubes and have not spread elsewhere. In contrast, regional cancer indicates that cancer has spread to nearby organs, such as the uterus.

Furthermore, distant cancer is present elsewhere in the body, affecting other organs, such as the lungs or liver.

• To illustrate, localized cancer means cancer cells affect only the ovaries or fallopian tubes and have not spread elsewhere.
• In contrast, regional cancer indicates that cancer has spread to nearby organs, such as the uterus.
• Furthermore, distant cancer is present elsewhere in the body, affecting other organs, such as the lungs or liver.

The grade, meanwhile, indicates how abnormal the cancer cells appear.

Getting an early diagnosis usually allows treatment to be more effective. However, other factors can influence this. These factors include the person’s age, overall health, and the type or grade of the cancer cell, as some types are more aggressive than others.

Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Following are some of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer:

• Abdominal Pain
• Bloating
• Changes in bowel movements, such as constipation
• Fatigue
• Feeling any unusual lumps
• Finding increase in the size of your abdomen
• Feeling of fullness after a meal
• Frequent urination or urgency
• Headache
• Indigestion
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Pain or pressure in the pelvis
• Back pain
• Shortness of breath
• Swellingin the legs
• Unexplained weight loss
• Vaginal bleeding

These symptoms may appear very subtle and vague; moreover, they are also quite common. This only makes doctors find it much more difficult to diagnose ovarian cancer and to obtain a definitive diagnosis.

Furthermore, OLMPT and some benign tumors often present similar symptoms. In addition, doctors frequently observe them with very large masses in the ovary. Often, these masses are large enough to cause bloating, abdominal distension, constipation, and changes in bladder habits, such as frequent urination.

Causes and Risk Factors of Ovarian Cancer

Researchers do not know the exact causes of ovarian cancer. However, it is important to note that you may have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer if you have the following factors:

Family History

Having a close relative with a history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer, for instance, increases a person’s chance of developing ovarian cancer.

Furthermore, undergoing genetic screening for mutations in the BRCA1 gene may help determine if someone has a higher risk of both ovarian and breast cancer.

Age Factor

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), older women patients mostly develop ovarian cancer. Specifically, about half of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 63 years or older. Furthermore, white women are more likely to have ovarian cancer than African American women patients.

Reproductive History

Breast Cancer

Hormone Therapy

Undergoing Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) after menopause appears to increase the risk of ovarian cancer. The longer a person uses HRT, the higher the risk. However, the risk appears to fall after treatment stops.

Additionally, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause seems to increase the risk of ovarian cancer. In fact, the longer a person uses HRT, the higher the risk. However, the risk seems to decrease after treatment stops.

Obesity and Overweight

Moreover, being overweight or obese can lead to far-reaching health consequences, including an increased risk for certain types of cancer. Specifically, patients with a body mass index (BMI) of over 30 are more likely to develop ovarian cancer.

Gynecologic Surgery

If this migration occurs before doctors remove the ovaries, then those cells remain behind. Consequently, these remaining ovarian cells can become cancerous just like the ovaries can. Moreover, if they do, medical professionals still consider it ovarian cancer even if they remove the ovaries before the cancer develops.

Furthermore, cancer can also develop from cells in the peritoneum, the tissue lining the wall of your abdomen. While this isn’t ovarian cancer, it behaves in much the same way as ovarian cancer.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Additionally, scientists have found links between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and various cancers, including tonsil cancer and cervical cancer.

In 2013, the authors of a meta-analysis reported a high rate of HPV among patients with ovarian cancer. However, they could not confirm that HPV causes it; therefore, they called for further research.

Other Risk Factors

The following factors may increase the risk of some types of ovarian cancer; however, researchers have not yet proven that these factors link to ovarian cancer.

• Firstly, alcohol use
• Secondly, having high levels of androgens, or male hormones
• Additionally, dietary factors
• Moreover, the use of talcum powder

Genetics and Ovarian Cancer

Furthermore, our DNA includes genes, which essentially serve as the blueprint our cells use to reproduce. Importantly, we are born with a particular genetic makeup.

Notably, our family (inherited traits) can influence our genes, as can changes that occur in our genes over time. We call these changes mutations.

Interestingly, researchers have pinpointed two of the most common gene mutations related to ovarian cancer: BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Specifically, you inherit the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which means you get part of each gene from each parent.

Consequently, you could have a mutation in one part of the gene without developing cancer. However, if both parts of the gene are mutated, cancer can develop. In fact, BRCA1 and BRCA2 typically suppress the growth of cancerous cells.

Ultimately, mutations prevent these genes from doing their job and stopping abnormal cell growth. As a result, researchers link BRCA1 and BRCA2 to breast cancer.

During routine screening or symptoms suggesting that a patient may have ovarian cancer, a doctor will typically::

• First, ask the patient about their personal and family medical history
• next, carry out a pelvic examination

Subsequently, recommend performing the following diagnostic tests:

• For instance, blood tests: The tests will check for high levels of a marker called CA-125.

• Additionally, imaging tests: The doctor will include a transvaginal ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI scan.

• Finally, a biopsy: The doctor will perform a microscopic examination of a tissue sample.

Ultimately, only a biopsy can confirm that cancer is present in a patient. Therefore, a doctor may perform this as part of the initial assessment or following surgery to remove a tumor.