Get the facts. Pass it on. Save a life. Learn about disease basics with help from Dr. Ursula Matulonis, Medical Director of Gynecologic Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Discover disease risk factors, symptoms and treatment options in this short presentation. Help increase awareness about the disease and share with the women in your life.

1. The Facts on
Ovarian Cancer
Pass it on. Save a life.

2. Overview
Ovarian cancer is a
disease in which
malignant or cancerous
cells are found in the
ovaries.
An ovary is one of two small,
almond-shaped organs located
on each side of the uterus that
store eggs and produce female
hormones estrogen and
progesterone.

3. Get the Facts
 All women are at risk of ovarian
cancer.
 Symptoms can be vague, but they
exist and increase over time.
 A Pap test DOES NOT detect
ovarian cancer.
 If the cancer is detected at the
earliest stage, women have a 93%
survival rate of 5 years.

4. Ovarian Cancer Stats
5
th LEADING • 50 percent of cases occur
CAUSE in women over 65 years
of cancer-related deaths
among women in USA • The National Cancer
Institute estimates over
22,000 American women
will be diagnosed with
ovarian cancer this year
• And over 15,000 will die of
the disease

5. Symptoms
Early ovarian cancer may not cause any symptoms.
The most common symptoms include:
• Pelvic, back or abdominal pain
• Frequent or increased urination
• Pain or swelling in the abdomen
• Indigestion (bloating, gas or
constipation)
* If symptoms persist for more than
two weeks, see your physician.

6. Possible Symptoms
Other symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:
• Trouble eating or
feeling full quickly
• Fatigue
• Pain during sex
• Menstrual changes
* If symptoms persist for more than
two weeks, see your physician.

7. Risk Factors
These factors put women at an
increased risk for ovarian cancer:
• Over 55 years old
• A family history of breast, ovarian, or colon cancer on
the maternal or paternal side of their family
• Obese
• Has never been pregnant
• Undesired problems with fertility
• Has an ovarian cyst after menopause

8. Reducing the Risk
These factors have been linked with a lower likelihood of
developing ovarian cancer:
• Natural pregnancy. The risk appears to decrease with every
pregnancy; breastfeeding may offer added protection.
• Use of Birth Control Pill. Women on the pill for at least five
years have about half the risk of women who never took the pill.
• Removal of the ovaries.
• Tubal ligation (tying tubes). This may offer some protection
against ovarian cancer. (Similar for a hysterectomy where the
uterus is removed, leaving the ovaries intact.)

9. Detection & Testing
Early detection is difficult
• Symptoms generally aren’t
apparent until disease is
advanced
If reproductive cancers run in
the family ask about:
• Genetic or blood testing for serum
marker cancer antigen (CA)125
• A transvaginal ultrasound
• A pelvic/rectal exam
• Counseling

10. Typical Treatment Options
Surgery
Removal of cancerous tumor and possibly
one ovary and/or nearby tissue. Advanced
stages may require removal of both ovaries,
along with the uterus (total hysterectomy),
reproductive organs, and/or surrounding
tissues (radical hysterectomy).
Radiation Therapy
High-energy x-rays or other types of
radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them
from growing.
Chemotherapy
Drugs to target and kill cancer in the body.
Drugs may be given by mouth, through an IV
(vein or muscle), or directly into the
abdomen area.

11. Additional Treatment
Options Clinical trials
Treatments that test the safety and
effectiveness of new cancer drugs.
• Clinical trials are part of the cancer
research process.
• Patients can enter clinical trials before,
during, or after starting their cancer
treatment.
Biotherapy or immunotherapy
Treatment that uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Substances
made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to boost, direct, or restore the
body’s natural defenses against cancer.
Targeted therapies
A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack
specific cancer cells without harming normal cells.

12. Clinical Trials = Innovation
• Many of today's standard
cancer treatments are based on
earlier clinical trials.
• Patients taking part in clinical
trials may be among the first to
receive a new treatment.
• Patients who take part in clinical
trials help improve future cancer
treatment.
For some patients, clinical trials are the best treatment option.
See what clinical trials are available at Dana-Farber.
For detailed information, consult your treatment team.

13. Need more information?
• Watch a webcast on Ovarian Cancer featuring Dr. Ursula Matulonis,
Medical Director, Gynecologic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
• Visit the Dana-Farber cancer website to learn more about the disease.
Questions or concerns about your health?
• Click here to contact a specialist in our Susan F. Smith Center for
Women's Cancers Gynecologic Oncology Program.
• Schedule an appointment online with Dana-Farber.
Or call 877-442-3324 (877-442-DFCI).

14. Pass it on.
Save a life.