Ovarian cancer is a group of diseases that originates in the ovaries, or in the related areas of the fallopian tubes and the peritoneum. Women have two ovaries that are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries make female hormones and produce eggs for reproduction.

1. OVARIAN
CANCER

2. What is ovarian cancer?
● Ovarian cancer is when
abnormal cells in the ovary
begin to multiply out of
control and form a tumor. If
left untreated, the tumor can
spread to other parts of the
body. This is called metastatic
ovarian cancer.
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● Ovarian cancer often has
warning signs, but the earliest
symptoms are vague and easy
to dismiss. Twenty percent of
ovarian cancers are detected
at an early stage.

3. What are the Early Signs of
Ovarian Cancer and How Do
You Detect Them?
● The ovaries are two female reproductive glands that
produce ova, or eggs. They also produce the female
hormones estrogen and progesterone.
● About 21,750 women in the United States will receive
an ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2020, and
about 14,000 women will die from it.
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4. ● In this article you’ll find information
on ovarian cancer including:
 Symptoms
 types
 risks
 diagnosis
 stages
 treatment
 research
 survival rates
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5. Early symptoms of ovarian cancer?
It’s easy to overlook the early symptoms of ovarian cancer
because they’re similar to other common illnesses or they
tend to come and go. The early symptoms include:
 abdominal bloating, pressure, and pain
 abnormal fullness after eating
 difficulty eating
 an increase in urination
 an increased urge to urinate

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Ovarian cancer can also cause other symptoms,
such as:
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• fatigue
• indigestion
• heartburn
• Constipation
• back pain
• painful intercourse
• dermatomyositis (a rare
inflammatory disease that
can cause skin rash,
muscle weakness, and
inflamed muscles)

7. These symptoms may occur for any number of reasons. They aren’t
necessarily due to ovarian cancer. Many women have some of these
problems at one time or another.
These types of symptoms are often temporary and respond to simple
treatments in most cases.
The symptoms will persist if they’re due to ovarian cancer. Symptoms
usually become more severe as the tumor grows. By this time, the cancer
has usually spread outside of the ovaries, making it much harder to treat
effectively.
Again, cancers are best treated when detected early. Please consult with
your doctor if you experience new and unusual symptoms. 7

8. The ovaries are made up of three types of cells. Each cell can
develop into a different type of tumor:
 Types of ovarian cancer
• Epithelial tumors form in the layer of tissue on the outside of the
ovaries. About 90 percent of ovarian cancers are epithelial tumors.
• Stromal tumors grow in the hormone-producing cells. Seven
percent of ovarian cancers are stromal tumors.
• Germ cell tumors develop in the egg-producing cells. Germ cell
tumors are rare.
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9. The exact cause of ovarian cancer is unknown. However,
these factors can increase your risk:
 Risk factors for ovarian cancer
● a family history of ovarian cancer
● genetic mutations of genes associated with ovarian cancer, such
as BRCA1 or BRCA2
● a personal history of breast, uterine, or colon cancer
● obesity
● the use of certain fertility drugs or hormone therapies
● no history of pregnancy
● endometriosis
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10. Older age is another risk factor. Most
cases of ovarian cancer develop after
menopause.
It’s possible to have ovarian cancer
without having any of these risk
factors. Likewise, having any of these
risk factors doesn’t necessarily mean
you’ll develop ovarian cancer.
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11. ● It’s much easier to treat ovarian cancer when your doctor
diagnoses it in the early stages. However, it’s not easy to
detect.
● Your ovaries are situated deep within the abdominal cavity, so
you’re unlikely to feel a tumor. There’s no routine diagnostic
screening available for ovarian cancer. That’s why it’s so
important for you to report unusual or persistent symptoms to
your doctor.
● If your doctor is concerned that you have ovarian cancer, they’ll
likely recommend a pelvic exam. Performing a pelvic exam can
help your doctor discover irregularities, but small ovarian
tumors are very difficult to feel.
 How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?
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12. As the tumor grows, it presses against the bladder and rectum.
Your doctor may be able to detect irregularities during a
rectovaginal pelvic examination.
Your doctor may also do the following tests:
● Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS). TVUS is a type of imaging test
that uses sound waves to detect tumors in the reproductive
organs, including the ovaries. However, TVUS can’t help your
doctor determine whether tumors are cancerous.
● Abdominal and pelvic CT scan. If you’re allergic to dye, they
may order a pelvic MRI scan.
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13. ● Blood test to measure cancer antigen 125 (CA-125)
levels. A CA-125 test is a biomarker that’s used to assess
treatment response for ovarian cancer and other
reproductive organ cancers. However, menstruation,
uterine fibroids, and uterine cancer can also affect CA-
125 levels in the blood.
● Biopsy. A biopsy involves removing a small sample of
tissue from the ovary and analyzing the sample under a
microscope.
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14. The treatment depends on how far the cancer has
spread. A team of doctors will determine a
treatment plan depending on your situation. It will
most likely include two or more of the following:
● chemotherapy
● surgery to stage the cancer and remove the
tumor
● targeted therapy
● hormone therapy
 How ovarian cancer is treated
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15. THANK
YOU!