Ovarian cancer (ovarian carcinoma) is cancer of the ovaries. Many different types of ovarian cancer exist. Ovarian cancer is most common among women aged 50 to 70. Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer but causes more deaths than any other gynecologic cancer.
Ovarian cancer usually affects women between the ages of 50 and 70 and is the second most common gynecologic cancer. However, ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other gynecologic cancer. Risk factors for ovarian cancer include a high-fat diet, no previous pregnancies or a having a first child late in life, early menstruation, late menopause, and a family history of certain cancers.
Ovarian cancer (ovarian carcinoma) develops from the many different types of cells in the ovaries. Most ovarian cancers originate from the cells that cover the surface of the ovaries. Sometimes, cancers from other parts of the body spread to the ovaries, causing ovarian cancer.
In most cases, ovarian cancer does not cause symptoms until it has progressed. Discomfort in the lower abdomen, bloating, loss of appetite, gas pains, and backache are signs of ovarian cancer. In rare cases, vaginal bleeding occurs. As ovarian cancer progresses, the abdomen may swell, and patients may experience pelvic pain, anemia, and weight loss. Rarely, hormonal changes caused by ovarian cancer cause the uterine lining to grow and the breasts to enlarge. In younger women, noncancerous ovarian cysts may form during ovulation and are usually reabsorbed by the body. An enlarged ovary before menopause is most often caused by a noncancerous ovarian cyst. After menopause, however, an enlarged ovary is often a sign of ovarian cancer.
