Gynecologic Cancer Treatment Center
Diseases Treated
Ovarian Cancer
Cancers of the ovary develop in approximately 1 out of 70 women over a lifetime. The likelihood of developing ovarian cancer increases with age — most ovarian cancers occurring in women over the age of 50 — with the highest risk in women over 60. There are many types of ovarian cancers, the most common being epithelial ovarian cancer, representing up to 90 percent of ovarian cancers. The non-epithelial types of ovarian cancer are much less common, and typically occur in younger women. Fortunately, many of these cancers are found in earlier stages, and are curable with fertility-sparing surgery.
The vast majority of epithelial ovarian cancers occur in menopausal women, and while there are hereditary forms of ovarian cancer, most are sporadic. Because early symptoms are vague and more gastrointestinal in nature, ovarian cancers are typically discovered once disease is in more advanced stages. For this reason, ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancy. There is currently no good screening test for ovarian cancer, and routine screening for woman at average risk is not recommended.
Although the causes of ovarian cancer are unknown, there are certain factors that are known or suspected to increase an individual's risk of developing the disease, such as family and personal history of breast or ovarian malignancy, certain environmental exposures, and infertility.
Women who carry genetic mutations of the BRCA gene are at increased risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer. Prophylactic surgery for removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, performed after completion of childbearing, significantly lowers the likelihood of developing ovarian cancer. Surgery does not completely eliminate risk, due to rare development of an entity known as primary peritoneal cancer, a close relative of epithelial ovarian cancer. For women at high risk of ovarian cancer, surveillance with ultrasound and blood tests is performed during the childbearing years.
There is active ongoing research into the causes of ovarian cancer, identification of markers for early detection and screening, and more effective treatments.
Learn more about ovarian cancer
Clinical trials for ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer related links, news, and personal stories
