Ovarian cancer is a relatively uncommon type of cancer that arises from different types of cells within the ovary, an almond-shaped egg-producing female reproductive organ.
The most common ovarian cancers are known as epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC) or ovarian carcinoma.
Other types of ovarian cancer include ovarian low malignant potential tumor (OLMPT), germ cell tumors, and sex cord-stromal tumors like the granulosa-stromal tumors and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors.
Inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes greatly increase a woman's ovarian cancer risk as well as breast cancer risk.
A gynecologic oncologist is a specialist with expertise managing ovarian cancer.
Most ovarian cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages because there are no reliable early cancer-related symptoms and signs of ovarian cancer. Even in more advanced tumors, symptoms and signs are vague and nonspecific.
There are no reliable screening tests for ovarian cancer.
Treatment of ovarian cancer involves surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible and chemotherapy.