Ovarian cancer is a cancer that forms in an ovary. A risk factor is anything that can increase your chance of developing cancer. Different types of cancers have various risk factors. Some factors can lower your risk of cancer and are known as protection factors.
The factors that may increase ovarian cancer are inherited faulty genes, breast cancer, Being infertile or having fertility treatment, being overweight or tall, having endometriosis, using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), smoking, diet factors.
The protection factors for ovarian cancer or the risk of ovarian cancer can be lowered by taking the contraceptive pill, having a hysterectomy, having children, Breast feeding reduces the risk of ovarian cancer.
The stage of a cancer characterizes how far it has grown and spread. Very early stage cancer means cancer that is completely grown inside the ovary called as stage 1. Many women who have very early stage of ovarian cancer don’t have any symptoms. If symptoms are present, they may be unclear which includes:
- Pain in the lower abdomen or side
- Bloated, full feeling in the abdomen
Cancer that has grown outside the ovary comes under stage 2 and stage 3. The symptoms of the tumour growing anywhere in the area between the hip bones (i.e. pelvis) such as,
(i) Irregular periods or vaginal bleeding after menopause
(ii) Lower abdominal pain
(iii) Pain during sex
(iv) Back pain
(v) A swollen abdomen
(vi) Passing urine more often than usual
(vii) Constipation
(viii) Feeling of fullness or loss of appetite
Types of ovarian cancer are Epithelial, Germ and Borderline ovarian tumours. Epithelial ovarian cancer is a cancer that starts in the surface layer covering the ovary. About 90 out of 100 tumours of the ovary (90%) are epithelial. Germ cell cancers start from the egg making cells of the ovary. Around 1 or 2 out of 100 ovarian cancers (1 to 2%) are germ cell. As well as, there are also non cancerous (i.e. benign) forms of germ cell tumors. Borderline ovarian tumours are different to ovarian cancer as they do not grow into the supportive tissue of the ovary (the stroma). They are also called tumours of low malignant potential. About 10 out of 100 of epithelial ovarian tumours (10%) are borderline tumours. Screening of cancer can be done by CA125 blood test, Transvaginal ultrasound.