Introduction 

Ovarian cancer is a disease which causes cells in the ovaries to grow uncontrollably and in an abnormal manner causing the formation of a tumor. The ovaries are found in the female reproductive system on opposite sides of the uterus and are responsible for holding and releasing the egg during ovulation. There are three different types of ovarian tumors which are classified by where the cancer firsts starts growing

The three main types are:

 

Epithelial Ovarian Cancer- This form of cancer begins growing in the epithelium, which is the thin layer of tissue covering the ovary surface. It is the most common type of ovarian cancer, accounting for 90% of cases, and most frequently affecting women after menopause.

 

Germ Cell Ovarian Cancer- These cancers develop in the cells that become eggs. It is a rare type of ovarian cancer usually found in women under the age of 30.

 

Sex-chord Stromal Cell Ovarian Cancer- This cancer occurs in the ovary cells responsible for releasing female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone and is also a rare type affecting around 5% of all aged women with ovarian cancer.

 

Ovarian Cancer is also classified in stages of cancer development which are indicative of how far the cancer has advanced and whether it has spread to other organs. These stages are from one to four, with the earlier the stage of cancer when detected, having the greatest chance of recovery. Most commonly ovarian cancer is detected at stage three.

These stages are identified by the following descriptions:

 

Stage I- the cancer is found only in one or both ovaries.

Stage II- cancer has spread to other areas in the pelvic region including the uterus and fallopian tubes.

Stage III- the cancer has spread further throughout the abdominal region and may be found in the lining of the abdomen, or in the lymph nodes located within the abdomen.

Stage IV- cancer has spread further than the abdominal region to other organs.

 

 

It is estimated that around 750 women in Australia and 15000 women in the USA die from ovarian cancer each year and is the fifth highest in causing cancer-related deaths in women in the USA. The cancer affects around 1 in 70 Australian woman and is the most deadly of gynecological cancers, as its most commonly picked up in the later stages of the cancer when it is advanced, and as such, difficult to treat. Currently there are no reliable screening tests for ovarian cancer and the location of the ovaries makes them difficult to examine. Early detection is further complicated by ambiguity surrounding the early signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and the tendency of these symptoms to overlap with other medical complications.