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Frequently Asked Questions About Ovarian Cancer

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a cancer that forms in tissues of the ovary (one of a pair of female reproduction glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed). A majority of ovarian cancers are either ovarian epithelial carcinomas (cancer that begins in the cells on the surface of the ovary) or malignant germ cell tumors (cancer that begins in egg cells).

What is the cause of ovarian cancer?


How common is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women.  It will affect 1 in 70 women during their lifetime.  In 2010, it was estimated that there were 21,880 new cases and 13,850 deaths from ovarian cancer in the United States.   In Colorado, every 36 hours one woman dies from ovarian cancer and every year 220 women will lose their battle against this deadly disease.

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Symptoms of ovarian cancer are not specific to the disease, and often mimic those of many other more-common conditions, including digestive and bladder problems.   When ovarian cancer symptoms are present, they tend to be persistent and worsen with time. Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include: 

  • Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating 
  • Pelvic discomfort or pain 
  • Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea 
  • Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation 
  • Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate 
  • Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full 
  • Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist 
  • A persistent lack of energy 
  • Low back pain

What are the risks for developing ovarian cancer?

Certain factors may increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer. These risk factors include:

  • Family history of ovarian cancer. If other women in a family have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, a woman has an increased risk of the disease. 
  • A previous cancer diagnosis. If a woman has been diagnosed with cancer of the breast, colon,rectum or uterus, her risk of ovarian cancer is increased. 
  • Increasing age. A woman’s risk of ovarian cancer increases as she ages. Ovarian cancer most often develops after menopause, though it can occur at any age. 
  • Never having been pregnant. Women who have never been pregnant have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. 
  • Hormone replacement therapy for menopause. Findings about the possible link between postmenopausal use of hormone replacement therapy and risk of ovarian cancer have been inconsistent. Some studies show a risk of ovarian cancer, while others do not.


How can a woman know if she has ovarian cancer?

A woman should visit her doctor (preferably a gynecologist) if one or more symptoms persist for more than two weeks in any given month. The following tests may be given:




In what ways does ovarian cancer attack a woman’s body?

Ovarian cancer can invade, shed or spread to other organs:

  • Spread: Cancer cells can spread through the lymphatic system to lymph nodes in the pelvis, abdomen and chest. Cancer cells may also spread through the bloodstream to organs such as the liver and lungs.


Are there different types of ovarian cancer?

The type of cell where the cancer begins determines the type of ovarian cancer a woman has. Ovarian cancer types include: 

  • Cancer that begins in the egg-producing cells. Called germ cell tumors, these ovarian cancers tend to occur in younger women. 

What are the stages of ovarian cancer?

The stages of ovarian cancer are:

  • Stage II: Cancer cells have spread from one or both ovaries to other tissues in the pelvis. Cancer cells are found on the fallopian tubes, the uterus or other tissues in the pelvis. Cancer cells may be found in fluid collected from the abdomen. 
  • Stage IV: Cancer cells have spread to tissues outside the abdomen and pelvis. Cancer cells may be found inside the liver, in the lungs or in other organs.

What is the prognosis for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer?

If found in an early stage, up to 90 percent of the women diagnosed will survive for more than five years; unfortunately, 75 percent of  diagnosed cases present in stage III/IV, when the disease has already spread beyond the ovaries.  Although ovarian cancer makes up only 28 percent of gynecologic cancers, it accounts for 54 percent of gynecologic cancer deaths.

What treatments are available for women with ovarian cancer?


  • Surgery: Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves an extensive operation that includes removing both ovaries, fallopian tubes and the uterus as well as nearby lymph nodes and a fold of fatty abdominal tissue known as the omentum, where ovarian cancer often spreads. The surgeon also removes as much cancer as possible from the abdomen (surgical debulking). Less extensive surgery may be possible if the ovarian cancer was diagnosed at a very early stage. For women with stage I ovarian cancer, surgery may involve removing one ovary and its fallopian tube. This procedure may preserve the ability to have children in the future. 
  • Chemotherapy: After surgery, the patient will most likely be treated with chemotherapy undefined drugs designed to kill any remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy may also be used as the initial treatment in some women with advanced ovarian cancer. Chemotherapy drugs can be administered in a vein (intravenously) or injected directly into the abdominal cavity, or both methods of administering the drugs can be used. Chemotherapy drugs can be given alone or in combination. 


What is the probability that ovarian cancer will reoccur?

Approximately 70 percent of patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer will have a recurrence.  One of the factors in determining a patient’s risk of recurrence is the stage of the cancer at diagnosis:



Other than from her medical team, where can a woman find support for dealing with ovarian cancer?

Cancer support groups, which provide a setting in which cancer patients can talk about living with cancer with others who may be having similar experiences, have shown to have benefits for cancer survivors. One of the primary goals of the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA) is to support women who have received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. The organization does this through its "Nicki's Circle" support groups.  Open to anyone battling ovarian cancer, “Nicki's Circle" support groups meet monthly around the Denver metro area as well as online and via a Tele-support group. Among the women active in “Nicki's Circle” are some who have survived anywhere from two to twelve years with single incident and/or recurrent ovarian cancer.