What Is Ovarian Cancer?

This informational guide, part of POPSUGAR's Condition Center, lays out the realities of this health concern: what it is, what it can look like, and strategies that medical experts say are proven to help. You should always consult your doctor regarding matters pertaining to your health and before starting any course of medical treatment.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). In fact, it causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. And one in 78 women will develop ovarian cancer in her lifetime, the ACS reports.

The biggest concern with ovarian cancer is that there is no screening test for it, says board-certified ob-gyn Shieva Ghofrany, MD, an advisory board member for POPSUGAR's Condition Center. For example, we have Pap smears for cervical cancer, a mammogram for breast cancer, and a colonoscopy for colon cancer. But when it comes to ovarian cancer, there is no equivalent. "This is because the ovaries are small, tucked deep into the pelvis, and therefore are not easily accessible through any 'screening' tool," Dr. Ghofrany explains. To confound the issue, the symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague and very common.

Because of these challenges — nonspecific symptoms and a lack of screening — ovarian cancer cases are commonly detected at stages 3 or 4, where survival rates are lower, says Dr. Ghofrany. "For this reason it is very important for people with ovaries to have an understanding of the symptoms and when to see their doctor," she adds.

While cases of ovarian cancer and deaths from the condition have both been steadily dropping, the cancer is still a serious concern among women and those assigned female at birth. In addition, we know that Black women still have lower survival rates even with the same stages at diagnosis due to myriad reasons, including systemic and racial biases. Ahead, oncologists explain what you need to know about this form of cancer.

Ovarian cancer is a group of diseases that start in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and peritoneum, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The ovaries are located in the pelvis, with one on each side of the uterus. The fallopian tubes are a pair of long tubes on each side of the uterus, and the peritoneum is the tissue lining that covers organs in the abdomen, the CDC explains. In the female reproductive tract, eggs pass from the ovaries through the fallopian tubes and into the uterus.

Angela Jain, MD, an assistant professor in the department of hematology and oncology at Philadelphia's Fox Chase Cancer Center, says she explains ovarian cancer to patients in two ways. "On one hand, it kind of grows like dandelions in a field," she says. "You have a dandelion that grows into a flower. At some point, the petals fall all over the ground, laying seeds everywhere that grow into new dandelions. This same process could be applied to ovarian cancer. It starts on the ovary. As it grows, it splits and parts of the tumor fall and land in different places in the abdomen or pelvis. It doesn't need to go into the bloodstream or lymph nodes to spread."

Dr. Jain also says that ovarian cancer can look like moss on a tree. "The moss grows like a sheet around the bark of the tree," she says. "Ovarian cancer can do this too by forming a layer over the organs, like the bowel."

There are different forms of ovarian cancer, although the disease is generally classified into three main types:

Symptoms of ovarian cancer can be vague, Dr. Backes says. However, they may include bloating, pelvic pain, having trouble eating, feeling full quickly, or feeling like you have to pee often, per the ACS.

There are several causes and risk factors for developing ovarian cancer. Most cases are caused by a hereditary disposition due to carrying BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations, says Robert Wenham, MD, chair of the Gynecologic Oncology Program at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. According to the ACS, other factors include:

The ACS says that talcum powder, androgens, and diet may also be factors, although their potential roles are still being explored. Getting your period earlier in life, going through menopause later, and not breastfeeding may also play a role, Dr. Wenham says, due to the fact that these entities all increase the number of ovulations, thought to increase the risk.

In contrast, using combined hormone contraception that stops ovulation (i.e. the combined pill/patch or ring) and removal of the fallopian tubes are both ways to decrease risk, per Dr. Ghofrany, and these options should be presented to patients, especially those with a first- or second-degree relative with ovarian cancer.

"Anyone with a family history of ovarian cancer should also be referred for genetic counseling, as there can be a detectable gene, and should also be alerted to the potential for other risks that are associated, like breast and colon cancers, among others," Dr. Ghofrany says.

Ovarian cancer is often treated with surgery and chemotherapy, per Dr. Jain. "The order that this is given in depends on the patient and their health at the time of diagnosis," she adds.

Prevention largely focuses on those with an increased risk — that is, people with ovaries who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation. "If you have a family history of a lot of breast or ovarian cancer, you can be tested to see if you are at risk," Dr. Wenham says.

If you carry the genetic mutation, doctors will often recommend surgery at some point, says Dr. Backes. "If you have a genetic mutation like a BRCA mutation, we recommend that once patients are done [with] fertility and do not want any more children they have their ovaries and tubes taken out between age 35 and 40 to prevent the development of ovarian cancer in the future," she says.

Using birth control pills and maintaining a healthy weight can also lower your risk of developing ovarian cancer, Dr. Jain says.

If you're concerned about your personal risk of developing ovarian cancer, talk to your doctor. They should be able to offer guidance from there.