What Is Ovarian Cancer?

The ovaries are the part of the female reproductive organs which produce egg cells every month during a young woman's reproductive cycle. The ovaries are about 1 1/2" long in a young woman, but after going through menopause (the change of life) shrink down to about half their original size. They are located on either side of the lower abdomen. In young, relatively thin women, the ovaries can just barely be felt on a pelvic examination. Because they shrink in size after a woman stops having her periods, a normal ovary cannot be felt in a woman who has gone through menopause.

Some women, particularly when they are younger and still having periods, may develop cysts on the ovary which can be felt on a pelvic exam or seen on special types of x-rays or other tests. A cyst is a small growth on the ovary which is filled with fluid. They are rarely cancer, particularly in younger women. As long as the cyst is small and does not cause any problems, usually it can simply be observed for a short period of time. However, if it does not go away, then it should be evaluated by a gynecologist. Cysts are less common in women who have already gone through menopause, and when they do occur are more likely to be a cancer, although many of them are still benign. A cyst or an enlarged ovary in a woman who has gone through menopause should always be evaluated quickly to make sure that it is not a cancer.

Ovarian cancer comes from cells of the ovary that grow and divide uncontrollably. The cells may grow to form a tumor on the ovary, and can also break off from the main tumor and spread to other parts of the body. Although ovarian cancer can spread throughout the entire body, in most cases it stays in the abdomen and affects organs such as the intestines, liver, and stomach.

There are many different types of ovarian cancer. However, most cancers of the ovary come from the cells that make up the outer lining of the ovary, and are called epithelial ovarian cancers. Although most epithelial ovarian cancers occur in women who do not have a family history of the disease, about 5 to 10 percent of women with ovarian epithelial cancer have other family members who have also had the same kind of cancer.