On Ovarian Cancer

For patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer, there can be a lot of confusion. There can be a lot of questions.

"What is my prognosis?"
"What kind of treatment will I get?"
"How can two tiny glands cause me to get so sick?"

This blog will try and cover all the basics of ovarian cancer and answer common questions, and help readers gain some basic knowledge of and insight to ovarian cancer.

 

Ovarian cancer is a cancer that starts in the ovaries. Most women are born with two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries, each about the size of an almond, are key components of the reproductive system: they release hormones called estrogen and progesterone, which help cause the release of an ova, or an egg. Normal cells are programed to die when they get old or damaged. In cancer, the ovary cells start to reproduce in an abnormal pattern. The abnormal pattern can be either overproduction, or cells not dying when they are damaged.This is dangerous because the cells grow out of control, taking blood supply from other cells and prohibiting growth of surrounding cells and organs.

Classifications of Ovarian Cancer

There are more than 30 different types of ovarian cancer which are classified according to the type of cell from which they start. Cancerous ovarian tumors can start from three common cell types:

• Surface Epithelium - cells covering the lining of the ovaries
• Most epithelial ovarian tumors are benign (non-cancerous), but the most dangerous ovarian cancer, a carcinoma, also arises in the epithelium 
• Germ Cells - cells that are destined to form eggs
• Most germ cell tumors are benign (non-cancerous), although some are cancerous and may be life threatening. Most women who have germ cell malignancies are younger (in their late teens or 20's)
• Stromal Cells - Cells that release hormones and connect the different structures of the ovaries
• This rare type of ovarian cancer develops in the tissue that holds the ovary together 

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.  http://www.ovarian.org/types_and_stages.php
American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/
National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/ovarian