Ovarian Cancer
Definition of ovarian cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the ovary (one of a pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed). Most 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).
Despite being labeled a “silent killer,” ovarian cancer does produce symptoms but so often they are only a “whisper.” Over 90% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer report symptoms prior to diagnosis. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are common symptoms that many women experience such as bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary systems (urgency or frequency). Four characteristics that should raise suspicion are frequency of symptoms, their severity, persistence, and the total number of systems. The major risk factor for ovarian cancer is age with most cancers occurring in the postmenopausal period. Genetic factors may result in a hereditary predisposition to ovarian carcinoma. Approximately 10% of ovarian cancers are hereditary. The breast and ovarian genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, account for most of the predisposition. The lifetime risk of ovarian cancer in women who have the BRCA1 mutation is 45% and the BRCA2 mutation is 25%. H.O.W. is devoted to improving the outcome for women afflicted with this disease.A woman has a 1-in-70 risk of developing ovarian cancer in her lifetime. In the United States, it is the fifth most deadly cancer in women and the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancy. The high fatality rate is due to the late stage at diagnosis, which contrasts with the high cure rate when found in early stage.
ROBERT C. KNAPP, MD, D.Sc (Honorary)
Board Member and Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board
William Baker Professor of Gynecology (Emeritus), Harvard Medical School
Visiting Scholar, Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Former Director of Gynecology, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Former Director of Gynecology Dana Farber Cancer Center
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