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Summary
The ovaries are part of the female reproductive system. They produce a woman's eggs and female hormones. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond.
Cancer of the ovary is not common, but it causes more deaths than other female reproductive cancers. The sooner ovarian cancer is found and treated, the better your chance for recovery. But ovarian cancer is hard to detect early. Women with ovarian cancer may have no symptoms or just mild symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage. Then it is hard to treat. Symptoms may include
- A heavy feeling in the pelvis
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Bleeding from the vagina
- Weight gain or loss
- Abnormal periods
- Unexplained back pain that gets worse
- Gas, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
To diagnose ovarian cancer, doctors do one or more tests. They include a physical exam, a pelvic exam, lab tests, ultrasound, or a biopsy. Treatment is usually surgery followed by chemotherapy.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
-
General Information About Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer
(National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Ovarian Cancer (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Ovarian Cancer Fact Sheet (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
- Ovarian Cancer FAQ (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) Also in Spanish
- What Is Ovarian Cancer? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Latest News
- FDA Warns Ovarian Cancer Tests Not Reliable (09/09/2016, HealthDay)
- Know Your Risk for Ovarian Cancer -- and The Symptoms (09/09/2016, HealthDay)
- Are Birth Control Pills Tied to Decline in Ovarian Cancer Deaths? (09/07/2016, HealthDay)
Symptoms
- Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Diagnosis and Tests
- Abdominal exploration - slideshow Also in Spanish
- Can Ovarian Cancer Be Found Early? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
- How Is Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
- How Is Ovarian Cancer Staged? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
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Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer Screening (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Risk Assessment, Genetic Counseling, and Genetic Testing for BRCA-Related Cancer in Women (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force) - PDF
- Screening for Ovarian Cancer (American College of Physicians) - PDF
-
Stages of Ovarian Epithelial, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
-
Stages of Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumors (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Can Ovarian Cancer Be Prevented? (American Cancer Society)
- Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
-
Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer Prevention (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Prophylactic Oophorectomy: Preventing Cancer by Surgically Removing Your Ovaries (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- What Are the Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
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Drugs Approved for Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
-
Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors Treatment (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Radiation Therapy for Gynecologic Cancers (American Society for Radiation Oncology) - PDF
- Treatment for Stromal Tumors of the Ovary (American Cancer Society)
-
Treatment Option Overview (Ovarian Epithelial, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer) (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
-
Treatment Option Overview (Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors) (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
-
Treatment Option Overview (Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumors) (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
-
Treatment Options by Stage (Ovarian Epithelial, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer) (National Cancer Institute)
-
Treatment Options By Stage (Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors) (National Cancer Institute)
-
Treatment Options for Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumors (National Cancer Institute)
Living With
- Cancer and Stress (Foundation for Women's Cancer)
- Ovarian Cancer: Nutrition (Johns Hopkins University, Department of Pathology)
- What Will Happen After Treatment for Ovarian Cancer? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- Cancer Treatment for Women: Possible Sexual Side Effects (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
-
Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Ovarian Cancer: Still Possible After Hysterectomy? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
-
Risks of Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer Screening (National Cancer Institute)
- Talcum Powder and Cancer (American Cancer Society)
- What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Ovarian Cancer? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Specifics
-
General Information about Ovarian Epithelial Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
-
General Information about Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
-
General Information about Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumors (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Primary Peritoneal Cancer (Foundation for Women's Cancer)
Genetics
- BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
-
BRCA1 and BRCA2: Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Family History Risk Categories (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Do We Know What Causes Ovarian Cancer? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
- Does Breast or Ovarian Cancer Run in Your Family? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Genetic Counseling and Evaluation for BRCA1/2 Testing (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
-
Genetics Home Reference: ovarian cancer (National Library of Medicine)
Images
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Ovarian Cancer Stage I (National Cancer Institute)
-
Ovarian Cancer Stage II (National Cancer Institute)
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Ovarian Cancer Stage IIIC (National Cancer Institute)
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Ovarian Cancer Stage IV (National Cancer Institute)
Health Check Tools
- Ovarian Cancer Risk Questionnaire (Siteman Cancer Center)
Videos and Tutorials
-
Scarless Hysterectomy
(OR-Live)
- Baptist Hospital, Miami, FL, 10/17/2013
-
Surgical Tutorial of a Robotic-Assisted Anterior Pelvic Exenteration (OR-Live)
- Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 1/22/2009
Statistics and Research
-
NIH Study Finds Regular Aspirin Use May Reduce Ovarian Cancer Risk (National Cancer Institute)
-
Ovarian Cancer Statistics (National Cancer Institute)
- What Are the Key Statistics about Ovarian Cancer? (American Cancer Society)
- What's New in Ovarian Cancer Research and Treatment? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Ovarian Neoplasms (National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
-
Dictionary of Cancer Terms (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
-
Normal Female Reproductive Anatomy (National Cancer Institute)
Find an Expert
- American Cancer Society
- Find a Cancer Doctor (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
- Find a Gynecologic Oncologist (Foundation for Women's Cancer)
-
National Cancer Institute
Also in Spanish
-
NCI Designated Cancer Centers (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
-
Organizations That Offer Support Services (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- womenshealth.gov (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene testing Also in Spanish
- CA-125 blood test Also in Spanish
- Ovarian cancer Also in Spanish
- Ovarian Cancer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish
-
Understanding Chemotherapy
(National Cancer Institute)
- PDF
Also in Spanish
