Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a disease that originates in the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, or the tissues surrounding these structures.

Ovarian cancer does not always cause symptoms until the disease is advanced.

Treatments for ovarian cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and hormonal therapies.

Common Questions & Answers

Can ovarian cancer be found early?

Only around 20 percent of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage. This is because this type of cancer rarely causes symptoms and there are currently no reliable screening tests for the disease.

The most common type of ovarian cancer is called epithelial ovarian cancer, which develops in the epithelial cells on the surface of the ovary, fallopian tubes, or the peritoneum (abdominal cavity). Around 90 percent of ovarian cancers originate with epithelial tumors.

Combination birth control pills — those that contain estrogen and progestin — have been found to help prevent ovarian cancer. Removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy) or of the ovaries and the fallopian tubes (salpingo-oopherectomy) is another option in women who aren’t planning to have children or are past childbearing age.

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Resources
  1. Ovarian Cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 12, 2024.
  2. Tests for Ovarian Cancer. American Cancer Society. November 17, 2022.
  3. Treating Ovarian Cancer. American Cancer Society.

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