What is ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow out of control in one or both ovaries. Chances for successful treatment are best when the ovarian cancer is caught in its early stages. However, its early detection is very difficult because it spreads quickly and often presents with no symptoms until it’s at an advanced stage.
Are there different types of ovarian cancer?
There are many types of ovarian tumors that can either be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Cancer must be treated as soon as possible to minimize the risk of the tumor spreading.
Epithelial ovarian cancer
About 90% of ovarian cancers start in the epithelium tissue — the lining on the outside of the ovary. The risk of epithelial ovarian cancer increases with age, especially after the age of 50.
Germ cell ovarian cancer
Germ cell tumors account for less than 2% of ovarian cancers and begin in the egg-producing cells. This type of ovarian cancer can occur in women of any age, but about 80% are found in women under the age of 30.
Stromal ovarian cancer
Making up about 1% of ovarian cancers, these tumors grow in the connective tissue that holds the ovary together and makes estrogen and progesterone. Most are found in older women, but about 5% occur in young girls.
What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?
Ovarian tumors frequently have no symptoms until they reach advanced stages. You may not know you have gynecologic cancer until you have a pelvic exam. However, if you do have symptoms, make an appointment with our gynecologist as soon as possible.
If a tumor has developed to the point where it is causing symptoms, it could be a sign of malignancy. Ovarian cancer tends to spread quickly, so catching tumors early gives you the best chance for a successful treatment.
Some symptoms of ovarian tumors or cancer include:
- Lower back pain
- Severe cramps and persistent pain in the abdomen
- Bloating
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Frequent or difficult urination
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite, feeling full quickly
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
If these symptoms are new and occurring daily for at least two weeks, please make an appointment with our gynecologist as soon as possible.
What are ovarian cancer risk factors?
Not all tumors are cancerous, but when they are, they can be life-threatening. Cancer is a complicated disease with many compounding risk factors, which may include:
- Age – Post-menopausal women seem to have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
- Family history of ovarian, colorectal, or breast cancer
- Obesity
- Smoking cigarettes
- Taking fertility drugs
- Never having a child or breastfeeding
- Hormone replacement therapy
On the other hand, using hormonal birth control (such as birth control pills) can decrease the lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer.
If you have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer, we may refer you to a counselor for genetic testing. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations can increase your risk of breast, ovarian, and fallopian tube cancers.
How does Dr. Aliabadi diagnose ovarian cancer?
Typically, the diagnostic journey begins when we find a mass during a pelvic exam. Although most masses are not cancerous, we will want to test you for signs of cancer.
Many people mistakenly believe that a pap smear can detect ovarian cancer but there is no reliable routine screening test for ovarian cancer. If you have a family history of the disease or other risk factors make sure to talk to Dr. Aliabadi about them.
If ovarian cancer is suspected, Dr. Aliabadi has multiple diagnostic options to try. These include:
Blood testing
A blood test can detect a protein known as CA-125. High levels of CA-125 can be an indication of ovarian cancer, but it could also indicate other problems like endometriosis or uterine fibroids. If a postmenopausal woman has a mass and an elevated CA-125, she has an extremely high risk of having cancer. However, in younger women, CA-125 testing is extraordinarily inaccurate for cancer diagnosis.
Biopsy
A sample of the mass is sent to a lab for analysis. The specialists at the lab can determine the type and stage of cancer based on the cells in the mass.
What are treatment options for ovarian cancer?
Gynecological oncologists are responsible for treating gynecological cancers (including ovarian cancer). Cancer is a complicated disease that requires aggressive treatment.
Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves chemotherapy and surgery. If the cancer has spread, treatment can also include the removal of other tissues and organs in addition to the ovaries.
Your cancer specialist will work with you to develop a treatment plan based on the stage of your cancer, the extent to which it has spread, and your wishes for the future.
Epithelial ovarian cancer treatment
This most often consists of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The order is best determined by a gynecologic oncologist.
Chemotherapy
A patient healthy enough to tolerate chemotherapy will often benefit greatly from it. The drugs used in ovarian cancer treatment tend to have fewer side effects and are easier to tolerate than many other chemotherapy drugs.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs or other treatments to identify and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells.
Stromal and germ cell ovarian tumors
Stromal and germ-cell ovarian tumors are most often treated with a combination of chemotherapy drugs. There is much less research on these as they are more curable and much less common than epithelial tumors.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. It is now used in the management of a number of different types of cancer. With immunotherapy, substances made by the body or synthetically strengthen the body’s natural defenses against cancer.
Experimental treatments
Some cancer programs may offer clinical trials for treating gynecologic cancers. Cancer patients can ask their physician if they are eligible for a clinical trial that may help them, as this is how new drugs are discovered.
Have questions about your health? Talk to Dr. Aliabadi
Dr. Aliabadi has been an OB/GYN for over 20 years and is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She and her compassionate gynecologic team are experts in women’s health care. When you’re treated by Dr. Aliabadi, you’re guaranteed to feel safe, heard, and well cared for.
We invite you to establish care with Dr. Aliabadi. Please make an appointment online or call us at (844) 863-6700.
The practice of Dr. Thais Aliabadi and the Outpatient Hysterectomy Center is conveniently located for patients throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area. We are near Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, and Downtown Los Angeles.
Sources
Bristow RE, Ueda S, Gerardi MA, Ajiboye OB, Ibeanu OA.. Analysis of racial disparities in stage IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer care and outcomes in a Tertiary Gynecologic Oncology Referral Center. Gynecol Oncol. 2011;122(2):319-323. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2011.04.047.
National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Cancer stat facts: ovarian cancer. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/ovary.html. Accessed February 28, 2022.
Ovarian Cancer FAQs
Are ovarian cancer and uterine cancer the same?
Ovarian cancer and uterine cancer are not the same; ovarian cancer originates in the ovaries, while uterine cancer starts in the uterus, commonly in its lining. These cancers affect different parts of the female reproductive system and have distinct symptoms and treatment approaches.
Does removing fallopian tubes reduce the risk of ovarian cancer?
Yes, removing the fallopian tubes can significantly reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, especially in women who are at high genetic risk for the disease.
Supported by her warm professional team, Dr. Aliabadi treats women through all phases of life and cherishes the special one-on-one relationship between patient and doctor.