The Basics

Introduction

Ovarian cancer will be the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States in 2008. It is estimated that a woman’s risk of developing  invasive ovarian cancer sometime during her lifetime is about one in 71.

The ovaries are two small glands located in the lower part of a woman's pelvis on each side of the uterus. They produce the eggs (ova) associated with childbearing. They also produce the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Ovarian cancer develops when your body rapidly produces unnecessary cells. These out-of-control cells can form a mass called a tumor inside your ovary. Although often these masses are often benign, or noncancerous, and do not turn into cancer, cancer can form. Ovarian tumors most commonly start in the epithelial cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary. These cancerous epithelial tumors are called carcinomas.

The exact cause of ovarian cancer is not known. Among the suggested risk factors for ovarian cancer are a family history of ovarian cancer; a personal history of breast or colon cancer; and increased age (being over 50 years old). Other possible risk factors relating to a woman's reproductive system include early age (before 12 years old) at the start of monthly periods; late menopause (after 52 years old); having a first child after the age of 30 years; infertility (inability to become pregnant); and taking hormone replacement therapy after menopause.

This content was last modified on July 23, 2007 .

Latest Ovarian Cancer News

  • April 29, 2008
    Medicare 5-year cancer bill tops $21.1 bln - study
    CHICAGO (Reuters) - Five years of cancer care for America's elderly cost Medicare $21.1 billion, a figure that will swell as the baby boomer generation ages, U.S. government researchers said on Tuesday.
  • April 25, 2008
    Women Share Breast and Ovarian Cancer Testing Results with Family Members
    Women who undergo testing for genetic breast cancer are more likely to share the results with other female family members, including children and their siblings, if they are aware of their relative’s opinion of genetic testing. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Family Psychology.
  • April 23, 2008
    Simultaneous breast-ovary surgery feasible
    NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who are carriers of BRCA1/2 gene mutations that put them high risk for cancer may opt to undergo mastectomy and ovary removal as a cancer prevention strategy. Now, a small study suggests it's possible to combine the two procedures into a single operation, without undue complications.
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