When You Diagnose (or Suspect) Cancer: 3 Reasons to Refer Your Patients to RCCA
“What happens next?” “Where should I go for treatment?” They are questions physicians often hear after informing a patient that they have identified confirmed or
Understanding Ovarian Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Stages, and Treatment Near You at RCCA
Ovarian cancer is a type of gynecologic cancer that forms in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or peritoneum. If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, turn to Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) for comprehensive care. RCCA is one of the nation’s largest networks of cancer specialists, providing the latest evidence-based treatments for patients with ovarian cancer in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., area. Learn more about ovarian cancer, including its symptoms, stages, and treatment options.
Key Takeaways
- Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or peritoneum. There are three main types of ovarian cancer: epithelial ovarian tumors, germ cell tumors, and stromal tumors.
- Symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling full quickly while eating, a frequent or urgent need to urinate, and other urinary changes.
- Common ovarian cancer treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Providers may also use hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy.
- Regional Cancer Care Associates provides comprehensive cancer care for patients with ovarian cancer in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., area.
What Is Ovarian Cancer?
A woman’s reproductive system includes the ovaries and fallopian tubes. When abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in one of these organs, it is known as ovarian cancer. These abnormal cells can divide and form tumors, which destroy healthy tissue and can spread — or metastasize — to other parts of the body.
Although the ovaries and fallopian tubes are different organs, they are closely connected and share similar epithelial cells, so cancers arising in either organ are often grouped together under the term ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. The high death toll for the disease is related to the fact that it has vague symptoms, which often result in ovarian cancer not being diagnosed until it has spread, making it more difficult to treat successfully. According to the American Cancer Society, about 21,010 women in the United States will receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2026.
What Are the Types of Ovarian Cancer?
To determine the best treatment plan for a patient’s cancer, it’s necessary to identify the type. There are three main types of ovarian cancer, which are categorized by the cell type where the cancer originates. They are:
Epithelial Ovarian Tumors
Epithelial ovarian tumors are the most common type, accounting for around 90% of all malignant ovarian cancers. These tumors form in the thin layer of tissue that covers the outer layer of the ovaries (epithelial tissue) or related tissues in the fallopian tubes. The most common subtype is serous carcinoma, which may be either aggressive and fast growing (high grade) or slower growing (low grade).
Germ Cell Tumors
Germ cell tumors are rare tumors that form in egg-producing cells. They are often benign, although some may be malignant. These tumors are most often diagnosed in younger patients. Subtypes include teratomas, dysgerminomas, and yolk sac tumors.
Stromal Tumors
Stromal tumors begin in the ovaries’ structural or connective hormone-producing tissues, which produce estrogen and progesterone. They are uncommon, often cause hormone-related symptoms, and are typically diagnosed earlier than epithelial tumors. Subtypes include granulosa cell tumors, which can cause symptoms like abnormal bleeding, and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors, which are extremely rare and may produce male hormones.
What Symptoms of Potential Ovarian Cancer Should You Discuss with a Doctor?
Ovarian cancer is notorious for not causing many symptoms until later stages, limiting early detection. However, when ovarian cancer symptoms do appear, they can include:
- Bloating: This sensation of abdominal swelling is similar to that experienced by many people with irritable bowel syndrome.
- Pelvic or abdominal pain: This can include pressure or discomfort in the pelvic area, persistent back pain and pressure, and more.
- Appetite changes: These may include feeling full quickly, not being hungry, or struggling to eat small meals or portions.
- Urinary, reproductive, and bowel changes: These may include a frequent or urgent need to urinate, constipation, and abnormal vaginal bleeding or vaginal discharge, especially post-menopause.
Although many women who do not have ovarian cancer will experience these symptoms at some point, if the symptoms are new, chronic, severe, or get progressively worse, women should speak with their doctor to determine the cause.
What Are Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors?
Researchers have identified several ovarian cancer risk factors. They include:
- Age: The risk of ovarian cancer increases as a woman ages. Most cases are found in women between the ages of 55 and 64, although women of any age can develop the disease.
- Family history: Women with certain inherited genetic conditions, such as mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, or Lynch syndrome, may be more likely to develop ovarian cancer. Women with a family history of ovarian, uterine, colon, or breast cancer may also have an increased vulnerability.
- Reproductive history: Women who have never been pregnant, never carried a fetus to full term, or never breastfed have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. Those with early onset of menstruation or the onset of menopause after age 50 may also have an increased risk, as vulnerability is linked to the total number of ovulation cycles a woman experiences.
- Obesity: Having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher has been linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer in some studies.
- Hormone therapy: Women who use hormone therapy for more than five years after menopause may have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.
- Fertility medications: Women who use in vitro fertilization (IVF) may have an increased risk of certain subtypes of ovarian tumors, although those tumors typically are benign.
Other risk factors include endometriosis, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), or other types of cancer. Having one or more of these risk factors doesn’t automatically mean that a woman will develop ovarian cancer. However, it’s smart to pay special attention to symptoms of potential ovarian cancer if you have multiple risk factors.
How Is Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed?
Diagnosing ovarian cancer involves a thorough clinical assessment with screenings and other tools to rule out other potential conditions and to confirm the presence of cancer. The diagnostic process includes:
- Physical examination: The healthcare provider will perform a physical exam, which often will include a pelvic exam, to check for any abnormalities.
- Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS): A provider will insert an ultrasound probe into the vagina. Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. It can help determine if a mass is a cyst or a solid tumor.
- CA-125 blood test: This test measures serum levels of a protein, CA-125, that can be increased in patients with ovarian cancer. However, elevations in this protein can be caused by other conditions, as well, so the test is most often used for monitoring ovarian cancer that already has been diagnosed rather than for making the initial diagnosis.
- Additional imaging: If preliminary tests suggest cancer, the doctor may order other imaging scans, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to confirm that cancer is present and to see if it has spread.
- Surgical biopsy: A tissue biopsy involves removing a tissue sample during a minimally invasive laparoscopy or by analyzing fluid from the abdomen. It is the only definitive way to confirm an ovarian cancer diagnosis.
Typically, initial diagnostic tests are performed by a gynecologist or primary care physician. If those tests suggest or confirm cancer, the patient will be referred to oncology specialists for further testing.
Ovarian Cancer Stages and What They Mean
When a patient receives a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, the cancer will be given a stage. Ovarian cancer stages include:
- Stage I: Cancer is found only in the ovaries or fallopian tubes.
- Stage II: Cancer is found in one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes and in nearby organs, such as the uterus, bladder, colon, or rectum.
- Stage III: Cancer is found in one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes, an organ in the pelvic area, and either in the peritoneum, stomach lining, or lymph nodes behind the abdomen.
- Stage IV: Cancer has spread to areas of the body distant from the reproductive organs.
These stages also have subtypes. The stage and subtype of the cancer help determine the best treatment option and play a role in determining the overall survival rate for women with that stage and subtype. For example, the five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with localized ovarian cancer (when the cancer has not spread outside the ovaries) is 92%. If the cancer metastasizes to distant organs, the percentage falls to 32%. It is important to remember, that these statistics reflects outcomes for a group of patients. Individual patients may have a much different prognosis – or outlook – based on their age, overall health, and other factors.
What Are Ovarian Cancer Treatment Options?
Cancer treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Treatment plans are highly personalized based on many factors, including the type, stage, and tumor characteristics of the cancer, as well as the patient’s health history and treatment goals. Common treatment options for ovarian cancer include:
- Surgery: Surgery is often the first-line treatment for ovarian cancer. It involves a procedure in which tumors and cancerous cells are removed. It may also include a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes). If the cancer has spread, nearby lymph nodes and other tissue may also be removed.
- Chemotherapy: This involves administering strong medications to shrink and kill cancer cells. It is often used before surgery to shrink the tumor, but it can also be used after surgery or as a stand-alone treatment when surgery is not feasible.
- Targeted therapy: This approach involves administration of drugs that directly target specific mutations in cancerous cells while avoiding healthy cells. It typically entails use of drugs known ass poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors or angiogenesis inhibitors.
Other options, such as hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy, may also be used to support other treatment options or as alternatives to them. RCCA oncologists will collaborate to determine the best treatment method for each patient. RCCA also provides side effects management and other helpful resources to help patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Find Expert Ovarian Cancer Treatment Near You in NJ, CT, MA, and the Washington, D.C., Area
Women seeking high-quality ovarian cancer treatment can find it at Regional Cancer Care Associates. We have an experienced multidisciplinary team that treats various cancer types and blood disorders with personalized treatment plans. With more than 20 convenient locations near you throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., area, patients can choose where they want to receive care. To learn more about ovarian cancer treatment near you, contact us or request an appointment today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ovarian Cancer
What is ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer is a condition that occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the ovaries or fallopian tubes.
What are the most common ovarian cancer symptoms?
The most common ovarian cancer symptoms include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling full quickly while eating, a frequent or urgent need to urinate, and other urinary changes.
Can ovarian cancer symptoms be mistaken for digestive or urinary problems?
Yes. Many symptoms of ovarian cancer, such as feeling full quickly after eating, decreased appetite, and a frequent or urgent need to urinate, also can be symptoms of digestive or urinary conditions, which can make prompt identification of ovarian cancer difficult.
What are the main types of ovarian tumors?
The main types of ovarian tumors include:
- Epithelial ovarian tumors: These tumors form in the thin layer of tissue that covers the outer layer of the ovaries (epithelial tissue) or related tissues.
- Germ cell tumors: These rare tumors form in egg-producing cells, and are often benign.
- Stromal tumors: These tumors form in the structural or connective hormone-producing tissues of the ovary.
Who is at higher risk of ovarian cancer?
People at a higher risk of ovarian cancer include women over age 55, women with a strong family history of ovarian cancer, or those with certain inherited gene mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2.
How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?
Ovarian cancer is diagnosed through a thorough clinical assessment, which includes a physical exam, transvaginal ultrasound, blood tests, other imaging scans, and a biopsy.
What do the stages of ovarian cancer mean?
The stages of ovarian cancer tell you the size and nature of the tumor and where it has spread. They help oncologists develop treatment plans and determine the prognosis – or outlook – for the patient.
What ovarian cancer treatment options are available?
Common ovarian cancer treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy may also be used.
Regional Cancer Care Associates — Cancer care you can trust
At Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), we feature the best of modern oncologic medicine. We meet the highest standard of cancer care in both quality and safety. At the same time, we lead with our hearts, offering an environment characterized by compassion. We focus on you, individually, and work with you and your family to ensure your care is second to none.
For more information, please call (844) 346-7222. You can schedule an appointment by calling the RCCA location nearest you.
Physicians SPECIALIZED IN Ovarian Cancer
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