Epithelial ovarian cancer :
About 90% of ovarian cancers start in the epithelium tissue, which is the lining on the outside of the ovary. This type of ovarian cancer is divided into serous, mucinous, endometrioid, clear cell, transitional and undifferentiated types. The risk of epithelial ovarian cancer increases with age, especially after the age of 50.
Germ cell ovarian cancer :
Germ cell tumors account for about 5% of ovarian cancers. They 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. The main subtypes are teratoma, dysgerminoma, endodermal sinus tumor and choriocarcinoma.
Stromal ovarian cancer :
These tumors, about 5% of ovarian cancers, grow in the connective tissue that holds the ovary together and makes estrogen and progesterone. Most are found in older women, but sometimes they occur in girls.
Stromal tumors usually do not spread as fast as other ovarian tumors. Sub-types include granulosa, granulosa-theca and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors.
Primary peritoneal ovarian cancer is a rare cancer :
It has cells like those on the outside of the ovaries, but it starts in the lining of the pelvis and abdomen. Women can get this type of cancer even after their ovaries have been removed. Symptoms and treatment are similar to epithelial ovarian cancer. Fallopian tube cancer is also a rare cancer. It starts in the fallopian tube and acts like epithelial ovarian cancer. Symptoms and treatment are similar to ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer screening
While no standardized screening tests for ovarian cancer have been shown to improve outcomes.
Our expert recommends that women who are at high risk for ovarian cancer be screened regularly.
You are considered high risk if you have:
- BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene
- Hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome
- Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), also called Lynch syndrome
- BRIP1, RAP51C, or RAD51D gene
Ovarian cancer risk factors
Anything that increases your chance of getting ovarian cancer is a risk factor. These include :
- Age: The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age. About half of ovarian cancers are in women over 60.
- Family history of ovarian cancer
- Genetic factors: Approximately 10% to 15% of ovarian cancers are due to genes that make you more likely to develop cancer.
- Never having children. The more children you have, the less likely you are to develop ovarian cancer.
Ovarian Cancer Treatment
When you receive ovarian cancer treatment at our Hospital, a team of experts customizes your care. This team of specialists communicates and collaborates at every step. They customize your ovarian cancer treatment to be sure you receive the highest chance for successful treatment with the least impact on your body.
Our experts team have extensive experience in treating every type of ovarian cancer, including rare ovarian cancers. We offer the latest, most-advanced therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapies and targeted therapies.
Surgery usually is the first step in treating ovarian cancer. It is crucial that your surgeon be experienced in this delicate procedure. Studies have shown that patients with ovarian cancer have better outcomes and better chances for survival when the largest amount possible of the tumor is removed.
The gynecologic oncology surgeons at our centres is one of the most experienced in the nation. This gives a level of expertise that is available at few other cancer centres.
Ovarian Cancer Surgery
Surgery is the main treatment for ovarian cancer. Often times, ovarian cancer surgery is done to remove or biopsy a mass to find out if it is cancer. Once cancer is confirmed, the surgeon stages the cancer based on how far it has spread from the ovaries. If the disease seems to be limited to one or both ovaries, the surgeon will biopsy the pelvis and abdomen to find out if the cancer has spread.
Debulking Ovarian Cancer:
If it is obvious during the surgery that ovarian cancer has spread, the surgeon will remove as much of the tumor as possible. This may help other treatments work better. The ovaries, uterus, cervix, Fallopian tubes and omentum (fatty tissue around these organs), and any other visible tumors in the pelvic and abdominal areas may be removed during debulking. The spleen, lymph nodes, liver or intestines also may be removed partially or completely. Sometimes debulking is not possible because the patient is not healthy enough or the tumor may be attached to other organs. In these cases, any tumor left will be treated with chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer
You may need chemotherapy after surgery to destroy ovarian cancer cells that are still in the body. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IP therapy) for ovarian cancer is a way to give chemotherapy drugs. It may be used if a small amount of tumor is left after debulking. Sometimes IP chemotherapy works better than regular chemotherapy. In IP treatment, concentrated chemotherapy is put into the abdominal cavity through a catheter (tiny tube) or implanted port. This allows it to come into contact with the cancer and the area of the body where the cancer is likely to spread. The drugs also get into the blood and travel through the body. Radiation for Ovarian Cancer
Although radiation therapy rarely is used to treat ovarian cancer, it may help destroy any cancer cells that are left in the pelvic area. It also may be used if the cancer has come back after other treatments. In most cases, the main goal of radiation therapy is to control symptoms such as pain, not to treat the cancer. Ovarian Cancer Targeted Therapy
Our Center is just a few center in the nation that are able to offer targeted therapy for some types of ovarian cancer. These new drugs stop the growth of cancer cells by interfering with certain proteins and receptors or blood vessels that supply the tumor with what it needs to grow.