What IS Ovarian Cancer?

So...what exactly is Ovarian Cancer?

  

Ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cancer in women. 

It ranks fifth as the cause of cancer death in women. About half of women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 60 or older. It is more common in white women that African-American women.A woman's risk of getting invasive ovarian cancer in her lifetime is about 1 in 71. Her lifetime chance of dying from invasive ovarian cancer is about 1 in 95. (These statistics don't count low malignant potential ovarian tumors.) Last Revised: 01/23/2012 

As a rule, tumors in the ovary are named for the kinds of cells the tumor started from and whether the tumor is benign or cancerous.

How many women get ovarian cancer?

The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for ovarian cancer in the United States for 2012:

• About 22,280 new cases of ovarian cancer
• About 15,500 deaths from ovarian cancer

There are 3 main types of tumors:

Epithelial ovarian tumors are derived from the cells on the surface of the ovary. This is the most common form of ovarian cancer and occurs primarily in adults.  Surface epithelial tumors account for ~60% of all ovarian neoplasms and 80-90% of malignant ovarian tumors.

Germ cell tumors are among the least common ovarian tumors, accounting for approximately 10-15% of ovarian tumors. They are derived from the oocytes (eggs). These tumors, like the surface epithelial tumors, can also be benign or malignant. There is, however, no intermediate group. The benign tumors are nearly always mature cystic teratomas or so-called "dermoids" and are successfully treated by the removal of the tumor with preservation of the uninvolved ovarian tissue. No further treatment is necessary. Malignant germ cell tumors require intensive multi agent after their removal. The treatment is completely different from the administered after surgical treatment of a surface epithelial tumor. 

Sex cord stromal the least common type of ovarian tumor accounting for approximately 5-10% of ovarian tumors are those derived from the stromal component of the ovary (see diagram). Since hormone production (female sex hormones such as estradiol and progesterone and male hormones such as testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA] and androstenedione) occurs in the stromal, tumors derived from this part of the ovary can be associated with abnormal production of sex steroid hormones. This can lead to abnormal vaginal bleeding in reproductive age and postmenopausal women and precocious puberty in children. Ovarian tumors that produce male sex hormones can cause hirsutism (increased growth of hair on various parts of the body) and in extreme cases, virilization characterized by an increase in body hair, deepening of the voice, balding, increase in muscle mass, and enlargement of the clitoris. (Source: John Hopkins  ovariancancer.jhmi.edu/typesca.cfm)

   

Having one or more risks for endomorphism or ovarian cancer does not mean you will definitely get the disease.  It means that you may be more likely to get endomorphism or ovarian cancer. Early detection is crucial!

There is good news about early detection!

The great news is that 93% of women diagnosed with early stage ovarian cancer will survive at least five years, and most of them will be cured.

Because early detection is crucial, DOC IT wants to help fund the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center program “Moon Shoots”. 

The MD Anderson Center has chosen to target their ovarian cancer research program among the initial eight to focus on for Moon Shots. The hospital was ranked the No. 1 hospital for cancer care by US News & World Report’s Best Hospitals survey for nine of the past 11 years, including 2012.

We hope their breakthrough research will, someday soon, develop a blood screening test for ovarian cancer. To learn more you can visit: 

http://www.cancermoonshots.org