Ovarian Cancer

What is Ovarian Cancer?
A disease of the cells found in the ovaries in women. Ovarian cancer is not common, but is the fifth leading cause of cancer related death in women. The exact cause is not known, however risk factors include: older age, obesity, first period at an early age, late menopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause, family history, and genetic causes such as the BRCA (pronounced "bracka") mutation. The use of oral contraceptives or having one or more full-term pregnancies can decrease the risk of ovarian cancer.

The stage of ovarian cancer can vary at diagnosis and throughout treatment. Ovarian cancer is staged using the Tumor, Node, Metastasis (TNM) staging system, as well as Stage Grouping I, II, III, or IV. Staging systems describe the extent of cancer throughout the body and help doctors determine which treatments to offer. The effectiveness of the treatment may depend upon the stage at diagnosis.

NOTE: Treatment Options listed below are not all-inclusive. Other treatments may be available. ChemoExperts provides drug information and does not recommend any one treatment over another. Only your Doctor can choose which therapy is appropriate for you.