Ovarian cancer

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Female reproductive anatomy

Ascites with ovarian cancer, CT scan

Peritoneal and ovarian cancer, CT scan

Ovarian cancer dangers

Ovarian growth worries

Uterus

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer metastasis

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Ovarian cancer

Alternative Names:

Cancer - ovaries

Treatment:

Surgery is the preferred treatment and is frequently necessary for diagnosis. Studies have shown that surgery performed by a specialist in gynecologic oncology results in a higher rate of cure. Chemotherapy is used as after surgery to treat any residual disease. Chemotherapy can also be used to treat women who have a recurrence. Radiation therapy is rarely used in ovarian cancer in the United States.

Support Groups:

For additional information and resources, cancer support group.

Expectations (prognosis):

Ovarian cancer is rarely diagnosed in its early stages. It is usually quite advanced by the time diagnosis is made. The outcome is often poor. The 5-year survival rate for all stages is only 35% to 38%. If, however, diagnosis is made early in the disease, 5-year survival rates can reach 90% to 98%.

Complications:

Metastasis spread of the cancer to other organs
Progressive function loss of various organs
Ascites (fluid in the abdomen)
Blockage of the intestines

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you are a woman over 40 years old who has not recently had a Pap smear and pelvic examination (routine Pap smears and pelvic examinations are recommended for all women over 20 years old).

Call for an appointment with your provider if symptoms appear which may be associated with this disease.

Review Date: 8/3/2004
Reviewed By: Marcia S. Brose, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Hematology/Oncology, The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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