Although ovarian cancer is the ninth most common form of cancer among females, it is the fifth most common cause of cancer-related deaths. This form of cancer is most common among females older than age 55. In terms of ethnicity, ovarian cancer is more common among Caucasian females than African-American or Latina females.
The causes of ovarian cancer are not known, but genetics and environmental risk factors have shown an increased chance of development.
Typical symptoms include:
Some less common symptoms are:
Typical symptoms include:
Some less common symptoms are:
Females may have these symptoms for reasons not related to ovarian cancer. If the symptoms are new, unusual or occur daily for more than two weeks, call to schedule an appointment with our gynecologic oncology team.
Most females develop ovarian cancer without being at high risk for the disease. However, the following factors may increase a female’s risk:
The primary form of treatment for ovarian cancer is surgery. In most cases, a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) is performed. Depending on the individual case and the stage of cancer, chemotherapy may be recommended. Radiation therapy is rarely used for the initial treatment of ovarian cancer. In some cases, it is used to treat pain or side effects caused by the disease.
Find out more about our gynecologic cancer treatment program and gynecologic cancer screening services in the Akron area.