What is ovarian cancer?

Verified by Dr. Vaishali Sakpal Rane (MBBS, DGO Obstetrics and Gynaecology, DNB Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

When the body's cells begin to grow out of control, cancer develops. Almost each cell in the body has the potential to develop into cancer and spread. It used to be thought that ovarian cancer only started in the ovaries, but recent evidence suggests that many ovarian cancers can start in cells at the other (distal) end of the fallopian tubes.

Ovaries are oval shaped glands found solely in females. The ovaries manufacture eggs (ova) for reproduction. The eggs travel from the ovaries through the fallopian tubes into the female internal reproductive organ, the uterus wherever the fertilised egg settles in and develops into a foetus.  The ovaries are the main supply of the feminine sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.

The ovaries are specially made of three sorts of cells. Each form of cell can grow to be a one of a kind form of tumour:

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• Epithelial tumours begin from the cells that cowl the outer floor of the ovary. Most ovarian tumours are somatic cell tumours.
• Reproductive cell tumours begin from the cells that manufacture the eggs (ova).
• Stromal tumours begin from structural tissue cells that maintain the ovary collectively and convey the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Some of those tumours are benign (non-cancerous) and in no way spread past the ovary. Malignant (cancerous) or borderline (low malignant potential) ovarian tumours can spread (metastasise) to different parts and may prove to be fatal.

Ovarian cancer begins once cells in or close to the ovaries develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the information that directs the cell to carry out different processes.The signals tell the cells to grow and multiply quickly, making a mass (tumour) of contagious malignant cells. When healthy cells are destroyed, the cancer cells survive. They will invade close tissues and break far away from an initial neoplasm to unfold (metastasize) to different portions of the body.

When ovarian cancer initially develops, it may not cause any noticeable symptoms. Once ovarian cancer symptoms happen, they are typically attributed to other, additional common conditions. Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer could include abdominal bloating or swelling, quickly feeling full after ingestion, discomfort within the girdle space, back pain with fatigue, changes in intestine habits, akin to constipation, and frequent urge to urinate.

There's no positive way to forestall ovarian cancer. Although, there are ways to scale back your risk:

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• Contemplate taking contraception pills. Taking birth control pills lowers the chance of ovarian cancer. However, these medications accompany risks, therefore discuss whether or not the advantages outweigh those risks based on your scenario together with your doctor.
• If you have got a genealogical tree having breast and ovarian cancer, confer with your doctor. If you are found to possess a genetic modification that will increase your risk of ovarian cancer, you may consider surgery to remove your ovaries to prevent cancer.