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Ovarian cancer at a glance

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in the UK. Each year, there are over 6,600 new cases.

Ovarian cancer develops in cells of the ovary. The ovaries are two almond shaped organs located on either side of the uterus (womb).

They produce eggs and the female hormones that both regulate the menstrual cycle and are responsible for female body characteristics.

About 9 in 10 ovarian cancers form in the cells that line the ovaries.

Click on the links below to find out more about ovarian cancer.

• Risks and causes
• Signs and symptoms
• Screening
• Detection
• Treatment

Find out about what Cancer Research UK is doing about ovarian cancer in the 'Our current research' section of this website.

If you are a patient looking for information on ovarian cancer, please visit our patient information website, Cancerhelp UK.

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Risks and causes

The following things affect a person's chances of developing ovarian cancer.

The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age. Most ovarian cancers occur in women after they have gone through the menopause. Half of all ovarian cancers occur in women over the age of 65.

The risk of getting ovarian cancer is increased if there is a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has or has had the disease, especially if they developed it at a young age. The risk is further increased if there are two or more first-degree relatives who have had the disease.

Women who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 cancer gene have an increased risk of ovarian and breast cancer. Having an inherited condition called hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) can also increase ovarian cancer risk.

In some ethnic groups such as Ashkenazi Jews, a greater proportion of ovarian cancers is inherited.

Women who have not had children have a very slightly increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Women who start having periods at an early age, or had a late menopause, have a slightly increased ovarian cancer risk

You can find out more about what 'cancer risk' means in the 'Understanding 'risk'' section of this website.

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Signs and symptons

Ovarian cancer does not generally cause symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do occur, they are usually a result of the cancer growing and causing pressure or pain. Unfortunately, these can be very vague. They include:

• pain in the lower abdomen or side
• bloated, full feeling in the abdomen
• passing urine more often than usual
• constipation
• irregular periods
• swollen abdomen

These symptoms may well be due to other causes. However, people who notice any symptoms should see their doctor. Ovarian cancer may be easier to treat if detected early.

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Screening

There are currently no screening tests recommended for the general population.

However, there are clinical trials underway to determine if certain screening methods could detect ovarian cancer early and reduce deaths.

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Detection

Initially a doctor will:

• ask questions about any previous medical problems
• ask questions about current symptoms
• carry out a pelvic examination (internal).

A specialist may carry out further tests, such as:

• Ultrasound scan
• Blood tests
• CT or MRI scan
• Chest X-ray
• Intravenous urogram (IVP, also called urogram or IVU)
• Laparoscopy.

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Treatment

The three main treatments for ovarian cancer are:

Surgery is the initial treatment for almost all women with ovarian cancer.

Chemotherapy is very useful in treating ovarian cancer. In most cases, chemotherapy is given after surgery. Doctors may recommend a combination of chemotherapy drugs.

Doctors rarely use radiotherapy in the treatment of early ovarian cancer. Sometimes, they use radiotherapy to help with symptoms that arise as a result of advanced cancers.

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