Ovarian cancer
cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as tubes or the inner lining of the . The ovary is made up of three different cell types including cells, germ cells, and stromal cells. When these cells become abnormal, they can divide and form . These cells can also invade or (spread) to other parts of the body. When this process begins, there may be no or only vague symptoms. Symptoms become more noticeable as the cancer progresses. These symptoms may include , bleeding, pain, swelling, , and loss of appetite, among others. Common areas to which the cancer may spread include the lining of the abdomen, nodes, lungs, and liver.
Underlined words are explained — tap any of them.
Symptoms — what it feels like
- ·Early: vague
- ·Later: , pain, , swelling, loss of appetite
How it's found
- ·
Treatment
- ·, , targeted therapy
Outlook
- ·Five-year survival rate c. 52% (US)
The sections below are general education drawn from public guidelines (NHS, Mayo, CPIC, WHO, ICMR). They are not individually reviewed by a clinician and are not medical advice — always talk to a doctor about your own health.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you often (most days for a few weeks) have a bloated or swollen tummy, feel full quickly when eating, have belly or pelvic pain, or need to pass urine more urgently or often. These are common, mostly harmless symptoms, but persistent ones should be checked.
Get prompt care for severe belly pain, a hard swollen tummy with vomiting, or unusual vaginal bleeding. If ovarian or breast cancer runs strongly in your family, ask about genetic counselling.
General guidance, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, see a doctor.
Questions to ask your doctor
- ?Which tests, like an ultrasound or blood test, help find the cause?
- ?Does my family history suggest I should have genetic counselling?
- ?How long should I watch symptoms before returning?
- ?Which symptoms should never be ignored?
- ?Should I see a specialist?
- ?What follow-up do you recommend?
What to note before your visit
- ·how often bloating or pelvic symptoms happen and for how long
- ·family history of ovarian or breast cancer
- ·any changes in appetite, weight, or bleeding
- ·current medicines you take
Test yourself
0/4 answered4 quick questions on Ovarian cancer. Tap an answer to check it.
Across the cancer gene set (BRCA1, BRCA2, MLH1, MSH2, TP53), 108 -'' are actually seen in South Asians () - many European-absent and still clinically 'uncertain'. For cancer, that's a pool of computationally-damaging, India-relevant, clinically-unresolved variants no one has systematically characterised.
A study that would help: Take the South-Asian-observed, European-absent, ClinVar-uncertain in BRCA1, BRCA2, MLH1, MSH2, TP53 and them for cancer: functional or family segregation to move them from 'uncertain' to a real call. Each is a usable diagnostic result.