Female reproductive & breastCancerICD-10 C56
Ovarian cancer
Cancer of the ovaries or fallopian tubes, often discovered late because symptoms such as bloating are vague.
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Causes
- Most high-grade serous cancers start in the fallopian tube; BRCA mutations in about 15%
Risk factors
- Age over 50
- BRCA1/2 and Lynch syndrome
- Family history
- Endometriosis
- Never having been pregnant
Symptoms
- Persistent bloating
- Feeling full quickly
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Needing to urinate often
- Change in bowel habit
Diagnosis — tests and examinations
- CA-125 blood test
- Pelvic ultrasound
- CT staging
- Biopsy or surgery
Treatment
Medicines and medical treatment
- Platinum-based chemotherapy (carboplatin–paclitaxel)
- PARP inhibitors (olaparib, niraparib) maintenance
- Bevacizumab
Operations and procedures
- Debulking (cytoreductive) surgery
- Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy for mutation carriers
Self-care, home remedies and lifestyle
- Genetic testing for relatives
Possible complications
- Ascites
- Bowel obstruction
- Recurrence
Prevention
- Combined pill use reduces risk
- Risk-reducing surgery in high-risk women
Outlook
Over 90% five-year survival when confined to the ovary; lower when advanced.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for bloating most days for more than 3 weeks.
Sources and further reading
These sources cover this condition. They have not been checked against every statement on this page.
Related conditions
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