Ovarian cancer will affect up to 1 in every 70 women during her lifetime. There are about 26,000 women diagnosed each year in the United States. There are numerous forms of ovarian cancer which are generally divided into three classes: epithelial, germ cell, or stromal cancers. Epithelial ovarian cancer is both the most common and most threatening of these, accounting for roughly 85% of all cases of ovarian cancers diagnosed.

Ovarian cancer typically occurs in older women. The average age at diagnosis is 62, but the range extends over virtually every decade of life; and some tumor types (such as germ cell and borderline cancers) occur most commonly in women in their 20s. Ovarian cancer can be "familial" (affecting multiple family members over multiple generations) but most cases are considered "sporadic" meaning that the affected individuals have no obvious risk factors and no significant family history. For more information, see the Familial Cancer Clinic section.

 On this page:

• Who is at Risk?
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Who is at Risk?

Higher risk groups include:

• White women 
• Women living in urban environments 
• Women who are infertile or who have difficulty conceiving
• Women with a family history of ovarian, breast, or colon cancer (mother's or father's side) 
• Women with a personal history of breast or colon cancer 
• Women who have a diet high in fat 
• Women of higher socioeconomic status 

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Symptoms

• Enlarged abdomen (bloating) 
• Changes in bowel habits (indigestion) 
• Pelvic pressure 
• Bladder problems 
• Fatigue 
• Weight loss 

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Treatment

Most patients with ovarian cancer will require chemotherapy. Surgery is typically performed before the administration of chemotherapy to maximize the chance of a complete response. Aggressive surgery, with removal of all visible tumors, has been shown repetitively to improve both the response to chemotherapy and overall survival, highlighting the importance of specialized, experienced care. Chemotherapy usually follows surgery within 1-4 weeks, and can be delivered in multiple ways, including intravenously (into a vein), intraperitoneally (in to the abdomen directly), and in some cases orally. Women with ovarian cancers are generally encouraged to participate in one of our many clinical trials. (Also see: Patients with advanced hematologic malignancies and women's cancers sought for new clinical research studies)

The Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, Inc. (MOCA) is a non-profit support group, composed primarily of ovarian cancer survivors, who have worked with Minnesota physicians as patient advocates and providers of a "survivor's-eye view" for newly diagnosed patients. MOCA promotes education, advocacy, and support for all that are affected by ovarian cancer. To learn more about the organization, call the MOCA office at 952-890-8775 or visit www.mnovarian.org.

See the Gynecologic Cancer home page for more information about treatment through the University of Minnesota Women's Cancer Center, clinical trials, gynecologic cancer research, and gynecologic cancer care team members.

More information about ovarian cancer is also available on the National Cancer Institute Web site.

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