What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in, near, or on the outer layer of the ovary depending on the type and stage of the disease. The ovary is one of the two small almond-shaped organs located on both sides of the uterus, which stores eggs or germ cells and produces female hormone estrogens and progesterone.

Cancer occurs when abnormal cells of the body (in this case ovary) begin to proliferate uncontrollably. This abnormal cell proliferation is common to all kinds of cancers.

In many cases cells in the body will divide to form new cells, replace worn or dying cells, or repair damage. As cancer cells continue to proliferate and divide, they are different from normal cells. They will not die, but will continue to produce new abnormal cells that last longer than normal cells and will form tumors. Tumors can put pressure on other organs near the ovary

Sometimes cancer cells move to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis and occurs when cancer cells enter the body's bloodstream and lymphatic system. Cancer cells that have spread to the ovaries from other organs (such as breast and colon) are not considered ovarian cancers. The type of cancer is determined by the original part of the malignant tumor

Among women between 35 and 74 years old, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death. A 75-year-old woman is estimated to develop ovarian cancer in her lifetime. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 22,280 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed this year and more than 14,240 women will die of ovarian cancer this year.

When one person is diagnosed and treated at the earliest stage, 5-year survival rate exceeds 90%. About 20% of all cases were found early due to nonspecific symptoms of ovarian cancer and lack of early detection test. This means that they are in stage I or II. If you are in stage III or higher, the survival rate will be as high as 28%. Due to the nature of this disease, women diagnosed with ovarian cancer each have different characteristics and it is rare to show a general prognosis.

Researchers are not yet aware of the cause of ovarian cancer. While various risk factors may increase the likelihood of women developing this type of cancer, having these risk factors does not mean that you will develop cancer. Understand each risk factor and its role in determining the risk of ovarian cancer. Women who have two or more relatives, such as parents, brothers and sisters, or children with ovarian cancer, are the most risky. However, the first degree relatives of ovarian cancer also have a high risk. "Breast cancer gene" BRCA1 and BRCA2 are also associated with ovarian cancer risk

Ovarian cancer, also called "silent killer", is one of the most dangerous cancers among women. Nearly 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and more than 14,000 women die from ovarian cancer. Among women between 35 and 74 years old, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death and one in 74 women is estimated to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in their lifetime There. According to the American Cancer Society, only 20 to 30% of women diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer are still alive after 5 years.

According to statistics, ovarian cancer is diagnosed in 2.5 million patients a year, nearly 60% of patients die. The average age of ovarian cancer is 55 to 64 years old. Only 8% of women suffering from this cancer belong to the age group of 20 to 34 years old. In mathematics, there are only 9,500 women in the world. No doubt, this is a rare case.

Ovarian cancer is a relatively rare cancer that accounts for about 1.3% of cancer cases newly diagnosed in the United States in 2018. This means that the symptoms associated with ovarian cancer are more likely to be caused by other serious diseases, much less than ovarian cancer.