The ovaries are an important part of the female reproductive system involved in the production of eggs or ova, and various hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. When abnormal cells in the ovaries start multiplying uncontrollably, they form a tumor. This type of health condition is termed as ovarian cancer. This article discusses its stages, types, and symptoms. It will help you gain an understanding of ovarian cancer. It is the fifth most common reason responsible for deaths among women in the country. This form of cancer often stays undetected until it reaches the pelvis and the abdomen.

1. Different types of cancer
The type of cancer can be reflected in the symptoms experienced by the patients. It also plays an important role in deciding the treatment procedure and the chances of survival. More than 30 types of ovarian cancer have been detected, and they are categorized based on the type of cell from where they originated.

These types of ovarian cancer can be divided into three main groups as discussed below.

• Germ cell tumors

These types of tumors appearing in the cells are responsible for producing eggs for reproduction. In most of the patients, these tumors are non-cancerous. Even when they turn out to be cancerous, almost ninety percent of the patients can recover from this type of cancer.

• Epithelial tumors

They are the most common and dangerous forms of ovarian cancer, which appear in the cells that surround the surface of the ovary.

• Primary peritoneal carcinoma

This type of ovarian cancer is similar to the epithelial type; however, it is not affected by the removal of the ovaries.

2. Different stages of ovarian cancer
Once ovarian cancer is detected, it is important to identify its stages to understand the severity of the disease. This information will further help in deciding the course of treatment for the patients. The following discussion on the stages can provide an overview of ovarian cancer.

The American Cancer Society follows a four-stage system to determine the stages of this type of cancer.

• Stage 1

In this stage, cancer cells are limited to one or both ovaries, and haven’t yet spread to any other location.

• Stage 2

Along with one or both ovaries, cancer has started affecting other surrounding organs such as the uterus, bladder, fallopian tubes, or rectum.

• Stage 3

The cancer has spread beyond the ovaries and affected either the lymph nodes that are situated at the back of the abdomen or the lining of the abdomen.

• Stage 4

Cancer spreads beyond the pelvis and abdomen, and may affect the liver, spleen, etc.

3. Symptoms of ovarian cancer

• Pain in the pelvis and lower abdomen

Patients might experience pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic region. As it is a very non-specific symptom, instead of getting paranoid, one must consult their physician to determine whether they need to worry about this symptom or not.

• Nausea

As cancer advances, women might feel nauseous.

• Fatigue

Fatigue is a common symptom for patients suffering from this form of cancer.

• Weight loss

Patients might feel full after consuming less food. This will ultimately lead to weight loss.