WHAT IS OVARIAN CANCER

The ovaries are a part of the female reproductive system. Each woman possesses two ovaries. They are oval-shaped, about 4 centimeters long, and rest against the pelvic wall on either side of the womb in a location known as the ovarian fossa. Ligaments associated with the womb hold the ovaries in place, although they are not directly connected to the rest of the female reproductive system. 
The ovaries carry out two major tasks:
(i) They produce(oocytes) for fertilization
(ii) They produce reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone.

TYPES OF OVARIAN CANCER

Ovaries are majorly made up of 3 kinds of cells where each kind can develop into a different type of tumor:
?    Stromal tumors-
 Structural tissue cells that hold the ovaries together and produce female hormones estrogen and progesterone, give rise to stromal tumors. Stromal tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign stromal tumors include thecomas and fibromas.
The most prevalent types of malignant stromal tumors are Adult granulosa cell tumors, Juvenile granulosa-theca tumors, and Sertoli-Leydig tumors.

?    Germ cell tumors-
It begins in the cells that make eggs. Younger individuals are more likely to get germ cell tumors. They commonly occur in the abdomen, brain, and chest. The changes in the germ cells are the main reason for them to grow out of control. There are five types of germ cell tumors:
1.    Germinomas- If they are present in ovaries, they are known as “dysgerminomas” and if present in testicles, they are known as seminomas.
2.    Teratomas- They are the most frequent germ cell tumors discovered in the ovaries and are popularly known as dermoid cysts.
3.    Choriocarcinoma- This type of tumor takes place in the placenta and can equally affect both mother and the baby. Choriocarcinoma is a type of tumor that grows quickly and is made up of trophoblastic cells( cells that aid in the attachment of an embryo to the uterus and the formation of the placenta).
4.    Yolk Sac tumors- They are also termed endodermal sinus tumors which are formed in testicles and ovaries. Yolk Sac tumors may be found in pure form or mixed with other germ cell tumors.  It is a type of germ cell tumor that is aggressive in nature and spreads swiftly to the lymph nodes and other regions of the body. Yolk Sac tumor is treated via surgery or chemotherapy.
5.    Embryonal Carcinoma- They are classified as nonseminoma germ cell tumors. Embryonal Carcinoma is majorly characterized by primitive epithelial cells with marked pleomorphism and various histologic patterns.  It has cancer cells that frequently combine with another form of germ cell tumor.

?    Epithelial Cancers: They arise from the cells that coat the ovary’s outer surface. Epithelial cell tumors make up the majority of ovarian tumors. 
This tumor can be benign(not cancerous), borderline(low malignant potential), or malignant(cancer)
1.    Benign- Benign epithelial ovarian tumors do not spread beyond the ovary and rarely cause significant complications and do not cause serious sickness. Cystadenomas, mucinous cystadenomas, and Brenner tumors are types of benign epithelial tumors. 
2.    Borderline - They are also termed as atypical proliferating tumors. These tumors are less life-threatening than most ovarian cancers. They appear commonly in younger women. It compromises about 15%-20% of all epithelial ovarian malignancies.
3.    Malignant-  These tumors are cancerous. They can grow very quickly and have asymmetrical borders and can spread to the other parts of the body through a process called metastasis. 

Ovarian cancer symptoms 

The signs and symptoms of Ovarian cancer are- 
?    Urinary symptoms
?    Eating complications
?    Bloating
?    Pain
?    Extreme fatigue
?    Unexplained weight loss
?    Abnormal bleeding

Women often confuse these symptoms with other illnesses. In case of abnormal bleeding, you should always get yourself tested by your primary health care provider or doctor for any post-menopausal bleeding.
RG Stone hospital is keen on providing every patient with the utmost care and first-grade medical services backed by years of experience and modern-day technology.