Brief Description
Ovarian tumours are cell masses that are growing uncontrollably in the ovaries. They can start in the ovaries or fallopian tubes. Ovaries are composed of three types of cells and each type can develop into a different type of tumour. Epithelial ovarian tumours are the most common kind and they start from the cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary. They can be benign, borderline or malignant. High-grade serous carcinoma is the most malignant form of ovarian cancer. Other types include clear cell ovarian carcinoma, mucinous ovarian carcinoma and endometrioid ovarian carcinoma.
Ovarian germ cell tumours start from cells that produce eggs. The most common germ cell tumours are teratomas, dysgerminomas, endodermal sinus tumours, and choriocarcinomas. Ovarian germ cell tumours can also be a mix of more than a single subtype. Stromal tumours start from structural tissue cells that hold the ovary together. They may produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone and less often male hormones like testosterone. Malignant ovarian stromal tumors include granulosa cell tumors, granulosa-theca tumors, and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors.
Main Causes
The main cause of ovarian cancer is not well understood. Getting older, obesity, and hormone therapy after menopause carry increased risks for ovarian cancer. There also appears to be a genetic association with ovarian cancers being more frequent in families with ovarian, breast or colorectal cancer.
Brief Description
Each ovarian cancer is given a grade, based on the similarity of the tumour cells with normal tissue. Grade 1 ovarian carcinomas look more like normal tissue and tend to have a better prognosis. Grade 2 ovarian carcinomas (moderately differentiated) and Grade 2 ovarian carcinomas (poorly differentiated) look less like normal tissue and are more likely to spread.
Staging ovarian cancers tends to be complex so it is important to talk to your doctor to understand the staging better. They range from Stage I, IA, IB, IC, IIA, IIB, IIIA1, IIIA2, IIIB, IIIC, IVA, and IVB. Briefly, the higher the stage the tumour is larger or has spread to lymph nodes and other organs. More details on staging ovarian cancers can be found here: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/staging.html.
Symptoms
Ovarian cancers rarely have symptoms until it is at an advanced stage. An enlarged ovary after menopause could be a sign of ovarian cancer. The first symptom may be vague discomfort in the lower abdomen, similar to indigestion. Other symptoms may include bloating, loss of appetite, gas and backache. In later stages, there may be abdominal swelling and pain in the pelvic area, anemia, and unintended weight loss. Stromal cell ovarian cancers may produce estrogens which can cause excessive growth of the uterine lining and breasts to enlarge. Some stromal cell ovarian cancers might produce testosterone which leads to excessive body hair.
Typical Treatment Plan
Ovarian cancer treatment plans can be local or systemic. Local treatment plans include surgery or radiation therapy. Systemic treatment plans include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy. Typically treatment plans are based on the stage, grade and type of cells that gave rise to ovarian cancer. If cancer has spread to both ovaries and preserving fertility is not a concern, removing both ovaries, both fallopian tubes, and the uterus is generally recommended.
Nutritional Supplements
There are no nutritional supplements recommended specifically for ovarian cancer. The goal of nutrition during therapy is to maintain body weight and meet the body’s nutrient and caloric needs. There is limited data indicating that diet may be associated with survival among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. There are pieces of evidence of possible benefits from greater fruit and vegetable intake, vitamin E. and green tea.
