Health Stories
Ovarian Cancer

Awareness:

Ovarian cancer starts in the cells of the ovary, which is part of the female reproductive system. The ovaries are a pair of oval-shaped organs on either side of the uterus.

There are 3 main types of ovarian cancer:

  • Epithelial tumours start in epithelial cells. Serous carcinoma is the most common form of epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
  • Stromal tumours start in stromal cells. The most common form of stromal tumour are granulosa cell tumours.
  • Germ cell tumours start in germ cells. It’s the rarest out of the 3 types of ovarian cancer. Examples of germ cell tumours include dysgerminoma and yolk sac tumours.

Of all the major gynecological cancers, ovarian cancer causes the most deaths and has the lowest survival rate.

Symptoms:

Ovarian cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms in its early stages. Signs and symptoms often appear as the tumour grows and causes changes in the body. Other health conditions can cause the same symptoms as ovarian cancer.

The signs or symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

  • bleeding from the vagina that isn’t normal (such as heavy or irregular bleeding, bleeding between periods), especially after menopause
  • frequent discharge from the vagina that is clear, white or coloured with blood
  • a lump that can be felt in the pelvis or abdomen
  • bladder problems such as the need to urinate often and the urgent need to urinate
  • constipation
  • changes to digestion such as feeling full after a small meal, loss of appetite, heartburn, gas, indigestion or nausea
  • frequent feeling of pressure in the pelvis or abdomen
  • fatigue
  • pain in the legs, lower back, pelvis or abdomen
  • pain when having sex
  • swelling of the abdomen
  • weight loss
  • buildup of fluid in the abdomen (ascites), around the lungs (pleural effusion) or in the legs (lymphedema)
  • difficulty breathing

 

Risks: Examples of factors that may put you at a higher risk for ovarian cancer include: having a family history of ovarian cancer, for example, a first-degree or “blood” relative such as a mother, sister or daughter who has been diagnosed with ovarian or breast cancer, especially if they were diagnosed at an early age, having several family members (first and/or second-degree) who have been diagnosed with ovarian or breast cancer, having known or suspected BRCA gene mutations.

Prevention:

There are several things you can do to lower your risk of ovarian cancer:

  • Be smoke free
  • Maintain a healthy body weight
  • Avoid asbestos exposure
  • Check if you are high risk

Screening: There is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer, however, there are methods used to diagnose this cancer.

  • Diagnosing ovarian cancer usually begins with a visit to your family doctor. Your doctor will ask you about any symptoms you have and do a physical exam. Based on this information, your doctor may refer you to a specialist or order tests to check for ovarian cancer or other health problems. The following tests are usually used to rule out or diagnose ovarian cancer. Many of the same tests used to diagnose cancer are used to find out the stage (how far the cancer has progressed). Your doctor may also order other tests to check your general health and to help plan your treatment. Your health history is a record of your symptoms, risk factors and all the medical events and problems you have had in the past. Your doctor will ask questions about your history of:
    • symptoms that suggest ovarian cancer
    • breast cancer
    • Lynch syndrome (also called hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, or HNPCC)
    • pregnancies
    • hormone replacement therapy
    • smoking
    • exposure to asbestos

A physical exam allows your doctor to look for signs of ovarian cancer. During a physical exam, your doctor may:

  • do a pelvic and rectal exam to check the uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and rectum for any unusual changes
  • feel the abdomen for lumps, bloating or enlargement of organs such as the liver or spleen.

Other methods to diagnose can include:

  • Pelvic or transvaginal ultrasounds
  • A computed tomography (CT) scan
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Blood tests

If you have questions or concerns about your health, speak to your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, you can register for Health Care Connect at 1-800-445-1822.

 

References:

What is ovarian cancer?. Canadian Cancer Society. https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/ovarian/what-is-ovarian-cancer

Symptoms of ovarian cancer. Canadian Cancer Society. https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/ovarian/signs-and-symptoms

Ovarian Cancer. Cancer Care Ontario. https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/ovarian-cancer#:~:text=Examples%20of%20factors%20that%20may,diagnosed%20at%20an%20early%20age

Diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Canadian Cancer Society. https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/ovarian/diagnosis