Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow out of control and form a tumour. Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumour that forms in the tissues of an ovary. The ovaries are a pair of female reproductive glands making eggs and hormones.
Two related types of epithelial cancer can spread to the ovaries:
Ovarian cancer happens when there are changes (mutations) in the genetic material (DNA). Often, the exact cause of these genetic changes is unknown.
Most ovarian cancers are caused by genetic changes that happen during your lifetime. But sometimes, these genetic changes are inherited, meaning you are born with them. The hereditary Ovarian cancer caused by inherited genetic changes is called ovarian cancer.
Certain genetic changes can raise your risk of ovarian cancer, including changes called BRCA1 and BRCA2. These two changes also raise your risk of breast and other cancers.
Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries, the female reproductive organs responsible for producing eggs and female hormones.
Risk factors include family history, inherited gene mutations (BRCA1 and BRCA2), age, obesity, certain fertility treatments, and the use of hormone replacement therapy.
Common symptoms include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating, feeling full quickly, changes in bowel or urinary habits, and unexplained weight loss.
