Guest Author - Rhonda Cravey

Ovarian Cancer Basics

Ovarian cancer can almost be considered a silent cancer because it causes few symptoms. And, the symptoms that it does cause, can be attributed to many other illnesses. As a result, it is very difficult to detect ovarian cancer in the early stages when it can be more successfully treated and cured.

While there are nearly 40 types of ovarian cancer, no one knows what causes it. There are some risk factors that have been connected to ovarian cancer but no real causes.

To understand ovarian cancer, you must first learn more about the ovaries. What exactly is an ovary? Well, the two main functions of the ovary are to produce and release eggs (ovulate) and to produce female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone). Each of these functions are performed by certain types of cells which can turn into cancer cells. How well a person responds to cancer treatment will depend on which cells are involved and the size of the primary tumor.

The ovary has three types of cells: epithelial, stromal, and germ. Ovarian cancer can be broken down into three main types which are defined by the originating cells.

1. Epithelial cancer – As the name defines, epithelial cancer develops from the surface of the epithelium which is on the outside of the ovary. This is the most common type of ovarian cancer.
   
2. Germ cell tumors – This type of cancer develops from the germ cells which are the egg producing cells within the ovary. This type of cancer is relatively rare.
   
3. Sex cord-stromal tumors – These tumors are considered to be the hormonally active tumors. Stromal tumors are relatively rare compared to ovarian epithelial cancer.

Ovarian Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

There is no known cause for ovarian cancer, however, there are some causes and risk factors that have been associated with ovarian cancer. They include:

• Genetics
  
• Aging and menopause
  
• Diet and environment
  
• Never having children or having children later in life
  
• Family history of ovarian cancer
  
• History of another specific type of cancer such as breast, colon or endometrial
  
• Women of Jewish decent

There could possibly be a relation to the use of fertility drugs, smoking, high dietary galactose intake, the use of antidepressants, and the use of powders containing talc in the genital area.

While these causes and risk factors might be related to ovarian cancer it is important to note that some women who develop ovarian cancer have no known risk factors.