Ovarian Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Guide

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Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer in which cells in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or nearby tissues multiply and grow abnormally. It is often called a silent disease because its early symptoms tend to go unnoticed.

However, persistent bloating, pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, feeling full quickly, unexplained weight loss, and frequent urination should never be ignored. It’s important to reach out to a doctor if something stands out from how you normally feel. Early diagnosis helps determine a more effective treatment plan which may involve surgery, chemotherapy and other therapies.

Let’s explore in detail.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that forms in the ovaries. These cells multiply quickly and can invade and destroy healthy body tissue.

Modern research now confirms that many common ovarian cancers actually start in the fallopian tubes before spreading to the ovaries.

What are the 3 types of ovarian cancer

Here are the three types:

Type	Frequency	Characteristics
Epithelial Ovarian Cancer	About 90%	Most common type. It includes several subtypes, including serous carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma.
Germ Cell Tumors	Rare	Tend to occur at a younger age.
Stromal Tumors	Rare	Often diagnosed earlier and may produce hormones.

Quick Overview: Ovarian Cancer

Factor	Details
Common Age	Above 50 years (especially after menopause)
Main Types	Epithelial, Germ Cell, Stromal
Early Symptoms	Often absent or vague
Most Common Treatments	Surgery + Chemotherapy
Can It Spread?	Yes, especially if diagnosed late
Survival	Much higher when detected in Stage I

Why Is Ovarian Cancer Often Diagnosed Late?

Because:

there is a lack of reliable early screening tests
it produces vague symptoms that are similar to common digestive or reproductive issues
it grows deep within the abdomen with no early warning signs

What Is Often Mistaken for Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is often mistaken for the following:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Benign ovarian cysts
Endometriosis

Because early signs include bloating and pelvic discomfort, which closely resemble digestive and menstrual issues.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

There may not be any symptoms of ovarian cancer at first. Once it spreads throughout your abdomen, you may develop the following symptoms.

Persistent abdominal bloating
Pelvic pain or lower abdominal pain
Feeling full soon after eating or losing appetite
Loss of appetite
Peeing more often
Constipation or diarrhea
Back pain
Fatigue
Pain during intercourse
Unexplained weight loss
Abnormal vaginal bleeding (less common)

Note: It is common to experience occasional bloating after a heavy meal. However, persistent bloating that does not improve needs medical attention.

What Causes Ovarian Cancer?

The exact cause of ovarian cancer is still unknown, but experts understand how it develops.

Every cell contains DNA, which is responsible for controlling growth and repair. Sometimes genetic mutations (a change to a gene's DNA sequence) occur that tell cells to keep multiplying instead of dying naturally. Over time, these abnormal cells lead to the formation of ovarian tumor, which may become cancerous.

Common genetic mutations are:

When your DNA mutates, your cells get new instructions. Following are some of the common genetic mutations:

BRCA1
BRCA2
TP53
BRIP1
RAD51C
RAD51D
Lynch Syndrome-related genes

Certain factors may make it more likely for genetic mutations to happen.

Risk Factor	Why It Matters
Age above 50	Risk increases with age
Family history	Breast or ovarian cancer in close relatives
BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation	Significantly increases lifetime risk
Endometriosis	Linked with certain ovarian cancers
Obesity	Slightly increases risk
Never being pregnant	Associated with higher risk
Early menstruation	Longer lifetime ovulation
Late menopause	More ovulation cycles

How Do Doctors Detect Ovarian Cancer?

There’s no screening test for ovarian cancer without symptoms.

If your doctor suspects ovarian cancer, they’ll order the following tests to diagnose it:

Pelvic examination
Transvaginal ultrasound
Pelvic ultrasound
CT scan
MRI (in selected cases)
PET scan (when indicated)
Blood tests including CA-125
Genetic testing
Surgical biopsy

What is the CA-125 (Cancer Antigen 125) Blood Test?

The CA-125 blood test measures the amount of CA-125 protein in the blood.

CA-125 is a protein that may be elevated in ovarian cancer.

However, it's important to keep in mind the following:

A high CA-125 does not always mean cancer
A normal CA-125 does not rule out cancer
It is mainly used alongside imaging and clinical evaluation

Stages of Ovarian Cancer

There are 4 stages of ovarian cancer, and each stage has substages.

The stage tells the doctors how far cancer has spread.

Stage I: Limited to one or both ovaries
Stage II: Spread within the pelvis
Stage III: Spread to abdominal lining or lymph nodes
Stage IV: Spread to distant organs like lungs or liver

How is Ovarian Cancer Treated?

Treatment depends on:

Cancer stage
Cancer type
Patient's age
Fertility wishes
Overall health
Genetic test results

Treatment of ovarian cancer generally combines surgery and chemotherapy.

1. Surgery

Removal of the reproductive organs and any organ that has cancer on it is usually the first form of treatment.

Depending on the stage, surgery may involve:

Removal of one ovary
Removal of both ovaries
Removal of fallopian tubes
Hysterectomy (uterus removal)
Removal of lymph nodes
Removal of visible cancer deposits

2. Chemotherapy

This therapy targets and kills rapidly dividing cancer cells.

It may be given:

Before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy)
After surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy)
For recurrent disease

The most common combination includes:

Carboplatin
Paclitaxel

3. Targeted Therapy

This therapy identifies cancer cells and changes the way they grow and divide. These treatments are particularly useful in individuals with BRCA mutations or HRD-positive tumors.

For example: