Ovarian cancer is a relatively rare disease, but is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among American women. A number of factors contribute to the unusually large number of fatalities associated with the disease. Most notably, the symptoms of ovarian cancer are generally vague and are frequently attributed to other conditions, delaying a correct diagnosis.

The symptoms of this type of cancer may include various gastrointestinal complaints, such as indigestion, gas, bloating, and nausea, as well as abdominal or back pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding, a feeling of heaviness in the pelvic area, ascites, and unexplained weight gain or loss. By the time signs of ovarian cancer become palpable, the disease has usually already metastasized to the bladder, bowel, or uterine tissues.

Recently there has been considerable excitement in the medical community regarding a new experimental method of screening for early-stage ovarian cancer. The technique involves testing the blood for a set of three proteins associated specifically with ovarian cancer, and early trials have produced promising results, especially when the protein analysis was utilized in conjunction with tests for CA 125, a previously known biomarker for tumors of the ovary. One study demonstrated that by screening women with both tests, more than 80 percent of ovarian cancers could be detected, as could more than 90 percent of normal tissues. Nevertheless, even after further studies, such screening techniques are not likely to be utilized by medical professionals for most women.

Several different risk factors are associated with ovarian cancer. Studies show the disease most commonly strikes women over the age of 50, and is more prevalent among Caucasians than African Americans. Ovarian cancer tends to run in families, and is associated with a particularly high risk if an individual has had two or more close family members with the disease. An elevated level of chronic exposure to the female sex hormone estrogen related to, among other things, early onset of menstruation, late onset of menopause, and low number of pregnancies, is another key risk factor that contributes to malignant ovarian growths.

Treatment for most women with ovarian cancer involves surgery. The ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus are usually completely removed, but in some cases more conservative surgery may be performed. The latter is particularly common among women with slow-growing tumors in an early stage who want to maintain the ability to have a child. Internal and external radiation treatments are also sometimes utilized as the primary therapy for ovarian cancer patients, but are more frequently used as adjuvants to surgical techniques.

Ovarian Adenocarcinoma at 10x Magnification - In order to avoid patients with false positives undergoing the invasive procedures needed to confirm a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, screening is considered advisable only for high-risk women.

Ovarian Adenocarcinoma at 40x Magnification - Because symptoms of ovarian cancer are so non-specific, there has been a significant amount of interest in developing a useful, cost-effective screening method.

Ovarian Adenocarcinoma at 20x Magnification - Certain acquired genetic mutations and a personal history of breast cancer have been linked to some cases of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Adenocarcinoma at 10x Magnification - In ovarian adenocarcinoma patients with metastases, the systemic approach of chemotherapy is often necessary in order to destroy as many cancer cells as possible.