Common questions about ovarian cancer
If you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or are concerned about its symptoms, you probably have many questions about how and when to seek care. Our frequently asked questions (FAQs) can answer many of the most common questions we receive from patients. For additional help and support, contact Penn Medicine’s care center for gynecological oncology.
Ovarian cancerOvarian cancer has no noticeable symptoms in its early stages. In later stages, you may notice abdominal discomfort and swelling, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms. Be familiar with the signs and risk factors of ovarian cancer and see your doctor if you suspect a problem.
Pap tests and pelvic exams are effective in detecting cervical cancer and changes in cervical cells, but they do not help detect ovarian cancer. The only way to confirm if a patient has ovarian cancer is through a biopsy, where tissues from a tumor are removed and tested in a lab. On the very rare instance that ovarian cancers are found through Pap tests, they are usually at an advanced stage.
Anyone with ovaries is at risk of ovarian cancer. However, some factors, such as family history, genetic predisposition, increasing age, and use of hormone replacement therapy, can put you at a higher risk. If you are concerned about your risk, talk to your doctor about ovarian cancer prevention and screening.
Ovary pain is not a specific symptom of ovarian cancer, but you should talk to your doctor about any abdominal or pelvic pain you experience.
Fibroids are not related to ovarian cancer, and most ovarian cysts are not cancerous (and will not develop into cancer). However, some complex ovarian cysts may be cancerous and should be monitored by your doctor.
You will not be able to detect an ovarian mass by yourself. During a screening, your doctor may perform an internal pelvic examination, in which he or she will insert a gloved hand into your vagina. The other gloved hand will gently press on your abdomen to feel for any abnormalities.
If a suspicious mass is found, your surgeon will check for the spread of cancer in the tissues and organs surrounding the area. Your surgeon may also perform a biopsy of your lymph nodes, abdominal tissues, and tissues near your stomach.
You can enter a clinical trial upon diagnosis or at any time during the disease. In fact, we encourage it. If you are interested in enrolling in a clinical trial, please talk with your doctor.
Between 30 and 40 percent of our ovarian cancer patients are enrolled in a clinical trial.
Most people who are enrolled in clinical trials will be treated in Philadelphia at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, but some people may be treated in our other facilities throughout the greater Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Princeton regions.
Patients who don’t qualify or are not interested in clinical trials can get conventional therapy at Penn Medicine locations throughout the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey regions.
If you are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, our fertility preservation program will evaluate your options for having a family in the future. This might include egg preservation, in-vitro fertilization, and other advanced reproductive techniques.
For the most common ovarian cancer, epithelial ovarian cancer, the average five-year survival rate is 47 percent. However, that survival rate does not factor in some recently approved therapies or therapies that are in clinical trials. Also, the survival rate is dependent on the stage of your cancer. When detected early, the average five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is more than 90 percent.