Frequently Asked Questions about Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian 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 risk factors and signs of ovarian cancer, and see your doctor if you suspect a problem.

Anyone with ovaries is at risk of ovarian cancer. However, some factors, such as a 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 abnormalities.

If a suspicious ovarian 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 the tissues near your stomach

You can enter a clinical trial upon diagnosis or at any time in the course of the disease. In fact, we encourage it. If you are interested in enrolling in a clinical trial, please talk with your doctor.

30 percent to 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 Philadelphia region.

Patients who don’t qualify or are not interested in clinical trials can get standard therapy both at Penn Medicine’s downtown Philadelphia hospitals and within the Penn Medicine system throughout the Delaware Valley.

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 5-year relative 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 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is more than 90 percent.

All cancers are divided into four stages. The characteristics of each stage depend on the cancer. For ovarian cancer:

• Stage I: Cancer is found in one or both ovaries
• Stage II: Cancer is found in one or both ovaries and has spread to other areas of the pelvis.
• Stage III: Cancer is found in one or both ovaries and has spread beyond the pelvis to other parts of the abdomen and/or to nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage IV: Cancer has spread beyond the abdomen to other parts of the body.