The female ovaries are the key part of female reproductive system. These are situated in the pelvic region. The size of ovary is almost equal to a size of rich almond.

Ovaries, under the influence of endocrine system release the sex hormone i.e. estrogen and progesterone. The function of the ovaries is to release egg that travel through the fallopian tube to the uterus.

During the menopause, the ovaries stop egg production and release very minute level of hormones.

Ovarian cancer an overview

Almost all types of cancer grow at the cellular level. It’s a natural process that body form new cells through cell multiplication when the old cells die. These new cell replace the old dead cells and keep the body in proper working condition. If some how, the cells start to replicate without the need of the body and unable to replace the old cells, a mass of tissues called “tumor” would be produced.

Ovarian cancer usually occurs after the age of 50, but it may also develop in younger females. The exact cause is still unknown that make it hard to diagnose in the early stage.

The early diagnose make it treatable and provide better chances of recovery. But unfortunately ovarian cancer remains undetectable in the initial stages. Most of the time, patients of ovarian cancer present no symptoms or just minor symptoms that usually have the similarities with the other common diseases. Symptoms manifest, when it become too late to treat.

Malignant cysts

Sometime cyst other than tumor may de found on the upper surface or inside the ovary. A cyst may contain fluid or solid mass. Most ovarian cysts are not cancer. These cysts vanish with the passage of time. If any cyst that does not go on its known may be found by the doctor, it could be tested for the ovarian cancer.

Spread of ovarian cancer

The ovarian cancer cells have the potency to disperse or invade visceral organ next to the ovaries. The most common or nearby area is fallopian tube which has the high risk of invasion. Ovarian cancer cells can break off from their origin can spread in the abdomen. The scientists pronounce these seeds. Cancer cell spread through the lymph node and affect the lymph nodes of pelvic region, chest and abdomen. Sometime cancer cells spread through the bloodstream and damage the lungs and liver.

Whenever cancer cells spread from one place to another they grow in same number and similar structure as of original tumor. You can comprehend this phenomenon in this way, that if the ovarian cancer occupies the liver, the cancer which will grow in the liver would be the ovarian cancer cells. This condition is more metastatic ovarian cancer than liver cancer. That is why doctor treat such kind of cancer as an ovarian cancer.

Risk factors

Though it is hard to determine that which women would become the victim of ovarian cancer, however there are some risk factors and their presence represent that women with the following risk factors may develop ovarian risk in the long run.

Family history

Women with the family history have the high risk of cancer. Those who have the history of colorectal, colon or breast cancer may develop ovarian cancer as well. In such families, where women of younger ages develop the ovarian or breast cancer, this is measured as strong genetic problem of that particular family. In this regard, genetic tests show the incidence of culprit gene that increases the menace of ovarian cancer.

Hormonal therapy of menopause

Studies have shown that the women who use estrogen alone, after menopause, for more than ten year may develop the ovarian cancer. Scientist are in the search of other risk factors that may include the fertility treatment, obesity etc, but still, there are no authentic evidences.

Age

It has been commonly noticed that women are over 55 years of age when diagnosed with the ovarian cancer.