Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is cancer of the ovaries, the gland in the female reproductive system that produces eggs. If you have received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, it is important that you be treated by a skilled team that includes gynecologic oncologists who have extensive experience treating ovarian cancer. At MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, the only NCI-designated cancer center in South Carolina, your ovarian cancer care will be overseen by a team of gynecologic oncologists who can provide a range of options that include surgery, chemotherapy and targeted therapies, and you can rest easy knowing that University Medical Center, the hospital where our gynecologic oncologists operate, has been rated as high-performing for ovarian cancer surgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Our experts will consider the best course of treatment for you and might suggest you are a good match for an ovarian cancer clinical trial. Clinical trials provide the opportunity to have access to the newest therapies that could become the standard of care in the future.

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovaries are the glands in the female reproductive system that produce eggs and the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Cancer that begins in an ovary or fallopian tube — the tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus — is called ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer isn’t as common as other cancers, but it ranks as the fifth most common cause of cancer death for women and the top cause of cancer death connected to the reproductive system.

One of the reasons that ovarian cancer ranks so highly among cancer deaths is because it is difficult to diagnose at an early stage. Localized ovarian cancer, or cancer that hasn’t spread, has a five-year survival rate of 93%. However, the majority of ovarian cancers are diagnosed after they have metastasized, or spread through the body. For this reason, it is especially important to be alert to changes in your body and to discuss them with your doctor. 

Have more questions about ovarian cancer? Check out our answers to common questions.

Ovarian cancer symptoms

Ovarian cancer often doesn’t show any signs or symptoms at early stages. When the cancer does cause symptoms, those symptoms can be mistaken for other problems, like irritable bowel syndrome. The following symptoms don’t always mean that you have cancer, but they do mean you should consult with your doctor and consider the possibility of ovarian cancer:

• Bloating.
• Decreased appetite or quickly feeling full.
• Fatigue.
• Pain or pressure in the pelvis or abdomen.
• Feeling the need to urinate frequently or unexpectedly.
• Bleeding after menopause.
• Change in bowel habits.

Ovarian cancer treatment

Treatment for ovarian cancer depends upon whether the cancer has spread outside the ovaries, your health and your age. You and your doctor will discuss which option is best for you.

Our treatment options include:

Surgery

Our team is trained in the use of laparoscopic surgery and the da Vinci Surgical System, a robot that helps to increase surgical precision. These techniques are used for:

• Early pelvic mass evaluations.
• Staging and treatment for early endometrial, ovarian and cervical cancer.
• Robotic-assisted laparoscopic lymph node assessment.

Refer an ovarian cancer patient

To refer an ovarian cancer patient to Hollings, please call patient referral coordinator Morgan Krohn (843-985-0580). If you are a referring provider, please submit our GYN Oncology Referral Form.

Nurse navigator support

You and your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of each option and decide on the best course of treatment for you. Our gynecologic cancer nurse navigators, Brooke Winkler, MSN, RN, at our Charleston area locations and Antonio Rivera, BSN, RN, OCN, at Tidelands, will help you understand what to expect during treatment and answer questions you may have.

Ovarian cancer risk factors

There are some risk factors that have been associated with ovarian cancer. Some of these risk factors can be mitigated. For example, the Hollings Hereditary Cancer Clinic can test for genetic mutations that are known to make ovarian cancer more likely and can advise you on next steps if your test shows that you have one of these mutations.

The most common risk factor for cancer overall is age, and ovarian cancer is more likely in women who have gone through menopause. You should be aware of the risk factors listed below and talk to your doctor if any of these apply to you. But you should also know that, aside from age, most women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer don’t have these risk factors. Risks for ovarian cancer include:

• Genetic mutations, including mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 and Lynch syndrome.
• Family history of ovarian cancer.
• Have endometriosis.
• Have had breast, colon or uterine cancer.
• Hormone replacement therapy after menopause.
• Have never given birth, had first child after age 35 or had trouble getting pregnant.

Ovarian cancer prevention

An average-risk woman has about a 1% to 2% chance of developing ovarian cancer in her lifetime. However, because there is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer, gynecologists and gynecologic oncologists now recommend that women at average risk for ovarian cancer consider having their fallopian tubes removed if they are already scheduled for another surgery, like a C-section or removing cysts. Removing the fallopian tubes should reduce your risk of most types of ovarian cancer, which are believed to begin in the fallopian tubes and spread to the ovaries.

Removing the fallopian tubes means you cannot get pregnant, so this option is for average-risk women who are finished with childbearing or do not wish to have children. Specialists currently recommend removal only if you are already having another surgery. Surgery for the sole purpose of removing the fallopian tubes isn’t recommended because the risks of surgery are about equal to the risks of developing cancer.

Women who are at high risk of ovarian cancer, because they have gene mutations that can cause ovarian cancer, should schedule an appointment with the Hollings Hereditary Cancer Clinic to discuss their options. For someone who is high risk, removal of both the ovaries and the fallopian tubes may be recommended.

Ovarian cancer statistics

According to the National Cancer Institute, here are some of the most notable statistics regarding ovarian cancer:

• About 1.1% of women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer during their lifetimes.
• American Indian women and non-Hispanic White women have the highest rates of ovarian cancer, at 11.4 cases per 100,000 women and 11 cases per 100,000 women.
• The median age at diagnosis is 63 years old.
• New ovarian cancer cases have been declining by about 3.3% each year, while the five-year survival rate has been increasing.