Ovarian cancer affects the ovaries. There are two ovaries in the female reproductive system, one located on each side of the uterus. The ovaries produce eggs and two hormones namely estrogen and progesterone.
The lack of signs linked with ovarian cancer, particularly in the early stage, often makes it go undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. Late-stage ovarian cancer is difficult to treat. Early-stage ovarian cancer has a higher success rate.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

At the early stage, ovarian cancer rarely cause any symptoms. However, at the later stage, ovarian cancer may cause few but general symptoms that are often mistaken for other common conditions.
Some common signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:
• Weight loss
• Pain in pelvis area
• Abdominal bloating or swelling
• Quickly feeling full when eating
• Frequent urge to urinate
• Constipation or other changes in bowel habits

Causes of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer causes is yet unknown. However, doctors have identified risk factors that can increase your risk of developing the disease. Cancer generally begins when a cell develops mutations in its DNA. The mutations instruct the cell to grow and multiply quickly, creating a tumor or mass of abnormal cells. The abnormal cells keep occupying space and multiplying, while healthy cells die. These cells can also attack nearby tissues and metastasize.

Types of ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer types depends on the cell where the cancer develops from. Types of ovarian cancer include:
• Epithelial tumors. These begin in the thin layer of tissue that covers the outside of the ovaries. Most ovarian cancers are epithelial tumors.
• Stromal tumors. These starts in the ovarian tissue that contains hormone-producing cells. These tumors are normally diagnosed at an earlier stage. A few percentage of ovarian tumors are stromal.
• Germ cell tumors. These type of ovarian cancer is rare and mostly occur younger women. It begins in the cells that produce eggs.

Risk factors
Risk factors that can increase your likelihoods of developing ovarian cancer include:
• Family history of ovarian cancer. Having a family member with ovarian cancer increases a person’s risk for developing the disease.
• Older age. The disease mostly affect women within the age of 50 to 60 years, though it can occur at any age.
• Estrogen hormone replacement therapy. Long-term use of these drugs in large doses can cause ovarian cancer.
• Age when menstruation started and ended. Beginning menstruation at an early age or starting menopause at a later age, increases risk of developing ovarian cancer.
• Inherited gene mutations. Some ovarian cancers types are caused by inherited gene mutations.

Prevention
There's no definite way to inhibit ovarian cancer. However, there may be ways to reduce your risk: These include:
• Taking birth control pills. Women who use oral contraceptives may have a lower risk of ovarian cancer. However, there are risks associated with oral contraceptives. Discuss with your doctor if the benefits offset those risks based on your condition.
• Discuss your risk factors with your doctor. People with family history of breast cancer and ovarian cancer should consult their doctor to determine what this may mean for your own risk of cancer and ways to prevent it.

Diagnosis
There are tests and procedures used to diagnose ovarian cancer. They include:
• Pelvic exam. This involves your doctor inserting gloved fingers into your vagina and concurrently pressing a hand on your abdomen in order to feel your pelvic organs.
• Imaging tests. These includes getting an ultrasound or CT scans of your abdomen and pelvis, which may help determine the size, shape and structure of your ovaries.
• Blood tests. This include getting an organ function tests which can help determine your health.
• Surgery. Surgery may be performed to remove an ovary and test it for signs of cancer.
After diagnosis have established you have ovarian cancer, your doctor will use your test information and procedures to check stage of your cancer. Ovarian cancer stages are indicated using Roman numerals ranging from I to IV. The lowest stage shows that the cancer is still in the ovaries. The cancer has spread to other areas of the body at stage IV.

Ovarian Cancer Treatment
Ovarian cancer treatment involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.

Surgery

Operations to remove ovarian cancer include:
• Surgery to remove one ovary. Surgery may be performed to remove very early stage cancer that hasn't spread beyond one ovary. Surgery may be performed to remove the affected ovary and its fallopian tube, thereby still preserving your ability to have children.
• Surgery to remove both ovaries. Both ovaries and fallopian tubes may be removed if cancer is present in both your ovaries, but there are no signs of additional cancer. Since your uterus is still intact, women wishing to conceive can still get pregnant using frozen embryos or eggs or with eggs from a donor.
• Surgery to remove both ovaries and the uterus. The ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus, may be removed if the cancer has spread or if you don't wish to have children.
• Surgery for advanced cancer. Advanced-stage cancer may require chemotherapy followed by surgery to get rid of cancer as much as possible.

Chemotherapy

This involves using drugs to destroy fast-growing cancerous cells in the body. Chemotherapy drugs can be injected intravenously or taken orally. In some cases, the drugs are injected directly into the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy).
Chemotherapy is often used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that might remain.

Targeted therapy

This therapy uses medications to target the specific vulnerabilities present within your cancer cells. Targeted therapy drugs are usually reserved for treating ovarian cancer that returns after initial treatment or cancer that repels other treatments.

Source: https://healthdiary365.com/ovarian-cancer-symptoms-causes-diagnosis-and-treatment/