OVARIAN CANCER (con't)
Overview of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries and is one of the most common gynecologic cancers.
Types of Ovarian Cancer:
- Epithelial cell ovarian cancer is the most common type of ovarian cancer. It begins on the surface (epilthelium) of the ovary.
Types of epithelial cell tumors:
- Serous
- Mucinous
- Endometrioid
- Clear cell
- Papillary serous
- Brenner cell
- Undifferentiated adenocarcinomas and sarcomas
- Germ-cell ovarian tumors begin in the germ cells (cells that will form eggs) in the ovaries.
Types of Germ-Cell Tumors:
- Teratomas
- Struma ovarii
- Carcinoid
- Dysgerminoma
- Embryonal cell carcinoma
- Endodermal sinus tumor
- Primary choriocarcinoma
- Gonadoblastoma
- Sex-cord stromal tumors begins in the supportive tissue that hold the ovaries together and produce hormones.
Types of Sex-cord Stromal Tumors:
- Granulosa cell tumor
- Stromal cell cancers
- Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors
Stages of Ovarian Cancer:
Stage I
Stage I (stage 1) ovarian cancer is confined to one or both ovaries.
- Stage IA ovarian cancer involves one ovary.
- Stage IB ovarian cancer involves both ovaries.
- Stage IC ovarian cancer involves one or both ovaries but with tumor on the surface of one or both ovaries; or with capsule of the tumor/s ruptured; or with ascites (fluid in the peritoneal cavity) present containing malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings
Stage II
Stage II (stage 2) ovarian cancer has spread beyond the ovary but is still limited to the pelvis (below the navel). It may involve the uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder, sigmoid colon or rectum.
- Stage IIA ovarian cancer has spread to uterus or fallopian tubes.
- Stage IIB ovarian cancer has spread to other pelvic tissues.
- Stage IIC ovarian cancer is confined to the pelvis but with ascites present containing malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings
Stage III
Stage III (stage 3) ovarian cancer has spread to the upper abdomen.
- Stage IIIA ovarian cancer indicates microscopic spread to the upper abdomen.
- Stage IIIB ovarian cancer indicates spread to nodules less than 2 cm in the abdomen.
- Stage IIIC ovarian cancer indicates metastatic nodules larger than 2 cm or positive pelvic or aortic lymph nodes.
Stage IV
Stage IV (stage 4) ovarian cancer has spread to distant organs such as the liver or lungs. It is known as metastatic ovarian cancer. Depending on the sites of spread, the cancer may now be called ovarian cancer with lung metastases, ovarian cancer with liver metastases, ovarian cancer with bone metastases, ovarian cancer with brain metastases, etc.
Recurrent
Recurrent ovarian cancer has recurred after it has been treated. It may recur in the abdomen or pelvis, bones, liver, lungs, or other parts of the body.
Grade of Ovarian Cancer:
Grade indicates how quickly or slowly cancer cells grow. The grade is determined by the appearance of the cells under the microscope. Tumors are graded on a scale of 1 to 3.
Grade 1 - cells look most like normal tissue (called well differentiated). Grade 1 cancers grow and spread somewhat slowly.
Grade 2 - cells look somewhat like normal tissue (called moderately well differentiated). Grade 2 cancers grow and spread quickly.
Grade 3 - cells appear very abnormal (called poorly differentiated or undifferentiated). Grade 3 cancers grow and spread very quickly. They are considered "aggressive."
