Ovarian cancer
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What is ovarian cancer?
- Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries, which are part of the female reproductive system1
- The ovaries are made up of 3 different kinds of cells, and each type of cell can develop into a different kind of tumour1
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Types of ovarian cancer
- The main types of ovarian cancer are:2
- Epithelial ovarian cancer
- Germ cell cancer
- Other rare ovarian tumours, e.g. stromal tumours and sarcomas
- The most common type is epithelial ovarian cancer, which affects the surface layers of the ovary2
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Who gets ovarian cancer?
- Ovarian cancer only affects females1
- It can occur at any age, but is most common after the menopause3
- It is the 7th most common cancer in females worldwide4
- 239,00 new cases were diagnosed worldwide in 20124
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Screening, detection, and diagnosis
- The following tests may be performed to make a diagnosis:
- A blood test to measure the level of a protein called CA125, which is produced by some ovarian cancers5
- An abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound to look closely at the ovaries5
- A CT scan for a more detailed image of the ovaries and surrounding area5
- Once ovarian cancer has been diagnosed, the following tests may be used to see how far it has spread: a chest X-ray and scans, laparoscopy to take a biopsy, abdominal fluid aspiration6
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Patient guidelines
A patient guideline is a document containing information for patients and their families about their disease and the treatment options available to them
Click here to see the European patient guideline on your condition7
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Local support groups
Contacting a support group may help you during diagnosis and treatment and afterwards
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Infographics
Click here for information on the incidence of ovarian cancer in Europe8
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