The Stages of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer begins to form in one or both of the ovaries which are located on the sides of the uterus, one on each side. The small, almond sized ovaries are responsible for the production of the eggs and releasing them into the fallopian tubes.

The ovaries are also responsible for producing two female hormones known as estrogen and progesterone. Before and during ovulation these hormone levels are higher than usual, and if they become too high, they may cause the ovarian tumors to form. There are two types of tumors, one is cancerous (malignant), and the other is non-cancerous (benign).

If the tumors are cancerous then they will spread to the outside of the ovaries and eventually spread to adjacent tissues and organs located in the pelvis and abdomen. They can also spread through the bloodstream and lymph nodes to other parts of the body.

Because the early symptoms of ovarian cancers are hard to diagnose, most cancers are not detected until the later stages. Only about 20 percent of the tumors are discovered before the cancer has begun to spread past the ovaries.

The symptoms are often misdiagnosed because they are similar to those of other common illnesses such as digestive problems including gas or bloating, bladder disorders, constipation, fatigue and lower back pain. The only way to distinguish between the symptoms is that those associated with common illnesses will disappear within a day or two, but those associated with ovarian cancer will gradually become worse as the cancer continues to spread.

There are basically 4 stages to ovarian cancer to help determine how far the cancer has spread in the body. The stages are numbered 1 to 4.

Stage 1.) At stage one, the cancer may affect one or both ovaries, and may have begun to spread to the outside of the ovaries.

Stage 2.) The cancer may affect on one or both ovaries, and has begun to spread to other parts of the pelvic area such as the fallopian tubes, uterus, bladder or rectum.

Stage 3.) The cancer may affect on one or both ovaries, and has begun to spread to the lining of the abdomen or to the lymph nodes.

Stage 4: The cancer may affect on one or both ovaries, and has begun to spread to the liver or the lungs.

Ovarian cancer is treatable if caught in an early enough stage, and the form of treatments given depends on how far the cancer has spread throughout the body.