Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that affects women. When undifferentiated cells grow abnormally and rapidly in the ovary, the condition is termed as ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is quite hard to detect and only shows up after the condition as spread to the surrounding tissues. This can make treatment and survival more complicated than it would’ve been if it was detected earlier. Ovarian cancer can be due to genetic causes. Treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and rarely, removal of the ovary. The ovary can be removed even after fully cured, as a precaution against a relapse.

Determination of the stage of ovarian cancer
There are two systems to classify the stage of ovarian cancer of a patient. They are FIGO and AJCC.

They both use the following factors to stage cancer:

• T
  T stands for the extent or size of the tumor and where it has spread. The body is checked to see if the tumor has spread outside the ovary to the pelvic region, fallopian tube, or other organs near the pelvis.
• N
  N stands for the extent to which the lymph nodes are affected and if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in one’s pelvis or the lymph nodes around the aorta.
• M
  M stands for the spread of the tumor to distant sites such as the fluid near the lungs, liver, or bones.

T, N, and M are denoted with a numerical suffix which represents the advance of the cancer. The higher the number, the more serious the stage. Once this is determined, stage grouping is done to designate an overall stage to the cancer.

This staging can be done through a surgical procedure where a tissue is examined after being surgically removed. If surgery is not possible, clinical staging is done where the body is subjected to a physical exam, biopsy, and imaging tests prior to surgery.

Early warning signs of ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer doesn’t usually show major signs and symptoms until it has progressed to a higher stage. However, there are some symptoms one can always look out for and get it checked if they suspect the presence of a cancerous tumor. The following symptoms may also be caused by benign diseases or cancers of other organs.

• Bloating
• Pelvic or belly (abdominal) pain
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling full quickly while eating.
• The urgency in urination (suddenly feeling like one should immediately urinate)
• Frequent urination (urinating many times in a single day)
• Fatigue
• Back pain
• Constipation
• Inflammation in one’s abdomen along with weight loss
• Upset stomach
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Changes in a woman’s menstruation like heavier flow, irregular bleeding, etc.

If these symptoms occur more than twelve times a month for a woman, it is essential to get one’s condition checked by a doctor immediately. There are good chances that these symptoms are caused by other conditions but it’s always better to be safe. Moreover, when it’s ovarian cancer, these symptoms tend to be persistent and occur more severely.