Ovarian cancer occurs in the ovary, which is a part of the female reproductive system and is responsible for the production of eggs. In the United States of America, presently, it is the fifth most common cause of cancer-associated death among women. Ovarian cancer is also termed as the “silent killer” because usually, it goes undetected in the early stages when there may be few or no notable symptoms at all. In this article, we shall find out what exactly causes this disease and also take a look at the main treatments for ovarian cancer.

Cancer occurs when some mutated cells grow and divide in an uncontrolled manner. The precise cause of ovarian cancer is not known, but some factors can increase the risk of the disease. These factors are as follows:

• Family history
  A family history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer can increase the risk of the disease.
• Age
  Ovarian cancer can occur at any age but is most common in older women.
• Inherited gene mutation
  The gene mutation associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increases the risk.
• Obesity
  Obese women have a higher chance of developing this condition.
• Menstrual cycle
  Starting menstruation at a young age or starting menopause at a later age, or both, may escalate the risk of developing ovarian cancer.
• Reproductive cycle
  Having children later in life or never having a full-term pregnancy raises the chances of developing this disease.
• Height
  Taller women are at a higher risk of having this cancer than shorter women.
• Other factors
  A personal history of endometriosis, breast, uterine, or colon cancer and undergoing hormone replacement therapy elevates the chances of developing ovarian cancer. On the other hand, hysterectomy and the use of contraceptive pills may reduce the risk of this type of cancer.

Main treatments for ovarian cancer

• Surgery
  Surgery is the main treatment for ovarian cancer. Surgical options include removing the uterus, one or both ovaries, and the affected lymph nodes.
• Chemotherapy
  This treatment method can be administered prior to or post-surgery. It can also be the primary form of treatment for ovarian cancer. The chemotherapy drugs kill cancer also reduce the chance of relapse. It can be administered intravenously, intraperitoneally, or taken orally. Unfortunately, these drugs have harmful side effects and often lead to other diseases.
• Targeted therapy
  This is one of the main treatments for ovarian cancer because here, side effects are limited by targeting specific cells that are affected by cancer.
• Radiation therapy
  High-powered radiation beams are used in this procedure to kill cancer cells. This is one of the main treatments for ovarian cancer in an advanced stage but it affects both healthy and unhealthy cells, unlike targeted therapy.
• Immunotherapy
  It improves the ability of the immune system to fight against cancer. Substances injected through vaccines locate and destroy the tumor. This approach is also another main treatment for ovarian cancer in a later stage.

Thus, suitable treatment and guidance can help combat ovarian cancer to help patients live a regular and robust life. The earlier the disease is detected, the better the chances of a complete cure.