Ovarian Cancer Center

True to
Our Word

At CTCA, Lori discovered a multidisciplinary team of cancer experts all on the same page.

MORE VOICES OF HOPE Meet Dr. Williams, Lori’s gynecologic oncologist Meet Carolyn, Lori’s nutritionist

You must have Flash Video Player to view this page. Click here to download it.

Ovarian cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of a woman’s ovary. The ovaries are a pair of female reproductive glands located on each side of a woman’s uterus (the organ where a baby grows and develops). Ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone (female sex hormones). Ovaries also produce eggs (called ova). Ovarian cancer develops when normal ovarian cells begin to grow uncontrollably and produce malignant tumors in one or both ovaries. Some tumors are benign (non-cancerous) and do not spread beyond the ovaries.

Ovarian cancer is categorized by the type of cell where it originates. Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common type of ovarian cancer. It grows on the outer surface of the ovary and accounts for about 90 percent of all ovarian cancers. Two (rare) types of ovarian cancer include germ-cell tumors and stromal tumors. Germ cell ovarian cancer begins in the egg-producing cells within the ovaries. Stromal ovarian cancer originates in the supportive tissue around the ovaries.

Cancer cells from all three types of ovarian cancer may also spread to the bloodstream via the lymphatic system and travel to other areas of the body. When the cancer spreads, it is referred to as metastasis.

According to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, ovarian cancer occurs in about one out of every 69 women. While the exact causes of ovarian cancer are not yet known, there is a noted genetic predisposition to the disease. For example, a woman with a first-degree relative (e.g., mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer is at higher risk, particularly if more than one such relative has been diagnosed.

Unfortunately, there is currently no reliable screening test for ovarian cancer. Thus, ovarian cancer often goes undiagnosed until it's in an advanced stage. Treatment for ovarian cancer depends on the type and stage of the disease, your age, general health, and other factors, such as your desire to have children.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), we use many tools to help you fight ovarian cancer on all fronts. Here, you will have your very own care team of cancer experts who work with you to develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will include a powerful combination of traditional, innovative and supportive therapies. Some of the ovarian cancer therapies you may receive at CTCA include:

• Surgery is the most common treatment for ovarian cancer. The purpose of surgery is to first diagnose and stage the cancer. Then, surgery is performed to remove the tumor(s) or as much of the cancer as possible (debulking), prevent future complications such as blockages or bleeding, and/or ease pain and other symptoms.
• Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy is used to prevent the future implantation of tumor cells. Heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy holds three main advantages over standard, systemic chemotherapy. First, heat by itself has greater toxicity for cancerous tissue than for normal tissue. Second, heat increases the penetration of chemotherapy into tissues. Third, heat increases the ability of selected chemotherapy agents to kill the cancer.

In addition to the therapies described above, CTCA enriches your treatment by offering complementary and alternative medicine therapies, such as naturopathic medicine, nutrition therapy, mind-body medicine, image enhancement, and spiritual counseling. At CTCA, your care team is with you every step of the way in your fight against ovarian cancer.