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Index of Diseases and Conditions: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer usually happens in women over age 50, but it can also affect younger women. Its cause is unknown. Ovarian cancer is hard to detect early.

The sooner ovarian cancer is found and treated, the better your chance for recovery. But ovarian cancer is hard to detect early. Many times, women with ovarian cancer have no symptoms or just mild symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage and hard to treat. Symptoms may include:

Treatment is usually surgery followed by treatment with medicines called chemotherapy.

Ovarian Cancer on Wikipedia

'''Ovarian cancer''' is a malignant ovarian neoplasm (an abnormal growth located on the ovaries).

Causes

Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women, the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies and the second most commonly diagnosed gynecologic malignancy [http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section18/chapter241/241b.jsp]. While the exact cause is unknown (''i.e.'', idiopathic), the disease is more common in industrialized nations, with the exception of Japan. In the United States, females have a 1.4 percent to 2.5 percent (1 out of 40-60 women) lifelong chance of developing ovarian cancer. Older women are at highest risk. More than half of the deaths from ovarian cancer occur in women between 55 and 74 years of age and approximately one quarter of ovarian cancer deaths occur in women between 35 and 54 years of age. The risk for developing ovarian cancer appears to be affected by several factors. The more children a woman has, the lower her risk of ovarian cancer. Early age at first pregnancy, older ages of final pregnancy, and the use of some oral contraceptive pills have also been shown to have a protective effect. Ovarian cancer is reduced in women after tubal ligation. The link to the use of fertility medication has been controversial. An analysis in 1991 raised the possibility that use of drugs that stimulate ovulation may increase the risk for ovarian cancer. Several cohort studies and case-control studies have been conducted since then without providing conclusive evidence for such a link with the possible exception that prolonged use (> 1 year) of clomiphene citrate should be avoided. It will remain a complex topic to study as the infertile population differs in parity from the "normal" population. There is good evidence that in some women genetic factors are important. Carrier of mutations of the BRCA1 or the BRCA2 gene are at higher risk of ...   [ Read More ]

External Resources

Madeline Kahn battles ovarian cancer - Nov. 11, 1999 Madeline Kahn battles ovarian cancer By Dr. Jonathan M. Sackier and John Morgan, A Doctor in Your House.com Madeline Kahn goofs with Bill Cosby during the shooting of their CBS show `Cosby` (AP).

Salon People | Actress Madeline Kahn dies at 57 - The Oscar-nominated star of "Blazing Saddles" ends her battle with ovarian cancer.

Actress Madeline Kahn dies of ovarian cancer - CBC Infoculture - After a public battle with ovarian cancer, comic actress Madeline Kahn died Friday in a Manhattan hospital. She was 57.

E! Online News - Madeline Kahn Battling Cancer - Veteran funnywoman Madeline Kahn announced today that she is undergoing "aggressive treatment" for ovarian cancer.

Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Madeline Kahn dead of ovarian cancer at 57 - Corpus Christi Caller-Times Madeline Kahn dead of ovarian cancer at 57

BBC News | AMERICAS | Actress loses cancer battle - Madeline Kahn, an Oscar-nominated actress and comedian best known for her work in the films Paper Moon and Blazing Saddles, dies of ovarian cancer.

Criscom International - Outlines the terms and progress of a research study related to cancer risk communication in hereditary breast, ovarian and colorectal cancers.

ASSIST-Trials: Ovarian Cancer - Details information on clinical studies for this condition that use the Telik firm's drug-agent TLK286.

Predictive Diagnostics - Developing diagnostics to identify biomarker fingerprints for ovarian, breast, lung, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Includes overview of company in Vacaville, California.

Kittenz Web Site - Diagnosed age 27 with ovarian cancer, my mother was also diagnosed with cancer three months after me.

Related Pages on HealthTales.com:

Ovarian Cysts
Premature Ovarian Failure
Cancer--Living with Cancer
Cancer
Anal Cancer
Bladder Cancer
Bone Cancer
Brain Cancer
Breast Cancer
Cancer Chemotherapy

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