Ovarian Fallopian Tube and Primary Peritoneal Cancer
Ovarian, Fallopian Tube and Primary Peritoneal Cancer: Symptoms, Risk Factors, Treatment
Fallopian Cancer | Gynecologic Cancers | Gynecology
Ovarian cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 78 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It is the most lethal type of gynecologic cancer in the United States, and the second most common type among all gynecologic cancers.
Definition of ovarian cancer
What is ovarian cancer?
The ovary is a female reproductive organ that produces both hormones and eggs. Fallopian tubes are a pair of tubes that attach your ovaries to your uterus, and they act as the path for the egg to travel from the ovaries to the womb (uterus). Ovarian cancers were previously believed to begin only in the ovaries, but recent evidence suggests that many ovarian cancers may actually start in the cells of the fallopian tubes and then spread to the ovary and grow there. Only those who are born biologically female have ovaries.
What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?
- Abdominal bloating
- Feeling full quickly after eating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Changes in bladder function
What are the risk factors for ovarian cancer?
- Strong family history or known carrier of an associated gene mutation (such as BRCA 1/2 or Lynch syndrome genes)
- Getting Older
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Endometriosis
- Infertility
What are the measures that reduce ovarian cancer risk?
- Taking birth control pills
- Breastfeeding
- Pregnancy
- Tubal ligation
- Removal of the fallopian tubes
- Removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries
What should be discussed with my OBGYN?
- New and persistent symptoms, such as bloating, urinary frequency, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, feeling full quickly after eating.
- If you have a family history of cancer, ask if genetic testing for hereditary ovarian/breast cancer is warranted.
- Ask what can be done to reduce the risk of ovarian/fallopian tube cancer.
- If any abnormalities appear on a pelvic exam, ask what further testing is needed.
What are the treatment options for ovarian cancer?
Women who have been diagnosed with or who have suspected ovarian cancer should be referred to a gynecologic oncologist for further evaluation to determine the optimal treatment options for the best chance of long-term survival. Treatment recommendation will be individualized but often involves both surgery and additional interventions (such as chemotherapy or other targeted approaches).
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Fallopian Tube and Primary Peritoneal Cancers
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What is fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer?
Fallopian tube cancer develops in the fallopian tubes, which connect the ovaries to the uterus. This cancer is most common in women between the ages of 50 and 60 although it can occur at any age. It is diagnosed most often in Caucasian women who have no children.
Primary peritoneal cancer is found in the peritoneum, which is the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers organs in the abdomen. This cancer may begin in the peritoneum and spread to the ovaries.
Some women carry a gene mutation that puts them at increased risk for fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers.
What are the symptoms of fallopian tube / primary peritoneal cancer?
- Abnormal bloating
- Feeling full quickly after eating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Changes in bladder function
What are the risk factors for fallopian tube / primary peritoneal cancer?
- Strong family history and/or known carrier of an associated gene mutation (such as BRCA 1/2 or Lynch syndrome genes)
- Getting Older
- Infertility and/or no biological children
What are the measures that reduce fallopian tube / primary peritoneal cancer risk?
- Taking obirth control pills
- Breastfeeding
- Pregnancy
- Tubal ligation
- Removal of the fallopian tubes
- Removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries
What should be discussed with my OBGYN?
- New and persistent symptoms, such as bloating, urinary frequency, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, feeling full quickly after eating.
- If you have a family history of cancer, ask if genetic testing for hereditary ovarian/breast cancer is warranted.
- Ask what can be done to reduce the risk of cancer.
- If any abnormalities appear on a pelvic exam, ask what further testing is needed.
What are the treatment options for fallopian tube / primary peritoneal cancer?
Women who have been diagnosed with or who have suspected fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers should be referred to a gynecologic oncologist for further evaluation to determine the optimal treatment options for the best chance of long-term survival. Treatment recommendations are typically the same as for ovarian cancer.
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