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Ovarian cancer begins when ovarian cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled and abnormal way. The ovaries are two small organs located on either side of the uterus (womb), deep within the pelvic cavity. The ovaries produce female hormones and egg cells, called ova.

Cancer of the ovary is diagnosed in nearly 23,000 women in the United States each year. About 15,000 deaths from ovarian cancer will occur in the same period. Ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer death among American women.

A woman's risk of getting invasive ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 71. The median age at which women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer is 63.

How does ovarian cancer develop?
The cause of ovarian cancer is not yet understood. Several theories have been proposed to explain how the disease occurs. According to one theory, repeated ovulation causes the surfaces of the ovaries to undergo cellular changes that lead to the development of cancer. Another theory surmises that increased levels of hormones before and after ovulation leads to the growth of abnormal cells.

Sources: National Cancer Institute. What you need to know about ovarian cancer. Accessed May 28, 2008. American Cancer Society. Ovarian cancer: overview. Accessed May 28, 2008.

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