Ovarian Cancer Overview
Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that is thought to start in the ovaries, those small but vital organs responsible for both creating eggs and producing essential hormones like estrogen and progesterone. This cancer occurs when cells in the ovaries start growing uncontrollably, potentially harming nearby healthy tissues.
Recent evidence suggests that many ovarian cancers may actually start in the cells in the far (distal) end of the fallopian tubes according to the American Cancer Society
Ovarian cancer comes in various types, and the specific type is determined by the kind of cell where the cancer originated.
The ovaries consist of three main cell types, each with the potential to give rise to different types of tumors: Epithelial tumors begin in the outer surface cells, germ cell tumors originate from egg-producing cells, and stromal tumors develop from the structural tissue cells that support the ovaries and produce female hormones like estrogen and progesterone.