What it means
A cancer that is often found late, because early symptoms are vague and easy to mistake for other problems. The risk is higher with older age, a family history, inherited gene mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, and never having been pregnant. The blood test CA-125see-ay wun-TWEN-tee-fyvA blood test for cancer antigen 125, a protein used as a tumor marker for ovarian cancer.Full entry and ultrasound help with diagnosis and follow-up, but there is no good screening test for people at average risk.
For the nurse
Teach clients to report bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling full quickly and urinary urgency that last more than a few weeks. Clients with a strong family history may be referred for genetic counseling.
At a glance
| Spanish | cáncer de ovario |
|---|---|
| Also written | ovarian cancers |
Related terms
ovary
One of the two small female glands beside the uterus that hold eggs and make the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
fallopian tube
One of the two tubes that carry an egg from the ovary to the uterus, where fertilization usually happens.
mutation
A change in the genetic code (DNA) of a cell.
CA-125
A blood test for cancer antigen 125, a protein used as a tumor marker for ovarian cancer.