Ovarian cancer refers to cancers that start in one or both ovaries. The ovaries are part of the reproductive system, and ovarian cancer is usually difficult to diagnose because it is largely asymptomatic. There are three main types of ovarian tumors: germ cell tumors, stromal tumors and epithelial tumors. Germ cell tumors originate within the cells that produce eggs. Stromal tumors originate in cells that produce hormones and give the ovaries structure and support. Epithelial tumors, which make up the majority of ovarian tumors, start on the outer surface of the ovary.
Staging
The prognosis for ovarian cancer varies depending on how early the cancer is discovered and how far the cancer has spread. A staging system is used to describe the spread of cancer and to classify cancer for the purposes of treatment and prognosis statistics. The staging system was pioneered by the American Joint Committee on Cancer, and is called the AJCC system. The system may also be referred to as the TNM system, named after the three factors used to make staging decisions. The "T" factor" describes how many cancer cells there are and the size of the tumor. The "N" factor describes the presence or absence of cancer in the lymph nodes. Finally, the "M" factor is either 0 or 1, and refers to whether the cancer has spread (metastasized) to distant parts of the body or not.
Stage 1
There are three different levels of Stage 1 ovarian cancer. Each of the three levels has an N number of 0 and an M number of 0. This means the cancer is local to the ovary or ovaries, and has not spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. Stage 1A has a T number of T1a. This means the cancer is only in one side of the inside of one ovary. Stage 1B has a T number of T1b. This means cancer has developed inside both ovaries, but has not touched the outer surface of either ovary. Finally, stage 1c has a T number of T1c. This means there is cancer inside one or both ovaries, and cancer on the outside surface of at least one ovary.
According to the American Cancer Society, the prognosis for cancer is classified based on five-year survival rates. The five year survival rate for patients diagnosed with Stage 1A is 92.7%. The five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with Stage 1B is 85.4%. The five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with Stage 1C is 84.7%.
Stage 2
Stage II cancer is also characterized by three different sets of TNM factors. Again, the N and M factors are 0 for all Stage 2 ovarian cancers, which means there is no cancer in the lymph node or other body parts. Stage 2A has a T number of T2a, which means the cancer has spread into either the uterus, the fallopian tubes, or both. Stage 2B has a T number of T2b which means there is cancer in pelvic organs, including the bladder, colon or rectum. Stage 2C has a T number of T2c, which means the cancer has spread to the pelvic organs and/or the abdomen.
The five-year survival rates for stage 2A are 78.6%. The five-year survival rates for stage 2B are 72.4%. The five-year survival rates for Stage 2C are 64.6%.
Stage 3
Stage 3 ovarian cancer also has three separate characteristics. Stage 3A has a T number of 3a, and an N and M number of 0. This means there is cancer in one or both ovaries and the abdomen, but the cancer in the abdomen can't be seen without a microscope. Stage 3B has a T number of 3b, which means there is cancer in one or both ovaries and visible cancer in the abdomen that is smaller than 2 cm long. There are two different possible factors or Stage 3C. Either the cancer, or any size T number, has spread to the lymph nodes or there is visible cancer larger than 2cm long in the abdomen.
Stage 3A has a 50.8% five year survival rate. Stage 3B has a 42.4% five year survival rate. Stage 3C has a 31.5% five-year survival rate.
Stage 4
Stage 4 ovarian cancer is diagnosed when the ovarian cancer has metastasized. The T and N numbers are irrelevant, because the cancer has already spread to distant organs. It is no longer curable. The five-year survival rate for Stage 4 ovarian cancer is 17.5%.
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