Ovarian cancer is one of the most serious gynecologic cancers, and one of the most challenging to detect. Often described as a silent disease, it tends to progress through early stages without producing symptoms that feel clearly alarming or distinctive. By the time many women are diagnosed, the cancer has already spread beyond the ovaries. This reality gives symptom awareness a life-saving role. At A Woman’s Place in Naples, Florida, we want every patient to understand what ovarian cancer is, who is at elevated risk, and what signs should prompt a call to their provider.
“Abby Krembs was very patient in explaining some of the reasons as to why I was having issues and made sure to go over some of the different treatments to help manage issues. She answered all of my questions and took her time explaining things to me. She was very kind and made me feel welcomed.”
— A Woman’s Place Patient Testimonial
What Ovarian Cancer Is
The ovaries are two small glands on either side of the uterus that produce eggs and the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Ovarian cancer develops when cells in or around the ovaries begin to grow and divide abnormally. There are several types, classified by the cells from which they originate. Epithelial ovarian cancer, which arises from the cells covering the outer surface of the ovary, accounts for roughly 85 to 90 percent of all cases. Germ cell tumors, which arise from egg-producing cells, are less common and tend to occur in younger women. Stromal tumors, which originate in hormone-producing cells, are rarer still.
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. The disparity between incidence and mortality is largely explained by stage at diagnosis: when ovarian cancer is caught at Stage I, confined to one or both ovaries, the five-year survival rate exceeds 90 percent. By Stage III or IV, when the disease has spread to the abdomen or distant organs, survival rates fall significantly. Unfortunately, the majority of diagnoses occur at Stage III or later.
Why Early Detection Is So Difficult
Unlike cervical cancer, which has the Pap smear, ovarian cancer does not have a reliable routine screening test proven effective for the general population. Transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 blood testing are sometimes used in high-risk women, but neither has demonstrated sufficient sensitivity and specificity to function as a general screening tool. Large clinical trials of both approaches have not shown a reduction in ovarian cancer mortality.
This absence of a screening test makes ovarian cancer’s symptoms the primary tool for earlier detection in most women. The symptoms are real; they are simply nonspecific and easy to attribute to more common, everyday conditions. This is also why knowing your family history and discussing it openly with your provider matters so much. A provider who is aware of your hereditary risk profile can have a more targeted conversation about monitoring and risk-reduction options, even in the absence of a population-wide screening tool.
Symptoms to Know and Take Seriously
The four symptoms most consistently associated with ovarian cancer are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary urgency or frequency. These are also symptoms that many women experience for entirely benign reasons, which is precisely why ovarian cancer is so often dismissed or delayed.
What sets an ovarian cancer presentation apart is persistence and pattern. When these symptoms are new to you, occur on most days, and continue for more than two to three weeks without a clear explanation, they deserve evaluation. Other symptoms that may occur include unexplained back pain, fatigue, changes in bowel habits, and pain during intercourse. The advice from gynecologic oncologists is consistent: when these symptoms are new and persistent, see your provider rather than waiting them out.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Family history and genetic mutations: A first-degree relative with ovarian or breast cancer raises suspicion for hereditary risk. BRCA1 mutations carry a lifetime ovarian cancer risk of roughly 35 to 70 percent; BRCA2 mutations carry a risk of 10 to 30 percent. Lynch syndrome, a hereditary DNA repair disorder, also confers substantially elevated risk. If your family history includes multiple relatives with ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer, discussing genetic counseling with your provider is worthwhile.
Age: Most ovarian cancers are diagnosed after age 55, though the disease can occur at any age. Risk increases steadily after menopause.
Reproductive history: Women who have never been pregnant and those who experienced infertility have modestly elevated risk. Women who have used oral contraceptives for extended periods, who have had children, or who have breastfed tend to have lower risk.
Endometriosis: A history of endometriosis is associated with a higher risk of certain ovarian cancer subtypes, particularly clear cell and endometrioid tumors.
What Can Reduce Risk?
Long-term use of oral contraceptives has one of the most consistent protective effects against ovarian cancer found in the research literature. Pregnancy and breastfeeding also confer some protection. For women with known BRCA mutations who have completed childbearing, risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy can reduce ovarian cancer risk by more than 80 percent and is typically recommended at an appropriate age in consultation with a provider.
“Dr. Shephard treated me so well. His nurse was great also. Minimal waiting time. Dr Shephard acted as if he had all the time in the world and as if I were his only patient that day! He considered all of my questions and feedback and explained his thinking and reasoning — it was extremely collaborative. He had thoroughly reviewed my chart and imaging results from previous visits, which contributed to making me feel very confident with his assessment and insights.”
— A Woman’s Place Patient Testimonial
Staying Connected to Your Care
Regular gynecologic care does not screen for ovarian cancer, but it creates the ongoing relationship and the open communication that make prompt evaluation possible when symptoms arise. Annual visits with your provider at A Woman’s Place give you a consistent point of contact for discussing any new or persistent symptoms, reviewing your family history, and ensuring any appropriate evaluation is arranged without delay. To schedule your visit, request an appointment online or call us at (239) 513-0053. Explore our gynecology and wellness services to learn more about the comprehensive care we provide in Naples, Florida.
Ovarian cancer is one of the most serious gynecologic cancers, and one of the most challenging to detect. Often described as a silent disease, it tends to progress through early stages without producing symptoms that feel clearly alarming or distinctive. By the time many women are diagnosed, the cancer has already spread beyond the ovaries. This reality gives symptom awareness a life-saving role. At A Woman’s Place in Naples, Florida, we want every patient to understand what ovarian cancer is, who is at elevated risk, and what signs should prompt a call to their provider.
“Abby Krembs was very patient in explaining some of the reasons as to why I was having issues and made sure to go over some of the different treatments to help manage issues. She answered all of my questions and took her time explaining things to me. She was very kind and made me feel welcomed.”
— A Woman’s Place Patient Testimonial
What Ovarian Cancer Is
The ovaries are two small glands on either side of the uterus that produce eggs and the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Ovarian cancer develops when cells in or around the ovaries begin to grow and divide abnormally. There are several types, classified by the cells from which they originate. Epithelial ovarian cancer, which arises from the cells covering the outer surface of the ovary, accounts for roughly 85 to 90 percent of all cases. Germ cell tumors, which arise from egg-producing cells, are less common and tend to occur in younger women. Stromal tumors, which originate in hormone-producing cells, are rarer still.
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. The disparity between incidence and mortality is largely explained by stage at diagnosis: when ovarian cancer is caught at Stage I, confined to one or both ovaries, the five-year survival rate exceeds 90 percent. By Stage III or IV, when the disease has spread to the abdomen or distant organs, survival rates fall significantly. Unfortunately, the majority of diagnoses occur at Stage III or later.
Why Early Detection Is So Difficult
Unlike cervical cancer, which has the Pap smear, ovarian cancer does not have a reliable routine screening test proven effective for the general population. Transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 blood testing are sometimes used in high-risk women, but neither has demonstrated sufficient sensitivity and specificity to function as a general screening tool. Large clinical trials of both approaches have not shown a reduction in ovarian cancer mortality.
This absence of a screening test makes ovarian cancer’s symptoms the primary tool for earlier detection in most women. The symptoms are real; they are simply nonspecific and easy to attribute to more common, everyday conditions. This is also why knowing your family history and discussing it openly with your provider matters so much. A provider who is aware of your hereditary risk profile can have a more targeted conversation about monitoring and risk-reduction options, even in the absence of a population-wide screening tool.
Symptoms to Know and Take Seriously
The four symptoms most consistently associated with ovarian cancer are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary urgency or frequency. These are also symptoms that many women experience for entirely benign reasons, which is precisely why ovarian cancer is so often dismissed or delayed.
What sets an ovarian cancer presentation apart is persistence and pattern. When these symptoms are new to you, occur on most days, and continue for more than two to three weeks without a clear explanation, they deserve evaluation. Other symptoms that may occur include unexplained back pain, fatigue, changes in bowel habits, and pain during intercourse. The advice from gynecologic oncologists is consistent: when these symptoms are new and persistent, see your provider rather than waiting them out.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Family history and genetic mutations: A first-degree relative with ovarian or breast cancer raises suspicion for hereditary risk. BRCA1 mutations carry a lifetime ovarian cancer risk of roughly 35 to 70 percent; BRCA2 mutations carry a risk of 10 to 30 percent. Lynch syndrome, a hereditary DNA repair disorder, also confers substantially elevated risk. If your family history includes multiple relatives with ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer, discussing genetic counseling with your provider is worthwhile.
Age: Most ovarian cancers are diagnosed after age 55, though the disease can occur at any age. Risk increases steadily after menopause.
Reproductive history: Women who have never been pregnant and those who experienced infertility have modestly elevated risk. Women who have used oral contraceptives for extended periods, who have had children, or who have breastfed tend to have lower risk.
Endometriosis: A history of endometriosis is associated with a higher risk of certain ovarian cancer subtypes, particularly clear cell and endometrioid tumors.
What Can Reduce Risk?
Long-term use of oral contraceptives has one of the most consistent protective effects against ovarian cancer found in the research literature. Pregnancy and breastfeeding also confer some protection. For women with known BRCA mutations who have completed childbearing, risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy can reduce ovarian cancer risk by more than 80 percent and is typically recommended at an appropriate age in consultation with a provider.
“Dr. Shephard treated me so well. His nurse was great also. Minimal waiting time. Dr Shephard acted as if he had all the time in the world and as if I were his only patient that day! He considered all of my questions and feedback and explained his thinking and reasoning — it was extremely collaborative. He had thoroughly reviewed my chart and imaging results from previous visits, which contributed to making me feel very confident with his assessment and insights.”
— A Woman’s Place Patient Testimonial
Staying Connected to Your Care
Regular gynecologic care does not screen for ovarian cancer, but it creates the ongoing relationship and the open communication that make prompt evaluation possible when symptoms arise. Annual visits with your provider at A Woman’s Place give you a consistent point of contact for discussing any new or persistent symptoms, reviewing your family history, and ensuring any appropriate evaluation is arranged without delay. To schedule your visit, request an appointment online or call us at (239) 513-0053. Explore our gynecology and wellness services to learn more about the comprehensive care we provide in Naples, Florida.
