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Ovarian Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer (not including skin cancer), with an estimated 22,430 new cases in 2007. According to the National Cancer Institute, the most common type of this malignancy is epithelial ovarian cancer, in which malignant cells form in the tissue that covers the ovary. A rare form of ovarian cancer, in which malignant cells are located in the egg-making cells of an ovary, is a germ cell tumor and affects adolescents and young women. A precancerous condition that affects the ovaries is known as “ovarian low malignant potential tumor.

Internet Resources

Cancer.gov: Ovarian Cancer
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/ovarian) Provides access to authoritative documents from the National Cancer Institute, including information about treatment, supportive care, and clinical trials.

MedlinePlus: Ovarian Cancer
(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ovariancancer.html) Developed at the National Library of Medicine specifically for consumers, this site is a portal for both government-sponsored and privately developed health information for the lay public. Look for familiar links to places like the National Institutes of Health.

People Living with Cancer:
(http://www.peoplelivingwithcancer.org/plwc/) Designed especially for cancer patients by the cancer professionals of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, this site is dedicated to providing accurate, reliable, current information about cancer. The symptom management section is especially helpful.

Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University (http://www.cancer.northwestern.edu/home/index.cfm) Contains information about the many services offered by Northwestern's comprehensive cancer center, one of thirteen founding members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).

Women's Cancer Source
(http://www.wcn.org/) Web site offers current information about all gynecologic cancers, including ovarian.

Books

• Cancer Sourcebook for Women. Sutton AL, ed. 2006.
  
• Gilda's disease: Sharing personal experiences and a medical perspective on ovarian cancer. Piver MS. 1996.
• Guide to survivorship for women with ovarian cancer. Montz FJ. 2005.
• Mayo Clinic guide to women's cancers. Hartmann LC, ed. 2005.
• No time to die: Living with ovarian cancer. Tilberis L. 1998.
• Ovarian Cancer: Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer 2. Thackery E, ed. 2006. (Available electronically at http://www.nmh.org/nmh/hlc/main.htm).
• Ovarian cancer: Your guide to taking control. Connor K. 2003.
  
• Ovarian Cancer: Your Guide to Taking Control. Connor K. 2003.
  
• Still With Me: A Daughter’s Journey of Love and Loss. Collier AK. 2003.
  
• Wit: A Play. Edson M. 1999. (A DVD of a production of Wit starring Emma Thompson
  is also available in the Health Learning Center.)
  

Journals

• Chemo update for ovarian cancer. Johns Hopkins Medical Letter, Health After 50, 18(6):1-2. August 2006.
• Chemotherapy delivered into abdomen may extend ovarian cancer survival. Mayo Clinic Women's Healthsource, 10(6):3. June 2006.
• Early Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer Exist but May Not Be Recognized. Mayo Clinic Women's Healthsource, 9(4):3. April 2005.
• Elective Oophorectomy: Benefits, Risks of Removing Ovaries. Mayo Clinic Women’s Healthsource. 10(9):1–2. September 2006.
  
• Moderate exercise may reduce ovarian cancer risk. Mayo Clinic Women's Healthsource, 10(1):3. January 2006.
• Ovarian cancer: Real progress in early detection. Johns Hopkins Medical Letter, Health After 50 16(11):3, 7. January 2005.
• Proteomics: Health at the Cellular Level. Mayo Clinic Health Letter. 24(3):4–5. March 2006.
  

Support

Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Health Learning Center has joined forces with the American Cancer Society's Patient Navigator Program to provide assistance to patients and families dealing with cancer. To take advantage of this unique service, provided by a licensed clinical social worker, call 312.926.4282.

Review Date: 10/07