What is ovarian cancer ?

💡 DID YOU KNOW ?

The ovaries are two organs located in the lower abdomen ( pelvic cavity or small pelvis ) on either side of the uterus. They are small, oval-shaped, flat organs, about 4 cm long and 1.5 cm thick.

The main functions of the ovaries are :

• The production of eggs (ova)
• The production of hormones involved in regulating reproduction and the development of sexual characteristics

The ovaries are made up of three different types of cells :

• Epithelial cells , which form the outer layer of the ovaries called the epithelium
• Ovarian follicles , located beneath the epithelial cells, from which the eggs are produced. The ovaries contain about 400,000 follicles present at birth. After puberty, one follicle matures during each menstrual cycle. On average, on the fourteenth day of the cycle, this mature follicle releases a fertilizable egg that migrates toward the uterus. After ovulation, some of the cells from the follicle, once the egg is released, transform into the corpus luteum during the second half of the ovarian cycle.
• Stromal cells (a connective tissue filling the interior of the ovaries) and sex cords , which link the body of the ovary to the epithelial surface.

Each of these cell types can give rise to cancer. Epithelial cancer (serous or mucinous carcinoma) is the most common type of ovarian cancer. The fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus. Their role is to receive the egg from the ovary and allow it to migrate toward the uterus. The cells of the fallopian tubes may be responsible for some ovarian cancers.