The cancerous developments in the female reproductive organs, i.e., ovaries, are referred to as ovarian cancer. At the initial stages, ovarian cancer does not showcase any symptoms; hence, it tends to go untreated for long. As a result of this, it silently spreads across the abdomen and pelvis. In this stage, the symptoms of ovarian cancer get difficult to treat. 

This article is an effort to introduce you to the various stages and risk factors of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer stages
Your doctor or oncologist uses certain criteria to determine the progression and stages of ovarian cancer.

1. Stage I
In this stage, the cancerous development is confined to the ovaries only.

• Stage IA:  The growth of cancer occurs in one ovary.
• Stage IB:  Cancer gets spread to both ovaries.
• Stage IC:  The surrounding tissues of the ovary get infected, and the cancer-causing cells spread to the abdomen and pelvis. The surface of the ovaries also gets infected in this stage. A high-grade tumor starts developing and grows at a much faster rate.

2. Stage II
During stage II, the development of cancer cells spreads to both the ovaries and the other pelvis areas.

• Stage IIA:  The symptoms are found across the fallopian tube or in the uterus.
• Stage IIB:  In this stage, cancerous development spreads to nearby pelvic organs too.

3. Stage III
In this stage, excluding distant sites, cancer development occurs across nearby lymph nodes and other parts of the abdomen.

• Stage IIIA:  The lymph nodes in areas outside or behind the peritoneum get infected. In some cases, cancer cells spread outside the pelvis as well.
• Stage IIIB:  Peritoneum starts getting infected and at this stage.
• Stage IIIC:  The cancer cells spread to the surface of the liver or spleen, in addition to the lymph nodes in the abdomen.

Risk factors of ovarian cancer

1. Older age
Age is a key risk factor in developing the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Though it can occur at any age, it’s more common among females aged between 50 and 60 years.

2. Inherited gene mutations
In some cases, gene mutations also lead to the development of symptoms of ovarian cancer. This usually gets inherited from your parents.

3. Family history
Ovarian cancer is also linked with family history. If you have two or more close relatives with ovarian cancer, there is a high chance of developing the disease.

4. Estrogen hormone replacement therapy
Long-term hormone therapy with large doses also leads to the symptoms of ovarian cancer in some cases.

5. Menstruation process
Starting menopause at an early stage and or at a later stage are risk factors for ovarian cancer.

These are the stages and risk factors of ovarian cancer. If you know that you are at risk of developing this condition, you must consult an oncologist at the earliest to know how to reduce your risks and prevent the onset of the disease.