Ovarian cancer is a disease in which the cells in the ovaries become abnormal and start to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. The ovaries are a pair of almond-shaped organs that lie in the pelvis on either side of the uterus. The ovaries produce and release an egg each month during the menstrual cycle. In addition, they also produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, which regulate and maintain the secondary female sexual characteristics.

Ovarian cancer can develop at any age, but more than half the cases are among women who are 65 years or older. It is difficult to diagnose ovarian cancer early, because often there are no warning symptoms and the disease grows relatively quickly. In addition, the ovaries are situated deep in the pelvis and, therefore, small tumors cannot be detected easily during a routine physical examination.

The actual cause of ovarian cancer is not...