Everyone Healthy Library
Ovarian Cancer
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
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Get urgent medical care now if there is any severe, sudden, rapidly worsening or worrying symptom, especially:
- chest pain, pressure or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back
- trouble breathing, blue lips, severe wheeze or choking
- stroke-like symptoms such as face drooping, arm weakness or speech trouble
- collapse, fainting, seizure, confusion or extreme drowsiness
- severe bleeding, black stools, vomiting blood or major injury
- severe allergic reaction, swelling of the face/throat or widespread rash with breathing trouble
- severe abdominal pain, severe headache, stiff neck or sudden vision change
- signs of severe dehydration, sepsis, high fever with worsening illness, or symptoms in a baby/young child that concern you
Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Condition overview
Attributes
Commonalityis common
Commonality for Afghanistanis uncommon
Commonality for Australiais uncommon
Commonality for Central Africais uncommon
Commonality for Central Africais rare
Commonality for Central Americais uncommon
Commonality for Chinais rare
Commonality for East Africais uncommon
Commonality for Europeis uncommon
Commonality for North Africais rare
Commonality for Pakistanis uncommon
Commonality for Russiais uncommon
Commonality for South Americais uncommon
Commonality for South East Asiais uncommon
Commonality for Southern Indiais uncommon
Commonality for Zimbabweis uncommon
Genderis F
Linked signs and symptoms
26Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
- Abdominal Bloating
- Abdominal Mass
- Anaemia (Anemia)
- Breath Shortness (Dyspnoea)
- Cachexia (Weight Loss, Muscle Wasting, Fatigue, Weakness)
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea (Diarrhea)
- Difficulty Eating
- Early Satiety (Feeling Full Quickly)
- Fatigue
- Flatulence (Farting)
- Indigestion (Dyspepsia)
- loss of appetite
- Muscle Wasting
- Nausea
- Pain Abdominal
- Pain Back
- Pain Leg
- Pain Pelvic
- Pain Vaginal During Intercourse (Dyspareunia)
- Stomach Or Intestinal Upset (Dyspepsia)
- Urinary Frequency Increased
- Urinary Urgency
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Weakness
- Weight Loss (Body Mass Index Decreased)
Linked drugs / medications
14Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
20Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Surgery
4Medical therapy
6Alternative and complementary therapies
2Alternative medicine
2Vitamins and minerals
2Vitamins
1Minerals
1Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
42These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
- Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP, Serum AFP, Blood)
- Androstenedione Concentration
- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Blood Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Test
- Blood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- CA 125 Blood Test
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Chest X-Ray
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products, FSPs, Fibrin Breakdown Products, Fbps)
- Fibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Folic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Concentration
- haptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA)
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Weight Test
- Peak Flow Meter
- Platelet Count
- Potassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Progesterone Concentration
- Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Reticulocyte Absolute Count
- Testosterone Concentration
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration
- Thyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Ultrasound
- Urine 5-Hydroxindoleacetic Acid Concentration
- Urine Estradiol (E2) Concetration
- Urine Estriol (E3) Concentration
- Urine Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Test
- Urine Pregnanediol Concentration (24 Hour)
- Urine Pregnanetriol Concentration (24 Hour)
- Vitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
Biological markers/agents
37This visual map shows biological markers/agents reported as increased or decreased with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
23- Alpha-1 Antintrypsin (AAT)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–215 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsAlpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Alpha-Fetoprotein (Non-Pregnant, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 5–40 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsAlpha-Fetoprotein (AFP, Serum AFP
- AndrostenedioneReference range example3.7–6.5 nmol/LLinked diagnostic testsAndrostenedione Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid LeukocytesReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–5 /µL; 1y - 6y: 0–20 /µLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Neutrophil DifferentialReference range exampleAll: 0–5 %Linked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Total ProteinReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 15–45 mg/dL; Child (< 10y): 15–70 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Fibrin MonomersReference range example0–10,000 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrin Split ProductsReference range exampleAll: 0–1 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0.7–3.1 mg/mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0.35–2.5 mg/mLLinked diagnostic testsFibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Gamma Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.8–1.7 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- haptoglobin (Hp)Reference range example45–200 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testshaptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (Blood hCG)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–5 units/LLinked diagnostic testsBlood Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Test
- PlateletsReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 150–450 109/L; Adult ( > 16y): 135–380 109/LLinked diagnostic testsPlatelet Count
- Pregnanetriol (Urine)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0–1.6 mg/24hrs; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0.02–0.8 mg/24hrsLinked diagnostic testsUrine Pregnanetriol Concentration (24 Hour)
- ProgesteroneReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Male: 0–1.1 ng/mL; Child (< 10y): 0.1–30 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsProgesterone Concentration
- TestosteroneReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0.8–1.65 nmol/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 15–24.4 nmol/LLinked diagnostic testsTestosterone Concentration
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0.021–0.11 µg/dL; Newborn (0 - 1month): 0.04–0.19 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsThyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration, Urine B2 Microglobulin Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake PercentageReference range exampleAll: 25–38 %Linked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Uric Acid, BloodReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 2.5–7 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4–8 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsBlood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- Urine 5-Hydroxindoleacetic AcidReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 2–8 mg/24hrsLinked diagnostic testsUrine 5-Hydroxindoleacetic Acid Concentration
- Urine Estradiol (E2)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0–15 µg/24hrs; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0–6.5 µg/24hrsLinked diagnostic testsUrine Estradiol (E2) Concetration
- Urine Estriol (E3)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0–60 µg/24hrs; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 1–11 µg/24hrsLinked diagnostic testsUrine Estriol (E3) Concentration
- Urine Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)Reference range exampleAll: 0–5.1 units/LLinked diagnostic testsUrine Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Test
Often decreased
14- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–110 %Linked diagnostic testsAntithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Folic Acid (Folate)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 14–51 ng/mL; Child (0 - 16y): 5–21 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsFolic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0.6–55 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 1.49–15 units/LLinked diagnostic testsFollicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Concentration
- Glucose (Cerebrospinal Fluid)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 65–85 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y): 50–72 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Hemoglobin (Hb)Reference range exampleFemale: 78–100 gm/dL; Male: 76–100 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsHemoglobin (Hb) Concentration, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Weight Test
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–125 mg/dL; 6y - 16y: 0–100 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsLow Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- Plasma thromboplastin antecedentReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 20–35 secondsLinked diagnostic testsActivated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)
- Potassium (K, Blood)AbbreviationKReference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 4.1–5.3 mEq/L; Child (0 - 16y): 3.4–4.7 mEq/LLinked diagnostic testsPotassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Pregnanediol (Urine)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 0–0.1 mg/24hrs; Adult ( > 16y), Female: 0–10.5 mg/24hrsLinked diagnostic testsUrine Pregnanediol Concentration (24 Hour)
- ReticulocytesReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 24–83 109/L; 0.5–1.5 %Linked diagnostic testsReticulocyte Absolute Count, Reticulocyte Count Percent Total RBC
- Thyroxine (Total T4)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 6–12 µg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 5–12 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsThyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3)Reference range example2.7–4.9 pg/mLLinked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 1.1–2.43 ng/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 1–2.1 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Vitamin B12 (VB12)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 130–670 pmol/LLinked diagnostic testsVitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
Introduction / full article
Ovarian Cancer
Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
Selenium Supplement [1, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. IMPORTANT: Selenium is toxic in high doses. Massive overdoses can cause kidney failure, breathing difficulty and death. Selenium should only be taken at healthy levels which the body is able to tolerate.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Observational studies have shown that taking adequate daily amounts of selenium can help prevent ovarian cancer. However, these are very unreliable studies, and more research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense) [1, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Red Clover helps to treat ovarian cancer)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP) [1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Warning! All parts of the plant, Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana), is poisonous and should not be ingested. Thoroughly cooking the plant reduces that toxicity. The effects of the improperly prepared plant include vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps, headache, confusion, convulstions, low blood pressure, heart block and death. Only plant extracts (PAP) or thoroughly prepared plants should be ingested, and even then, under professional medical guidance.
Recommendation: weakly in favor (Laboratory studies show that PAP may hold promise in the treatment of ovarian cancer, but more clinical trials are needed)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Mistletoe (Iscador, Viscum Album) [1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. WARNING: The mistletoe plant should NOT be eaten because it is poisonous. May cause seizures, coma and death. It should only be taken as a purified mistletoe extract, and only in recommended doses.
Recommendation: No recommendation (Studies on the effect of Mistletoe on Ovarian Cancer have yielded mixed, conflicting results. More research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Folic Acid [1, 2, 3, 4]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: weakly against (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that folic acid helps to prevent ovarian cancer. With regards to treating an existing cancer, there is a risk that folic acid supplements may actually be harmful.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary References
Treatments:
1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002092.htm
3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/folicacid.html
4. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/folic-acid
5. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/mistletoe
6. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/mistletoe/ataglance.htm
7. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002883.htm
8. http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mistle40.html
9. http://www.bmj.com/content/333/7582/1293.full?ijkey=56e55886cc53e0c478801e74001edc3bea1c322e&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha
10. http://www.cbif.gc.ca/pls/pp/ppack.info?p_psn=12&p_type=all&p_sci=sci&p_x=px
11. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Phytolacca+americana
12. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/315368
13. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002874.htm
14. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pokeweed
15. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/redclover/
16. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19609225
17. http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/natural-fertility-boosters.html
18. http://indigo-herbs.co.uk/acatalog/Red_Clover_Flowers_Info.html
19. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/trifolium_pratense.html
20. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/red-clover
21. http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69350.cfm
22. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/selenium?sitearea=ETO
23. http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/doc.aspx?viewid=ED8AD8E8-6AE5-458D-8091-393F4CB73F0D
24. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-selenium.html
25. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9290116
26. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9829869
27. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10335455
28. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2136228
29. http://www.springerlink.com/content/v0r644v4ju5153k2/
30. http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/101/5/283