Ovarian Cancer Research

What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer is cancer in the cells that make up the ovaries, including the surface cells that line the ovary, germ cells and the sex cord-stromal cells (a stromal tumour is a tumour that arises in the supporting connective tissue of an organ). Cancer cells that spread from other organ sites to the ovary (most commonly breast or colon cancers) and form other tumours are not considered ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer accounts for approximately four percent of all cancers among women and and causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the 'disease that whispers' or the 'silent killer' because there are no identifying warning symptoms to alert a woman to early stage disease. As a result, ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease.

Possible signs and symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

• Vague but persistent and unexplained gastrointestinal complaints, such as gas, nausea and indigestion
• Abdominal bloating, pelvic and/or abdominal pain, and/or feeling of fullness
• Unexplained change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea)
• Unexplained weight gain or loss
• Frequency and/or urgency of urination
• Unusual fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• New and unexplained abnormal postmenopausal vaginal bleeding

What should I do if I am concerned about my risk of ovarian cancer or have symptoms that persist and are unusual for me?
Speak to your family doctor or gynecologist for more information and have an examination. Be sure to discuss the possibility of ovarian cancer with your doctor.

About the Toronto Ovarian Cancer Research Network
The Toronto Ovarian Cancer Research Network is a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional group consisting of world-class academic clinicians, clinical researchers and basic scientists who share a passion and dedication to combat ovarian cancer. The focus of the group is to learn more about ovarian cancer disease with the goal of improving prevention, early diagnosis, quality of life and life expectancy.

Our mission is to:

• Support integrating new discoveries in the context of leading edge scientific methodology
• Promote/encourage interdisciplinary collaborations, allowing for specific successes in subgroups
• Promote information dissemination and knowledge sharing within the larger group
• Create and support an excellent environment for educating and training basic and clinical scientists for ovarian cancer research
• Undertake an advocacy role for the disease

Contact Us
Telephone: (416) 946-4658
Fax: (416) 946-4594

Toronto Ovarian Cancer Research Network
Princess Margaret Hospital/OCI
620 University Avenue
7^th Floor, Room 703B
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2L7
website: www.uhnres.utoronto.ca/programs/tpcrn