What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is basically the cancer of ovaries (tumour in or on the ovaries). Ovaries are oval bodies that are found on either side of the uterus, on the posterior surface. In an ovarian cancer ovaries that ova (female reproductive cell) are found. The ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone, female hormones. The ovaries release eggs into the womb (uterus) through the fallopian tubes. When an ovary stops releasing eggs, the woman is said to have reached her menopause. At this time, hormones are also produced in very low levels.

It is normal for old body cells to die and give way for new ones to grow and divide to form other cells. At times, body cells may divide abnormally in excess. These excess cells eventually form a mass of tissue that results in a tumour. Such a tumour can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Cancerous tumours like ovarian cancers are life threatening. They can be removed but will grow back again. They can spread and damage surrounding tissues or organs. The cells spread by breaking away from the original organ (primary), enter the bloodstream or the lymp system and infect other tissues or organs.
There are three main types of ovarian cancer:  benign (non-cancerous), cysts, which are more common than ovarian cancers and epithelial cells on the surface of the ovary. Symptoms of ovarian cancer do not appear immediately. They appear very late when the ovarian cancer has spread extensively. No definite screening for early detection is possible. The symptoms of ovarian cancer include pelvic pain, urgent or frequent urination and feeling full very quickly while eating.The drug paclitaxel has been widely used.

This is a natural or semi synthetic diterpene extracted from the plant Taxus brevifolia. It promotes the assembly of microtubules from tubulin dimmers and stabilizes microtubules by preventing depolymerization, leading to the inhibition of the normal dynamic reorganization of the microtubule network. Before administering, a patient must be pre-medicated with anti-allergic agent like steroids and antihistamines.