Ovarian cancer may arise in the ovaries, oval-shaped organs found in pairs in the female reproductive system. Studies suggest that vitamin D plays a role in preventing and treating ovarian carcinoma. In 2009, about 21,550 cases were diagnosed and 14,600 women died of ovarian cancer in the United States. Ovarian cancer is usually a cancer of women older than age 60.
Within the ovaries, eggs are produced, along with estrogen and progesterone. The following diagram shows the location of the ovaries.
Ovarian cancer risk factors and symptoms
Several factors increase the risk for ovarian cancer:
Infertility
Endometriosis, in which cells of the uterus are found outside the uterus, such as on the ovaries, causing pain and bleeding, especially during menstruation
Postmenopausal estrogen supplementation
Factors that decrease the risk for ovarian cancer include use of combined estrogen/progesterone oral contraceptives and contraception by tubal ligation (tying off the fallopian tubes).
Ovarian cancer is associated with a number of signs and symptoms, but none that are specific to ovarian cancer. Consider the most important:
Back pain
Bloating
Digestive symptoms, including constipation and lack of appetite
A feeling of being full early
Irregular menstrual cycles
Pain in the pelvis or abdomen
Swollen abdomen
Vaginal bleeding
Vague lower abdominal pain
Ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment
Ovarian cancer isn’t usually diagnosed in its early stages because it tends to cause symptoms that aren’t specific to the disease. When ovarian cancer is suspected, a pelvic examination and CT scan can diagnose it. A definitive diagnosis requires a biopsy of the mass in the ovary.
Treatment of ovarian cancer starts by surgically removing the ovary and fallopian tube. If the cancer has spread, chemotherapy is added to the treatment. Radiation therapy isn’t usually used because the ovaries are located near other vital organs.
The prognosis for ovarian cancer is poor because the diagnosis is generally made so late in the disease. Complications that may occur include fluid in the abdomen, intestinal obstruction, and spread to other organs. The five-year survival rate is 45 percent.
Vitamin D’s role in ovarian cancer
The evidence that a lack of vitamin D plays a role in the occurrence of ovarian cancer is interesting; however, this relationship isn’t secure yet. Evidence that vitamin D plays a role in preventing and treating ovarian carcinoma includes the following:
Calcitriol slows the growth and increases apoptosis (death) of cultured ovarian cancer cells.
Drugs designed to act like calcitriol inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer in animal models.
Results from several smaller studies suggest that higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels might be protective against ovarian cancer; however, a recent study that combines several smaller studies shows this may be limited to overweight women.
