What is ovarian cancer? Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries which are located on both sides of the uterus. When the ovaries are mature they produce eggs and hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. There are different types of ovarian cancer, but tumors are usually named by the type of cells in which it originated and whether the tumor is benign or cancerous. There are 3 main types, the most common of which is epithelial ovarian cancer (85-90%). This type of cancer originates from the epithelial tissue that covers the surface of the ovary. The serous type of epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common, there are other types of ovarian cancer and the appearance is described differently than malignant tissue and has a different behavior than epithelial ovarian cancer. Germ cell neoplasms, where eggs form every month, are examples of nonepithelial ovarian cancer. These represent only 5-10% of ovarian cancer cases and are usually found in very young women, under the age of 25. Another 5-8% are sex cord and stroma tumors, which are also nonepithelial ovarian tumors. These non-epithelial types of ovarian cancer, if diagnosed early, have a 90% survival rate 5 years after diagnosis. According to estimates by the American Cancer Society for ovarian cancer there will be approximately 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer in 2014 with approximately 15,000 deaths. Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer death in women. What are the risk factors for developing ovarian cancer? Having a family history can increase your risk, for example having a mother, grandmother, sister. Women who have close relatives are at greater risk of developing the disease... middle of the paper... lend an ear and listen. It's important to get your affairs in order so that there's one less thing to focus on if the road you're on takes a turn for the worse. It's important to feel like you're not leaving any burdens on your family and friends. Ask your doctor what your options are and discuss them with family and friends. Sometimes it's best to get a second or third opinion as well to make sure the diagnosis is accurate. There are times when mistakes are made and a second opinion could have saved a person a lot of pain and heartache. Above all, keep in mind that ovarian cancer is not an automatic death sentence. Many people have fought the fight against all types of cancer, including ovarian cancer, and have won the battle and are cancer-free for the rest of their lives. Take time to talk and spend time with your family and friends because time is precious.