Alopecia Hair loss on some or all areas of the body. It’s often a side effect of chemotherapy or radiation. Anemia A condition in which the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. Antiemetic Medication that helps control or prevent nausea and vomiting. Ascites An accumulation of fluid in the abdomen that can cause swelling and bloating. Benign biopsy A biopsy result showing the tissue in question is not cancerous. Biopsy A procedure in which doctors remove a small piece of tissue from the body to test for diseases like cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genes that normally help suppress tumor growth. A person who inherits a change, or mutation, in these genes may have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer. Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) A protein that shows up in high amounts in most women with ovarian cancer. Doctors can monitor how well treatments are working and whether ovarian cancer has come back by testing CA-125 levels in the blood. Carcinogens Substances that cause or promote cancer. Carcinoma Cancer that starts in the body’s internal tissues. Chemotherapy (chemo) Drugs that kill cancer cells in the body. When treating ovarian cancer, doctors commonly recommend a combination of platinum-based chemo medicines, such as Paraplatin (carboplatin) or cisplatin, with a taxane drug, such as Taxotere (docetaxel) or Taxol (paclitaxel). Complete blood count (CBC) A blood test that measures red and white blood cell counts, platelet counts, hemoglobin, and cell volume. CT or CAT scan An imaging test that combines X-rays and a computer to produce high-quality images of your organs, bones, and other tissues. These pictures reveal much more detail than a standard X-ray. Cysts Fluid-filled sacs that occur in tissues of the body. Most cysts are noncancerous. Debulking A technique in which surgeons remove as much of the tumor as possible. Debulking may make chemotherapy and radiation treatments more effective at killing cancer cells. Edema Swelling that happens because fluid accumulates within tissues. Edema can be a complication of ovarian cancer. Epithelial A type of tissue that lines the skin and organs. Epithelial ovarian tumors Ovarian tumors that develop from cells that line the surface of the ovaries. Doctors call cancerous epithelial tumors carcinomas, and they account for between 85 percent and 90 percent of all ovarian cancers. Estrogen A female sex hormone that’s mainly produced by the ovaries. It plays an important role in how a woman’s body functions, including the development and maintenance of female sex characteristics. Estrogen receptor test A test that examines whether cancerous tissue that’s removed during a biopsy depends on estrogen for growth. Gynecologic oncologist A doctor who specializes in treating cancers of the female reproductive system. Hematologist A doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders. Hormones Substances in the body that are made by the endocrine glands and travel in the bloodstream. They help regulate metabolism, growth, sexual function, reproduction, mood, and more. Hysterectomy Surgery to remove a woman’s uterus, and sometimes, the cervix. In a partial hysterectomy, only the uterus is removed. With a total hysterectomy, both the uterus and cervix are taken out. Intraperitoneal A term that means within or administered by entering the peritoneum. For example, intraperitoneal chemotherapy is infused into the abdomen through a tube. Leukopenia A condition in which there’s a low number of white blood cells in the body. It’s sometimes caused by chemotherapy and can raise your risk for infection. Lymph nodes Small glands in your body that are part of your immune system. Cancer commonly spreads to the lymph nodes first. Malignant metastasis When a cancerous tumor spreads from one part of the body to another. Ovarian germ cell tumors Tumors that develop in cells that form the ova (eggs within the ovary) and are usually noncancerous. Less than 2 percent of all ovarian cancers are germ cell tumors. Ovarian stromal tumors Tumors that develop in the cells that connect different structures of the ovaries and produce hormones. Only about 1 percent of ovarian cancers are ovarian stromal tumors. Peripheral neuropathy A condition that’s characterized by nerve damage, which can trigger symptoms like burning, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hands or feet. Peripheral neuropathy is a possible side effect of chemotherapy. Peritoneum The membrane that lines the abdominal wall and covers organs in the abdomen. Pleural effusion An abnormal collection of fluid between the thin layers of tissue lining the lungs and inside of the chest cavity. It can be a complication of ovarian cancer and cause breathing difficulties along with other symptoms. Recurrence When cancer comes back after not being detected for some time. It could return to the same place as the original tumor or another area in the body. Remission A term used to describe a period of time when cancer isn’t active and symptoms disappear. A remission may not be a cure. Targeted therapy Medicines that attack specific targets on cancer cells. They tend to pose different side effects than chemotherapy. Thrombocytopenia A condition in which there’s an abnormally low number of platelets in the blood. It can be a complication of chemotherapy.
