Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the ovaries, the female reproductive organs responsible for producing eggs and hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen, making it more challenging to treat.

 

There are several types of ovarian cancer, categorized based on the specific cells from which they originate. The most common type is epithelial ovarian cancer, which arises from the cells that cover the outer surface of the ovaries. Less common types include germ cell tumors, which develop from the cells that produce eggs, and stromal tumors, which develop from the cells that hold the ovary together and produce hormones.