Definisi

The ovaries are a pair of organs that are part of the reproductive system in women (females).
The reproductive system is the group of organs that work together to make babies. In women,
this system includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and vagina. Each ovary is about
the size and shape of a grape. They are located in the pelvisthe area below the belly
(abdomen) between the hip bones. One ovary is on the left side of the uterus and one is on the
right. Each ovary is connected to the uterus by a long, thin tube called a fallopian tube.

Normal cells grow and divide to make new cells. New cells are made as the body needs them to
replace injured or dying cells. When normal cells grow old or get damaged, they die. Cancer
cells dont do this. The changes in genes cause cancer cells to make too many copies of
themselves

Cancer is a disease of cellsthe building blocks that form tissue in the body. Inside all cells are
coded instructions for making new cells and controlling how cells behave. These coded
instructions are called genes. Abnormal changes in genes can turn normal ovarian cells into
cancer cells.
Cancer cells act differently than normal cells in three key ways. First, cancer cells grow without control.
Unlike normal cells, cancer cells make new cells that arent needed and dont die when they should. The
cancer cells build up to form a primary tumor.

Second, cancer cells can grow into (invade) other tissues. This is called invasion. Normal cells dont do
this. Over time, the primary tumor can grow large and invade tissues outside the ovary. Ovarian cancer
often invades the fallopian tubes and uterus. Third, cancer cells dont stay in one place as they should.
Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body. This process is called metastasis.
Ovarian cancer cells can break off (shed) from the primary tumor to form new tumors on the surface of
nearby organs and tissues. These are called implants or seeds. Implants that grow into supporting
tissues of nearby organs are called invasive implants.

Cancer cells can also spread through blood or lymph vessels. Lymph is a clear fluid that gives cells water
and food. It also has white blood cells that help fight germs. It travels in small tubes (vessels) to lymph
nodes. Lymph nodes are small groups of diseasefighting cells that remove germs from lymph. Lymph
vessels and nodes are found all over the body.

Most ovarian cancers start in the epithelial cells. Epithelial cells form the outer layer of tissue around the
ovary. This layer of tissue is called the epithelium. Cancer that starts in these cells is called epithelial
ovarian cancer.

Lymph vessels and nodes are found all over the body. Lymph nodes are small groups of special disease-
fighting cells. Lymph nodes are connected to each other by a network of small tubes called lymph
vessels.