Advanced Radiation Therapy for Ovarian Cancer

At Minneapolis Radiation Oncology, we bring advanced radiation therapy close to home, with 11 locations across the Twin Cities, Brainerd Lakes Area, and Western Wisconsin. Count on the cancer specialists at MRO to be here for you, with care, precision, and compassion.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer begins when cells grow out of control in the ovaries, which produce eggs, and the hormones estrogen and progesterone. It’s most common in post-menopausal women; in Minnesota, over 80% of cases are in women over 50. Symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague, and because of this, it may go undetected until the later stages. By then, it may spread, or metastasize, to other areas of the pelvis or abdomen.

There are more than 30 different types of ovarian cancer; they’re identified based on the name of the cell in which the cancer originated.

• Epithelial. These tumors develop in the layer of tissue on the outside of the ovaries.
• Stromal. These tumors grow in hormone-producing cells.
• Germ cell. These tumors develop in egg-producing cells.

Ovarian tumors develop most commonly in the epithelial cells in the outer layer of the ovary. Although most of this type are benign, cancerous epithelial tumors account for 85% to 90% of ovarian cancers and often spread elsewhere. Stromal tumors represent only about 5 percent of ovarian tumors, while germ cell tumors are even rarer.

Primary peritoneal carcinoma and fallopian tube cancer are similar to epithelial ovarian cancer and are often treated with the same techniques. Long term survival rates for these cancers vary widely, depending on the type and stage of cancer, and a woman’s ethnicity.

“An important part of my job is helping my patients to understand their unique situations and available treatment options. I am proud that MRO’s cutting-edge technology allows us to create the best individual treatment plans to attack cancer and minimize the side effects as much as possible. Working as a team, our highly trained staff has many years of experience and is an important part of MRO’s caring culture.”
Kurt Nisi, MD
MRO | North Memorial