Chapter 7: Ovarian Cancer including Cancer of the Fallopian Tube

This chapter covers the subject of ovarian cancer and Fallopian tube cancer. Fallopian tube cancer used to be thought of as a very rare condition and when it did arise, it appeared to follow a very similar course to that of ovarian cancer. However, since 2012 there have been new data that show that 70% of what were thought to be ovarian cancers, in fact have arisen within the Fallopian tube. They arise at the end of the tube closest to the ovary (distal end) and then it appears the early abnormal cells implant in the ovary, giving the impression that the cancer has arisen in the ovary. In practical terms this does not make for any difference in cancer management. They are ‘staged’ in the same way and are treated in the same way. The staging refers to how far the cancer has spread. Because of the great similarities, although the chapter refers to ovarian cancer, it also applies to Fallopian tube cancer. There will be no further mention made of Fallopian tube cancer in this chapter, but what is written here relating to ovarian cancer would apply to you if you have Fallopian tube cancer…