Ovarian cancer: common sites of spread

Cancer cells from an ovary can move through the abdominal cavity and settle on the peritoneum, the thin lining around abdominal organs. The omentum, bowel surface, liver surface, diaphragm, and pelvic tissues may be assessed. Lymph nodes and organs outside the abdomen can also be involved. A scan or operation may show a suspicious area, but tissue examination is often needed to confirm what it is. The location and extent of disease help the team assign a stage and choose treatment.

Your team may use an examination, blood tests, cross-sectional imaging, and sometimes a pelvic ultrasound. If cancer is confirmed, surgery may remove visible disease or obtain samples. Genomic tumour profiling can identify features that may influence treatment choices. Ask whether the report describes the original tumour, suspected deposits, lymph nodes, or an area that still needs confirmation.

Contact your oncology team promptly for increasing abdominal swelling, repeated vomiting, inability to pass stool or gas, new breathlessness, severe pain, or marked weakness. These symptoms can have several causes, but they may need urgent assessment. Seek emergency help for sudden severe pain, collapse, confusion, or difficulty breathing.

Which areas are involved, and how certain is each finding? What tests will confirm the stage? Is surgery being considered to remove visible disease? Would genomic tumour profiling or BRCA genetic testing be useful? How will treatment address symptoms as well as the cancer?