Cancer cells can invade and damage tissues and organs near the tumor. Also, cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumor in the ovary and spread to other organs in the abdomen and form new tumors. The cancer cells also can enter the lymphatic system or the bloodstream and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis. There are several types of ovarian cancer.
Ovarian tumors are the most histologically diverse group of tumors.
Germ cell tumors, which arise from the primary germ cells of the ovary, occur in young women and are uncommon in women greater than 30 years old. For example, ovarian cancer that spreads to the colon is metastastic ovarian cancer. It is not colon cancer, even though the new tumor is in the colon. Link to the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Click here for frequently asked questions about Ovarian Cancer.