A woman is considered to be at increased risk for uterine cancer if her mother or sister has had the disease, or if she has previously had breast, ovarian, or colon cancer. Disorders of the Ovaries Ovarian cysts are blister-like sacs filled with liquid. They may cause pain during intercourse or at other times. Women may also notice feelings of abdominal pressure and fullness. Most ovarian cysts are noncancerous.
Some ovarian cysts form at the time of ovulation, when the ovary releases an egg cell.
Ovarian cancer may affect one or both ovaries. More than three-quarters of all ovarian cancers go undetected until the advanced stages of the disease, when the cure rate is only 5 to 15 percent. The exact cause of ovarian cancer is unknown. A woman is considered to be at increased risk if her grandmother, mother, or sister has had the disease. Women who have never had children, are infertile, or have previously had cancer of the breast, endometrium, or colon are also at greater risk.