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Several malignancies arise from the ovary.
Therefore, these women may have been more vigilant and inclined to participate in cancer screening programs that may have led to earlier detection. For patients at increased risk, prophylactic oophorectomy may be considered after the age of 35 if childbearing is complete. However, the benefit of prophylactic oophorectomy has not yet been established. The prognostic information presented below deals only with epithelial carcinomas. Ovarian cancer usually spreads via local shedding into the peritoneal cavity followed by implantation on the peritoneum, and via local invasion of bowel and bladder.