Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Knowing the Signs and the Facts

The news

Each September, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month brings attention to a cancer that is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. The month encourages calm, accurate learning — about what these cancers are, who may be at higher risk, and where to turn for reliable information.

Why people are talking about it

Ovarian cancer is talked about because it can be difficult to catch early, and because awareness of personal and family risk can genuinely matter. Rather than alarm, the goal is understanding: knowing the facts, being aware of one's own body, and recognizing when a conversation with a healthcare professional makes sense.

What this topic means

According to the National Cancer Institute, ovarian epithelial cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and primary peritoneal cancer form in the same kind of tissue and are treated in the same way. NCI notes that these cancers are often advanced at diagnosis. Less common types of ovarian tumors include ovarian germ cell tumors and ovarian low malignant potential (borderline) tumors.

This grouping reflects how NCI approaches these cancers — as related conditions rather than a single, uniform disease.

Screening and prevention

NCI maintains evidence-based prevention information for ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers, as well as screening information — and it is worth reading NCI's own pages closely, because these cancers do not have a simple, population-wide screening recommendation the way some other cancers do. Rather than summarize specifics that could be misread, we point you to NCI's regularly reviewed prevention and screening pages.

One area NCI highlights is genetics. NCI provides a fact sheet on BRCA gene changes, cancer risk, and genetic testing, because inherited changes in certain genes can raise the risk of ovarian cancer. For people with a strong family history, understanding whether genetic counseling or testing is appropriate is a meaningful, NCI-supported conversation to have with a healthcare professional.

How to take part

• Learn your family history. NCI's BRCA fact sheet can help you understand when genetic counseling might be worth discussing.
• Pay attention to persistent changes in your body and raise them with a healthcare professional.
• Support ovarian cancer research and reputable patient-support organizations.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Given my family history, should I consider genetic counseling or testing?
• What symptoms or changes should I take seriously and report?
• Are there any screening or monitoring options relevant to my personal risk?
• Where can I find reliable information and support?