Ovarian cancer: understanding and exploring your options
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Medically reviewed by
Prof. Éric Lambaudie
Updated on
August 6, 2026
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Have you been offered surgery?
Have you been offered surgery?
Surgery is never trivial. A medical specialist will analyze your file to confirm the recommendation or explore other therapeutic options.
Is there an alternative to surgery?
Is there an alternative to surgery?
A surgeon specializing in your condition will re-evaluate your file to confirm if surgery is necessary or to identify less invasive solutions.
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
An expert physician will analyze your medical records and history to help you choose the most appropriate strategy for your situation, whether it be medical treatment, surgery, or monitoring.
Torn between two treatments?
Torn between two treatments?
A specialist will explain exactly what each option entails, including effectiveness, side effects, and daily impact, so you can make your decision with confidence.
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
A specialist doctor will analyze your complete file (tests, imaging, medical history) to provide you with a reasoned diagnosis and guide your care.
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Have you just received a diagnosis?
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When facing cancer or a serious illness, every decision counts.
When facing cancer or a serious illness, every decision counts.
A doctor at an expert center will review your file to confirm your care plan, clarify the available options, and help you make decisions with confidence.
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
What is a medical second opinion?
What is a medical second opinion?
Following a diagnosis or a proposed treatment plan, a medical specialist can analyze your file and provide an additional perspective.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Many partner health insurance providers cover the Diagdoor service with no upfront costs. Check your eligibility as soon as you create your account.
Are you looking for a second opinion for a loved one?
Are you looking for a second opinion for a loved one?
The process is entirely online. Upload your available medical documents, and our team will take care of the rest.
How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
Upload your medical documents online; our team will review your file within 48 hours, and an expert will provide their opinion in less than 7 days. Simple, secure, 100% online.
Not sure if your case is eligible?
Not sure if your case is eligible?
Our medical team can guide you before you submit your request. Describe your situation, and we will help you determine if Diagdoor can be of assistance.
Need the opinion of a
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Need the opinion of a
[spec]
Upload your file to Diagdoor. A
[spec]
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Ovarian cancer is one of the most difficult gynecological cancers to detect at an early stage. Its signs often resemble common, benign conditions, which can complicate the path to diagnosis. Treatment requires specialized expertise and decisions that deserve to be fully understood.
Key points
- Ovarian cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage in 75% of cases, due to non-specific initial symptoms.
- It accounts for approximately 5,200 new cases per year in France.
- Surgery and chemotherapy are the two standard treatments: their sequence depends on the stage and the profile of each patient.
- A second medical opinion helps ensure that the proposed strategy is well-suited to your personal situation.
There is not just one, but several types of ovarian cancer
The ovaries are two small glands located on either side of the uterus. They produce eggs and sex hormones. Ovarian cancer develops when cells in one or both ovaries multiply abnormally, escaping the body's natural regulatory mechanisms.
In about 9 out of 10 cases, it is an epithelial tumor: it originates in the cells lining the surface of the ovary or the fallopian tubes. The remaining 10% include rarer forms, such as germ cell tumors (more common in young women) or sex cord-stromal tumors. When the cancer spreads beyond the ovaries, it can reach the peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdominal organs: this is known as peritoneal carcinomatosis, a common extension in advanced stages.
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~5,200
new cases diagnosed each year in France
75%
of tumors discovered at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis
9 out of 10 cases
are epithelial forms, a histological diversity that makes every situation unique
Symptoms often mistaken for benign conditions
The early signs of ovarian cancer frequently resemble common digestive or gynecological issues: persistent bloating, pelvic pain, early satiety, and unexplained bowel changes. This lack of specificity partly explains why diagnosis often occurs late. Some women have consulted multiple times before the exact nature of their symptoms was identified.
A multi-step diagnostic process
There is no routine screening for ovarian cancer in France. Diagnosis is based on a progressive assessment: pelvic ultrasound, MRI, extension CT scan, and CA-125 tumor marker testing. Definitive confirmation requires an analysis of tumor cells, obtained during an exploratory laparoscopy, which is a surgical procedure. The histological type, stage, and grade of the tumor then directly guide treatment decisions.
Surgery and chemotherapy: two pillars, one sequence to define
Ovarian cancer treatment combines surgery and chemotherapy. The order in which they are performed—surgery first or neoadjuvant chemotherapy—depends on the extent of the lesions, the stage of the disease, and the patient's general health. Targeted therapies, such as PARP inhibitors, may supplement care depending on the tumor's genetic profile. The strategy is determined during a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT).
A second opinion for the decisions that matter
Ovarian cancer involves complex therapeutic choices from the outset: should you start with surgery or chemotherapy? Do genetic results (BRCA1/2) open access to targeted treatments? For young women, should the question of fertility preservation be addressed before starting treatment? Faced with these decisions, a second opinion allows you to obtain an analysis from a specialized gynecologic oncologist, based on your complete medical file. It complements your existing care without calling it into question.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?
The most common signs are persistent bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, digestive issues, and a feeling of early satiety. These symptoms are non-specific, which can delay seeking medical advice.
What are the risk factors for ovarian cancer?
The main factors are BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, a family history of gynecological cancers, and certain hormonal factors such as nulliparity or late menopause. The presence of risk factors does not mean that cancer will develop.
How is ovarian cancer diagnosed
Diagnosis is based on imaging (ultrasound, MRI, CT scan), CA-125 marker levels, and histological analysis of cells collected during exploratory laparoscopy. There is no routine screening test.
Is there an organized screening program for ovarian cancer?
No. The available tests (CA-125 and ultrasound) are not specific enough for mass screening and generate too many false positives. However, personalized monitoring is offered to women at high genetic risk (BRCA mutation).
Can ovarian cancer be treated?
Yes. Surgery and chemotherapy are the standard treatments. Targeted therapies (PARP inhibitors, bevacizumab) may supplement care depending on the tumor profile. Options vary based on the stage, histological type, and the patient's individual characteristics.
Need the opinion of a
oncologist
Upload your file to Diagdoor. A
oncologist
specialist
of ovarian cancer
analyzes it and provides a reasoned opinion in less than 7 days.
Sources
- National Cancer Institute (INCa), Ovarian cancer treatments, cancer.fr
- Gustave Roussy Institute, Ovarian cancer: risk factors, diagnosis, treatments, gustaveroussy.fr
- Léon Bérard Center, Ovarian cancer, centreleonberard.fr, 2023
- ARC Foundation for Cancer Research, Ovarian cancer: symptoms and diagnosis, fondation-arc.org, updated April 2026
- Vidal, Screening and diagnosis of ovarian cancer, vidal.fr
Further Reading
Why get a second opinion?
Understand the situations in which a second opinion can help you confirm a diagnosis or guide your treatment plan.
How does it work?
Understand the situations in which a second opinion can help you confirm a diagnosis or guide your treatment plan.
Did you know?
Have you been offered surgery?
Have you been offered surgery?
Surgery is never trivial. A medical specialist will analyze your file to confirm the recommendation or explore other therapeutic options.
Is there an alternative to surgery?
Is there an alternative to surgery?
A surgeon specializing in your condition will re-evaluate your file to confirm if surgery is necessary or to identify less invasive solutions.
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
An expert physician will analyze your medical records and history to help you choose the most appropriate strategy for your situation, whether it be medical treatment, surgery, or monitoring.
Torn between two treatments?
Torn between two treatments?
A specialist will explain exactly what each option entails, including effectiveness, side effects, and daily impact, so you can make your decision with confidence.
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
A specialist doctor will analyze your complete file (tests, imaging, medical history) to provide you with a reasoned diagnosis and guide your care.
Have you just received a diagnosis?
Have you just received a diagnosis?
Have you just received a diagnosis?
Have your medical file reviewed by a specialist in your condition. You will receive an additional opinion in less than 7 days, helping you move forward with clarity.
Is your condition rare or complex?
Is your condition rare or complex?
Diagdoor gives you access to a doctor who specializes in your condition to confirm your treatment plan, no matter where you live.
When facing cancer or a serious illness, every decision counts.
When facing cancer or a serious illness, every decision counts.
A doctor at an expert center will review your file to confirm your care plan, clarify the available options, and help you make decisions with confidence.
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
What is a medical second opinion?
What is a medical second opinion?
Following a diagnosis or a proposed treatment plan, a medical specialist can analyze your file and provide an additional perspective.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Many partner health insurance providers cover the Diagdoor service with no upfront costs. Check your eligibility as soon as you create your account.
Are you looking for a second opinion for a loved one?
Are you looking for a second opinion for a loved one?
The process is entirely online. Upload your available medical documents, and our team will take care of the rest.
How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
Upload your medical documents online; our team will review your file within 48 hours, and an expert will provide their opinion in less than 7 days. Simple, secure, 100% online.
Not sure if your case is eligible?
Not sure if your case is eligible?
Our medical team can guide you before you submit your request. Describe your situation, and we will help you determine if Diagdoor can be of assistance.
Need the opinion of a
oncologist
Need the opinion of a
oncologist
Upload your file to Diagdoor. A
oncologist
specialist
of ovarian cancer
analyzes it and provides a reasoned opinion in less than 7 days.
France is currently undergoing a major organizational shift for patients with ovarian cancer, centralizing surgical care in expert centers. The goal, as with our European neighbors, is to improve oncological outcomes, which are closely linked to the quality of surgery—a factor itself dependent on the expertise of the surgeon and the center. Since 2022, during this transition period as these new authorizations are gradually implemented, the ability for patients to quickly obtain a second opinion to ensure the quality of their care is essential.
Prof. Éric Lambaudie, Surgical Oncologist