The Basics
What is the name of the cancer that starts in the ovaries?
Ovarian Cancer
What part of the body does ovarian cancer start in?
Ovaries
What does the BRCA1 gene normally do in the body?
Repair damaged DNA
What is usually the first step in treating ovarian cancer?
Surgery
What is a common side effect of chemotherapy?
Hair loss
What gene mutation increases the risk of ovarian and breast cancer?
BRCA1 gene
The ovaries release eggs and which two hormones?
Estrogen and progesterone
What happens when tumor suppressor genes like BRCA1 stop working?
Cells grow out of control and may become cancerous.
What is the purpose of chemotherapy?
Kill remaining cancer cells after surgery.
What happens to hormone levels after ovary removal?
Early menopause
What symptom is common in early ovarian cancer but often ignored?
Abdominal bloating
What type of cells does most ovarian cancer start in?
Epithelial cells
What is the name for a test that checks for BRCA mutations?
Genetic testing
What does a PARP inhibitor do?
Blocking cancer cells from repairing their DNA
What is neuropathy, a side effect of chemo?
Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet