About the Ovaries
The ovaries are small, almond-shaped female reproductive organs. There are two ovaries and they are located deep in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries produce female hormones and store all of the egg cells, which are released once a month during ovulation.

About Ovarian Cancer
Unusual growth of ovarian cells can result in a cancerous or non-cancerous ("benign") tumor. Many ovarian tumors are benign; women with benign tumors can be cured by surgically removing part or all of the affected ovary or ovaries.1 Cancerous ovarian tumors, however, may be typically advanced at the time they are diagnosed, which means they have spread to other areas of the abdomen or to distant sites in the body.1

Types of Ovarian Cancer
The three main types of ovarian cancers are described by the cells within the ovary where the cancer started.1

Epithelial ovarian cancers
The majority of ovarian cancers develop from the cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary, called "epithelial" cells.1 Epithelial ovarian cancers account for 85 to 90 percent of all ovarian cancers.

Epithelial ovarian cancers come in several forms, which differ only in thier appearance when viewed under a microscope.
The other two major types of ovarian cancer