Ovarian Cancer Program

Why Choose Us?

Our multidisciplinary team is led by one of the region’s only female Gynecologic Oncologists, Dr. Stephanie Ricci. She is a specialist in the treatment of female cancers, and one of only a handful in the UAE. Treatment for ovarian cancer by a gynecologic oncologist is extremely important as they have the dedicated training, specialist experience and technical skills needed to diagnose and treat the cancer as effectively as possible. Dr. Ricci is a fellowship trained, American board-certified and spent 6 years at Cleveland Clinic in the US. She has dedicated her career to helping women affected by cancer.

Our multidisciplinary approach brings together a team of experts to provide coordinated and exceptional patient care to those diagnosed with gynecologic cancers. The team meets regularly as a multidisciplinary tumor board to discuss each patient and ensure the best treatment options are considered for each individual.

What We Treat

Ovarian cancer is the abnormal growth of cells within the ovaries – the part of the female reproductive system that makes eggs. This abnormal growth can lead to the formation of a tumor, which can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors may not pose a problem to your health, but malignant tumors are more aggressive and can spread to other parts of the body. Ovarian cancer symptoms often don’t appear until the disease is at a more advanced stage.

The team of specialists at the Ovarian Cancer Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi are highly trained in a variety of diagnostic techniques and state-of-the-art therapeutic treatments for ovarian cancers.

Symptoms, Causes & Risk Factors

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer often has no symptoms until the later stages, when it may have spread through the abdomen. Ovarian cancer symptoms might include:

• Pain, bloating or discomfort in the abdomen
• Feeling full quickly or losing your appetite
• Bleeding or vaginal discharge that isn’t normal (for example between periods or after the menopause)
• Changes in your bowel habits
• Noticing lumps or an increase in size in your abdomen
• Needing to urinate more frequently or urgently

Causes & Risk Factors of Ovarian Cancer

Doctors don’t know the exact cause of ovarian cancer, but there are certain risk factors that put you at an increased risk. These include:

• Family history: If a close relative has ovarian cancer, or if you have the inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
• An Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish background
• If you have not been pregnant
• If you have had endometriosis
• A previous uterine, breast or colorectal cancer diagnosis
• Age: The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age
• Lynch syndrome: An inherited disorder that increases your risk of certain cancers

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer

Unfortunately, there are no screening tests available for ovarian cancer and testing usually happens once symptoms are present. Therefore, it is important to notify your doctor as soon as you notice something that is unusual for you.

Your doctor will begin by discussing your medical history and performing a physical exam. A pelvic exam will look for any lumps or enlarged organs. If your doctor feels additional tests are needed, these might include:

• Pelvic ultrasound: This uses sound waves to get a picture of your organs, allowing your doctor to see any abnormal growths.
• Blood tests: These will look for increased levels of something called CA-125, which can be a sign of cancer. Significant advancements have improved sensitivity and specificity in detecting elevated CA-125 protein levels, making this a critical tool in both diagnosis and monitoring of the disease progression. Sometimes the levels of CA-125 are increased when no cancer is present, or the cancer does not cause an increased level, so other diagnostic tests are always used.
• Surgical evaluation: Surgery can be used to diagnose ovarian cancer.
• Laparoscopy: This is a type of surgery that uses a thin camera (laparoscope), inserted via a small incision in the abdomen, to look at the cancer and perform biopsies. It can also be used to remove tumors.
• Advanced imaging techniques: High-resolution ultrasound, MRI, and PET scans have greatly improved the accuracy of ovarian cancer diagnosis, allowing for better assessment of size and spread, crucial for treatment planning.
• Interventional radiology: Image-guided biopsy is performed by a radiologist without the patient undergoing surgery. This method often expedites diagnosis.
• Genetic testing and personalized medicine: Breakthroughs in genetic testing, particularly BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation testing, offer significant advancements in personalized risk assessment and treatment.

Treatment for Ovarian Cancer

Treatment of ovarian cancer aims to remove as much of the cancer as possible. This usually means removing any organs (or part of the organ) that the cancer has spread to.

• Targeted Therapy: Targeted drugs are used which specifically attack cancer cells without affecting normal cells. These therapies focus on the specific genes or proteins responsible for cancer growth and can be more effective and less harmful than traditional treatments.
• Chemotherapy: Medication is given that targets and kills cancer cells. The type of chemotherapy you receive will depend on many factors, including the stage of your cancer. Sometimes chemotherapy is given following surgery.
• Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): For women who receive chemotherapy prior to surgery or at the time of surgery, chemotherapy is heated and cycled through the abdomen while the patient is under anesthesia prior to the completion of surgery. This method has been proven to increase cancer treatment response and improve overall survival.
• Surgery: A minimally invasive procedure called laparoscopy (also used for diagnosis) is used to treat ovarian cancer. Alternatively, laparotomy, a surgical procedure in which the abdomen is opened, and the ovaries and other affected organs are removed, can be used.
• Minimally invasive surgery: Advances in minimally invasive surgical procedures, allow for more precision, reduced pain, and quicker recovery times, improving the overall patient experience.

Learn more about the advanced treatment options available for ovarian cancer here.

After you have received treatment for ovarian cancer, you will need to see your doctor regularly to discuss any possible symptoms and to check the cancer hasn’t returned. Observation following ovarian cancer is very important.

Prevention & Screening

Ovarian cancer can’t be prevented and unfortunately there are no screening tests for it. However, there are things you can do to decrease your risk of getting cancer as you get older, such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating well and exercising regularly.

Being aware of your family history is also important. Studies have shown that women who have had children or have used oral contraceptives for more than 5 years are less likely to develop ovarian cancer.

There are two gene mutations associated with ovarian cancer, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are also associated with breast cancer. If there is a strong family history of either of these cancers, your doctor may suggest genetic testing to identify these mutations. Breakthroughs in genetic testing for mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes offer significant advancements in personalized risk assessment and treatment. Understanding a patient's genetic predisposition to ovarian cancer aids in tailored screening strategies and targeted therapies. If there is a strong family history of ovarian cancer, your doctor may suggest genetic testing to identify these mutations. This can help identify a cancer prevention strategy.

Program Caregivers

Our female-only, multidisciplinary team of caregivers includes:

• Gynecologic Oncologist
• Medical Oncologists
• Radiologists
• Pathologists
• Nurses