Endometriosis, which is common in women, increases the risk of ovarian cancer. However, endometriosis-caused ovarian cancer can be detected early through regular checkups and be treated similarly to other ovarian cancers.

“The type of ovarian cancer caused by endometriosis is not clear cell carcinoma, endometrioid ovarian cancer, or high-grade serous ovarian cancer, which is the most common type of ovarian cancer, but a slightly different type of ovarian cancer,” said Professor Nam Eun-ji of the Gynecological Cancer Center at Yonsei Cancer Hospital on the YouTube channel “Severance.”

Typical ovarian cancer is not easy to detect early because it progresses very quickly. Still, ovarian cancer caused by endometriosis is slower than aggressive ovarian cancer, as people know it, so that it can be detected through regular checkups.

“Normal ovarian cancer progresses quickly and is difficult to detect early. However, ovarian cancer that develops from endometriosis often progresses at a slightly slower rate than normal ovarian cancer,” Professor Nam said.

So, how much does endometriosis increase the risk of ovarian cancer?

“Endometriosis is known to be associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer, which can be about two times or up to seven times that of the average woman,” Nam said.

There are also known characteristics of endometriosis patients who are at particularly high risk for ovarian cancer.

“The older the patient with endometriosis, the larger the size, and the more recurrences they have,” Professor Nam said. “It is known that the risk of ovarian cancer slightly increases in women with endometriosis who have had many recurrences.”

Although the type of ovarian cancer caused by endometriosis is different, the treatment for ovarian cancer is not.

“The treatment of ovarian cancer caused by endometriosis is no different from other ovarian cancers,” Professor Nam said. “Surgical treatment is the most important, followed by chemotherapy according to the stage.”