Ovarian cancer is the third most common cancer among Indian women. It develops in the ovaries. Cancer starts with a tumor. Any abnormal growth in the body is called a tumor. There are two types of it, benign tumor and malignant tumor. The malignant tumors. Benign tumors occur in only one part of the body but malignant tumors can spread from one part of the body to another. Cancer is a disease in which cells spread uncontrollably. Germ cell tumor is a benign tumor which is a type of ovarian cancer. National Cancer Awareness Day is on November 7 , on this occasion it is important to know about ovarian germ cell tumors because this cancer can put the future of girls in darkness.

The tumor starts forming in the ovary.
Dr. Rahul D Modi, Consultant in the Department of Gynecological Oncology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, says that ovarian germ cell tumor is a type of ovarian cancer that is found in girls aged 10 to 25 years. Germ cells are formed in the ovary. When they grow in a strange way and form a lump, it is called an ovarian germ cell tumor. If it is detected in the first stage, it can be completely cured by giving surgery and chemotherapy. 

This disease starts in the womb itself.
Ovarian germ cell tumor means this ovarian cancer is not genetic. It starts in the mother's womb itself. Germ cells are reproductive cells that are formed in the ovary. This tumor occurs due to a problem in the egg. Germ cells grow in the yolk sac i.e. in which the embryo develops. It is difficult to detect this disease in newborn girls. 

There is a pain in the stomach.
Hormonal fluctuations keep happening in girls' bodies due to which they often complain of stomach pain. But stomach pain also occurs in ovarian germ cell tumors. Bloating or heaviness is felt in the stomach. To detect this disease, first an ultrasound and then a blood test is done. This shows what type of germ cell tumor it is. But if it reaches stage 3 or 4, it can prove fatal. In such cases, chemotherapy is given first and then surgery is done. If the treatment is started on time at stage 1 or 2, then the patient can become completely healthy.

Spreads in 4 stages According to
the Cleveland Clinic, in the first stage, the germ cell tumor is found in the ovary itself. In the second stage, its tissues start spreading in the pelvis, which also includes the fallopian tubes and uterus. In the third stage, this cancer spreads to the lymph nodes or the tissue lining of the pelvic organs or the abdominal cavity. In the fourth stage, this cancer can reach the liver, outside the stomach, or even the lungs. 

The menstrual cycle may get disturbed.
Girls' body undergoes changes during puberty and after this, their menstrual cycle starts. Women have two ovaries in their body and every month periods take place from one ovary in turn and after that, an egg is released. Girls who have ovarian germ cell tumors may have a disturbed menstrual cycle due to this but this does not indicate the disease. 

In germ cell tumors, there may be severe abdominal pain as well as loss of appetite (Image-Canva)

Girls can become mothers in the future.
Dr. Rahul D Modi says that in most cases ovarian germ cell tumor occurs in only one ovary. If this disease is detected in time, then the ovary can be removed and the woman can become a mother in the future with the help of the other ovary. This type of cancer is different from other ovarian cancers because, in other ovarian cancers, the uterus and both ovaries are removed. But if a woman has Dysgerminoma in ovarian germ cell tumor, then both ovaries can be removed. This happens only in 10% of cases. 

There are 4 types of ovarian cancer
. It is very difficult to detect ovarian cancer. It is often detected in the last stage. There are 4 types of cancer including germ celltumorsr. In borderline ovariantumorsr, the tissues covering the ovary start growing abnormally. Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common. 95% of its cases are reported. In a stromal tumor, the tissues connecting the ovary are affected. Ovarian cancer after the age of 40 can be due to poor lifestyle. It can be caused by smoking, alcohol, infertility medicine, hormone therapy,y or obesity. Women who have never given birth to a child are also at risk of this cancer.