Is ovarian cancer still possible after a hysterectomy?

Answer From Tatnai Burnett, M.D.

Yes. You still have a risk of ovarian cancer or a type of cancer that acts just like it (peritoneal cancer) if you've had a hysterectomy.

Your risk depends on the type of hysterectomy you had:

  • Partial hysterectomy or total hysterectomy. A partial hysterectomy removes your uterus, and a total hysterectomy removes your uterus and your cervix. Both procedures leave your ovaries intact, so you can still develop ovarian cancer.

  • Total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy. This procedure removes your cervix and uterus as well as both ovaries and fallopian tubes. This makes ovarian cancer less likely to occur, but it does not remove all risk.

    You still have a small risk of peritoneal cancer. The peritoneum is a covering that lines the abdominal organs and is close to the ovaries. Cells in the peritoneum are very similar to cells in the ovaries. When cancer happens in the peritoneum, it looks and acts like ovarian cancer.

If you're concerned about your risk of cancer, discuss it with your health care provider.

With

Tatnai Burnett, M.D.

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April 12, 2022 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Abdominal hysterectomy
  2. Back pain
  3. Beating Ovarian Cancer
  4. Belching, intestinal gas, gas pains and bloating
  5. Birth control pill FAQ
  6. Bleeding after hysterectomy: What can I expect?
  7. BRCA gene test
  8. CA 125 test
  9. CA 125 test: A screening test for ovarian cancer?
  10. Cancer survivorship program
  11. Chemo targets
  12. Chemotherapy
  13. Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment
  14. Chemotherapy and sex: Is sexual activity OK during treatment?
  15. Chemotherapy nausea and vomiting: Prevention is best defense
  16. Feeling gassy and a little embarrassed?
  17. Fertility preservation
  18. Gas and gas pains
  19. Gynecologic Cancers
  20. Intestinal gas
  21. Magic mouthwash
  22. Nausea and vomiting
  23. Oophorectomy (ovary removal surgery)
  24. Ovarian cancer
  25. Pap test: Can it detect ovarian cancer?
  26. Pelvic exam
  27. Pelvic pain
  28. Ultrasound
  29. Vaginal hysterectomy