Ovarian cancer in children is rare. If it does occur, it’s more likely to be seen in people ages 15 to 19 years.

Ovarian cancer affects 3% to 8% of young people with a growth near the uterus. It makes up 1% to 2% of all childhood cancers.

Another name for the most common type of ovarian cancer in teens is ovarian germ cell tumor, which begins in egg cells.

Most of these tumors are benign. But, if healthcare professionals refer to them as dysgerminoma, teratoma, or yolk sac tumor, they are usually malignant.

In adults, epithelial tumors (tumors that start in the tissue that covers the ovaries) are the most common. They’re the second most common ovarian tumors in children but are typically only seen after a first period.

Ovarian cancer occurs when there are changes in the ovarian cells that affect how they grow and divide.

But it’s not clear what causes these cell changes in children. They likely happen very early on in life and potentially even before birth.

Some factors can increase the risk of teens getting ovarian cancer. But having one or more factor does not mean a person will get cancer.

Risk factors in young people tend to be preexisting conditions and disorders rather than lifestyle factors. These include:

  • Rare conditions called Ollier disease or Maffucci syndrome leading to atypical cartilage growth
  • Genetic disorders, including Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, DICER1 syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Swyer syndrome, and Turner syndrome
  • An ovary that hasn’t formed in the usual way

You are unlikely to notice symptoms when ovarian cancer is at an early stage. But, symptoms to look out for tend to revolve around stomach pain, urinary difficulty, or unusual bleeding.

Here are some symptoms to be aware of:

  • lump in the stomach
  • pain or swelling in the stomach, including unusual bloating
  • feeling full quickly when eating
  • constipation
  • needing to urinate more often
  • irregular or missed periods
  • painful periods
  • unusual vaginal bleeding

These symptoms alone don’t mean a young person has ovarian cancer, as lots of other things can cause them. But it’s best to speak with a healthcare professional if there are any concerns.

Most teens receive the diagnosis of germ cell tumors at an early stage. These tumors are usually curable with treatment. That’s still the case even if the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body.

Some people need surgery, while others may have a combination of surgery and chemotherapy to remove the tumor and treat the cancer.

Doctors will often try to find a course of treatment that has the least risk of affecting fertility so people would be ale to have children if they’d like to in the future.

Ovarian epithelial tumors (the second most common type in children) also have a good outlook. In one study, surgery alone was found to cure the majority of participants.

Ovarian cancer in young people is a very rare condition. Most tumors that do appear are benign, meaning they’re not cancerous.

It’s not clear what leads to teens getting ovarian cancer. Most likely, it’s due to early cell changes rather than lifestyle factors that tend to affect adults. Certain genetic conditions can also increase the risk.

Lauren Sharkey is a U.K.-based journalist and author specializing in women’s issues. When she isn’t trying to discover a way to banish migraine headaches, she can be found uncovering the answers to your lurking health questions. She has also written a book profiling young female activists across the globe and is currently building a community of such resisters. Catch her on Twitter.