Patient Information

How Common Is Ovarian Cancer?
Among women worldwide, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common malignancy and cause of cancer death. In 2022, ovarian cancer was diagnosed in about 325 000 individuals and caused 206 839 deaths worldwide. In 2025, it is estimated that 20 890 US women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 12 730 will die of it.1

What Are the Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer?
Risk factors for ovarian cancer include older age (the most common age at diagnosis is 63 years), a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer, endometriosis (a chronic inflammatory disease in which uterine lining cells are found outside of the uterus), and never having given birth. About 25% of ovarian cancers are due to inherited genetic variants, primarily in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

What Are the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?
At the time of diagnosis, most patients with ovarian cancer have symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, urgent or frequent urination, and/or increased abdominal size. Signs and symptoms of advanced ovarian cancer may include a mass in the abdominal area, weight loss, and trouble breathing due to abdominal swelling or from fluid surrounding the lungs.

How Is Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed and Staged?
Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed and staged based on findings from a pelvic ultrasound, abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan, and/or abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Total-body positron emission tomography (PET) can detect cancer that has spread to more distant sites in the body. To help with staging, some patients may undergo diagnostic laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure, in which clinicians look for a tumor within the abdomen and perform biopsies to assess for ovarian cancer.

Stage I ovarian cancer is limited to the ovary or fallopian tube. Stage II cancer has spread beyond the ovaries and fallopian tubes but is still confined within the pelvis. Stage III cancer involves sites outside the pelvis such as nearby lymph nodes or other areas of the abdomen. Stage IV cancer involves organs or tissues outside the abdominal cavity, such as the liver, spleen, or lungs.

How Is Ovarian Cancer Treated?
All patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer should undergo genetic testing, including for BRCA1/2 variants, to help guide treatment and counseling. First-line treatment for patients with early-stage (I and II) ovarian cancer is surgery, including removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes, the uterus, lymph nodes, and fatty tissue covering the abdominal organs, followed by chemotherapy. Patients with stage I cancer who are considering having children may undergo more limited surgery with removal of the cancerous ovary and fallopian tube, leaving in place the other ovary and fallopian tube and the uterus.

Treatment for patients with stages III and IV (advanced) ovarian cancer includes both surgery and chemotherapy, often combined with individualized targeted therapies such as bevacizumab and/or poly–ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors.

Prognosis After Treatment for Ovarian Cancer
Patients with stages I and II ovarian cancer have a 5-year overall survival rate of 70% to 95%. The 5-year overall rate for stages III and IV ovarian cancer is 10% to 40%. However, 5-year survival is about 70% among patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer who have BRCA genetic variants and are treated with PARP inhibitors.

Author/s:

Rebecca Voelker

What Do I Need to Know About the Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine?

Megan George — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:35:47 +0000

Date Added:

October 21, 2025

Journal/Publication:

JAMA Internal Medicine Patient Page

Publication Date:

October 20, 2025

URL:

What Do I Need to Know About the Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine?

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jamainternmed.2025.5277

Keywords

'Vaccination

Infectious diseases

Patient Information

Pneumococcal Vaccines

PMID (1):

41114997

MeSH

23-valent pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine

pneumonia

13-valent pneumococcal vaccine

spleen

COVID-19

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Influenza

Pneumococcal Vaccines

Pneumococcal Infections

Hypersensitivity

Herpes Zoster

Information for patients about pneumococcal immunizations. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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What Is the Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine?
The pneumococcal vaccine protects against infections from a type of bacteria called pneumococcus. Pneumococcus is a common cause of pneumonia (a lung infection), as well as other serious infections. The vaccine prepares your immune system to recognize and fight pneumococcal bacteria. The vaccine is usually given through an injection into the arm. Some versions can also be inhaled. The vaccines do not contain living or dead bacteria. The pneumococcal vaccine does not protect you from other lung infections like the flu (influenza), COVID-19, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), or other kinds of bacteria that cause pneumonia. It is still important to get your flu shot every year and other vaccines your doctor recommends, even if you already got the pneumococcal vaccine.

What Are Benefits of Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccines?
The vaccine substantially lowers your risk of hospitalization or dying from serious pneumococcal infection. Vaccination can reduce the risk of pneumonia-related deaths by almost half.

Why Is There a New Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine, and How Does It Differ From Prior Versions?
There are several types of pneumococcal bacteria that can cause pneumonia. Being vaccinated against one type of pneumococcus may not protect you from other types that could make you sick. Previous pneumococcal pneumonia vaccines like PPSV23 or PCV13 do not protect against all types of the pneumococcal bacteria that cause pneumonia. Newer vaccines were made in 2021 (PCV15 and PCV20) and 2024 (PCV21). These help to prevent infections from types of bacteria not covered by older versions.

What Are the Potential Side Effects?
Side effects are frequent but generally mild. The most common side effect is pain or redness at the site of injection. Less common side effects include fever, feeling tired, muscle ache, and headache. These are less severe than for other vaccines like flu and shingles. These effects can be treated with over-the-counter medications and generally go away within 24 to 48 hours. Life-threatening allergic reactions are extremely rare but possible. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe symptoms like difficulty breathing or progressive weakness after vaccination. The pneumonia vaccine cannot cause pneumonia or other bacterial illness.

Who Should Get a New Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine?
All adults 50 years and older who have not been vaccinated should receive one of the new vaccines: PCV21, PCV20, or a sequence of PCV15 followed by PPSV23. People younger than 50 years with certain health problems should also get the new vaccine. These health problems include diabetes; chronic conditions affecting the heart, lungs, liver, or kidneys; current tobacco use or heavy alcohol consumption; a weak immune system from certain health problems or medications; absence or prior removal of the spleen; and a history of spinal fluid leak or a cochlear (inner ear) implant.

Most adults who got either PPSV23 and/or PCV13 should still get a booster with one of the newer vaccines. The different pneumococcal vaccines protect against different types of bacteria. Some types of bacteria are more common in people depending on their age, health, and where they live. Talk to your doctor about which vaccine is best for you.

Author/s:

Jerard Z. Kneifati-Hayek, Michael A. Incze

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Megan George — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:49:16 +0000

Date Added:

July 25, 2025

Journal/Publication:

JAMA Patient Page

Publication Date:

July 24, 2025

URL:

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Type:

Patient Education Materials

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2025.10177

Keywords

Patient Information

jama Patient Information

MeSH

Prostate-Specific Antigen

Digital Rectal Examination

early detection of cancer

Early Detection of Cancer* / methods

Information for patients about prostate cancer. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Prostate cancer is a common malignancy in older men. Prostate cancer typically affects older men (average age at diagnosis is 67 years) and is more common among Black men than White men.1 More than half of prostate cancer risk is due to genetic factors. Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in men worldwide, with about 1.5 million cases diagnosed in 2021. In the US, 3.4 million men were living with prostate cancer in 2021.

Author/s:

Rebecca Voelker, MSJ

What Are Eating Disorders?

Megan George — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:25:22 +0000

Date Added:

July 7, 2025

Journal/Publication:

JAMA Patient Page

Publication Date:

June 26, 2025

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2025.8338

Keywords

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health

Patient Information

jama Patient Information

Feeding and Eating Disorders

PMID (1):

40569588

MeSH

binge-eating disorder

Anorexia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Bulimia

Weight Gain

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Information for patients about eating disorders. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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This JAMA Patient Page describes the most common types of eating disorders, risk factors for eating disorders, and treatment options.

What Is Interstitial Lung Disease?

Megan George — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 19:15:20 +0000

Date Added:

July 6, 2025

Journal/Publication:

JAMA Patient Page

Publication Date:

July 3, 2025

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

doi: 10.1001/jama.2025.9804

Keywords

pulmonary medicine

Patient Information

jama Patient Information

PMID (1):

40608333

MeSH

Lung Diseases, Interstitial

Dyspnea

Lung Diseases

Connective Tissue Diseases

Oxygen Saturation

A summary for patients about interstitial lung disease. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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This JAMA Patient Page describes types and causes of interstitial lung disease as well as its diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Author/s:

Amy E. Varghese, MD, Christopher D. Jackson, MD, Julio Lanfranco, MD, MPH

What Is Atrial Fibrillation?

Erin Blanchette — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:32:57 +0000

Date Added:

April 30, 2025

Journal/Publication:

JAMA

Publisher:

American Medical Association

Publication Date:

April 24, 2025

URL:

What Is Atrial Fibrillation?

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2025.2888

Keywords

atrial fibrillation

Cardiology

Patient Information

jama Patient Information

Rhythm Disorders

PMID (1):

40272794

MeSH

myocardial infarction

hypertension

stroke

sleep apnea syndromes

Information for patients about atrial fibrillation. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause stroke, heart failure, heart attack, chronic kidney disease, dementia, and death.

Atrial fibrillation is classified as paroxysmal (intermittent episodes lasting 7 days or less), persistent (lasting more than 7 days), long-standing persistent (lasting more than 1 year), or permanent.1

In the US, atrial fibrillation affects about 10.55 million people and is more common among men than women. Other risk factors include older age, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, high alcohol consumption, sleep apnea, an overactive thyroid gland, and possibly genetic factors.

Author/s:

Rebecca Voelker

Strategies to Help Patients Afford Their Medicines in the US

Erin Blanchette — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:04:14 +0000

Date Added:

October 28, 2024

Journal/Publication:

JAMA

Publisher:

American Medical Association

Publication Date:

October 21, 2024

URL:

Strategies to Help Patients Afford Their Medicines in the US

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2024.21143

Keywords

clinical pharmacy and pharmacology

Patient Information

jama Patient Information

Health Care Economics, Insurance, Payment

insurance

PMID (1):

39432270

MeSH

A concise summary for patients about ways to reduce the cost of expensive medications. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Many patients in the US struggle to afford their prescription drugs. The inability to take medications as prescribed can lead to worse health outcomes.

Below are 7 strategies that patients can use to respond to high prescription drug costs in the US.

Author/s:

Kristin L Walter

Eating Family Meals Together at Home

Erin Blanchette — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 16:55:00 +0000

Date Added:

March 26, 2024

Journal/Publication:

JAMA Pediatrics

Publisher:

American Medical Association

Publication Date:

March 25, 2024

URL:

Eating Family Meals Together at Home

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.6669

Keywords

PMID (1):

38526499

MeSH

child development

child

adolescent

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/psychology*

Information for parents regarding the benefits of family meals together. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Eating meals at home together as a family is important for both parents and children.

Eating dinner together at least 3 or 4 times per week has positive effects on child development and has been linked to children’s lower rates of overweight and obesity, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, depression, and eating disorders; higher self-esteem; and better academic performance. Eating family meals also has nutritional benefits. Families who eat dinner together eat more fruits and vegetables and fewer fried foods and sugary drinks. Family meals also help adults and children learn to like a variety of foods.

Author/s:

Callie L Brown, Melissa C Kay, Lindsay A Thompson

What Is Perinatal Depression?

Erin Blanchette — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 16:36:41 +0000

Date Added:

March 26, 2024

Journal/Publication:

JAMA

Publisher:

American Medical Association

Publication Date:

March 14, 2024

URL:

What Is Perinatal Depression?

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2024.0434

Keywords

Depressive Disorders

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health

Patient Information

Reproductive Health

Pregnancy

Postpartum Depression

Perinatal Depression

PMID (1):

38483381

MeSH

Information for patients about perinatal depression. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Perinatal depression can occur during pregnancy and the first 12 months after childbirth.

Perinatal depression, also called postpartum depression, affects about 1 in 7 perinatal individuals. More than 75% of these individuals receive no treatment for perinatal depression. Onset of perinatal depression may occur prepregnancy or may develop over the course of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Untreated perinatal depression is associated with an increased risk of suicide and has additional negative effects on the perinatal individual, the fetus (preterm birth, low birth weight), and the child (impaired attachment, which may affect neurodevelopment) and may negatively affect relationships with partners and other family members.

Author/s:

Rebecca Voelker

What Is Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

Erin Blanchette — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 16:42:17 +0000

Date Added:

December 13, 2023

Journal/Publication:

JAMA

Publisher:

American Medical Association

Publication Date:

December 8, 2023

URL:

What Is Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2023.23097

Keywords

allergy and clinical immunology

PMID (1):

38064235

MeSH

Food Hypersensitivity

Information for patients about alpha-gal syndrome. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Alpha-gal syndrome is a type of food allergy to mammalian (red) meat products.

Alpha-gal syndrome is associated with tick bites, most commonly from the Lone Star tick in the US, but also from different types of ticks in other areas of the world. During a bite, a tick injects a type of sugar molecule (galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose), also called alpha-gal, which leads to formation of an antibody. Because alpha-gal is present on cells of most mammals, including cows, pigs, lambs, and goats, when affected individuals eat these animal products, an allergic reaction may occur.

Author/s:

Fatema Mollah, Mark A Zacharek, Mariel R Benjamin