Facts
One in 72 women will develop ovarian cancer.
One in 95 women will die from ovarian cancer.
The overall 5 year relative survival rate for all women with ovarian cancer is 46%. This means that compared to women in the general population, five years from the time of diagnosis only 46% of women with ovarian cancer are still alive.
The overall survival rate improves to 93% if the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage before it has spread.
Every woman is at risk for ovarian cancer regardless of age, heritage and/or medical history. Women who have gone through menopause can develop ovarian cancer.
Approximately 90% of all cases of ovarian cancer are sporadic in nature and no pattern of inheritance has been detected.
75% of all cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in its advanced stages when the cancer has spread beyond the ovary.
Even with a complete hysterectomy (removal of uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries) there is a 1% chance of developing primary peritoneal carcinoma, a close relative of ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer among women in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of cancer related deaths here. This is a fact that has not changed since 1999.
Symptoms associated with ovarian cancer even in its early stages include abdominal bloating or discomfort, increased abdominal size or clothes fitting tighter around the waist, increased need to urinate and pelvic pain.