Aarogya - Conditions & Concerns | Specialties | Cancer | Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the ovary. An ovary is one of two small, almond–shaped organs located on each side of the uterus that produce female hormones and store eggs or germ cells.

How prevalent is ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of new cancer cases, and accounts for 4 per cent of all cancers in women. In women age 35–74, ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths. An estimated one woman of age 55 will develop ovarian cancer during her lifetime. No reliable statistics is available for India, however, the American Cancer Society estimates that each year approximately 25,500 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed and 14,500 women die of ovarian cancer.

What is the general outlook for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer?
Because each woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has a different profile, it is impossible to give a general prognosis. If diagnosed and treated early, when the cancer is confined to the ovary, the 5–year survival rate approaches 93% (78–98% depending upon tumor type, stage, and grade). Unfortunately, due to ovarian cancer’s “Quiet” symptoms, only 24% of all cases are found at this early stage. Because many ovarian cancers are not detected early, the overall 5–year survival rate for women with ovarian cancer is only between 35% and 47%, depending upon the type of tumor.

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