What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer is a disease produced by the rapid growth and division of cells within one or both ovaries.1
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Ovarian cancer is the 8th most common cancer among women, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers
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Every day, over 65 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States.
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About 22,430 women will be told they have ovarian cancer in the United States this year
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Ovarian cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in women.
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A woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is 1.5% or about 1 in 67.
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Her lifetime chance of dying from ovarian cancer is 1.05% or 1 in 95.
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Ovarian cancer ranks 5th in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.
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It is estimated that there will be 15,280 deaths from ovarian cancer in the U.S. during 2007
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About 76% of women with ovarian cancer survive 1 year after diagnosis, and 45% survive longer than 5 years after diagnosis.
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The risk of developing and dying from ovarian cancer is higher for Caucasian women than African American women.
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Women younger than age 65 have better 5-year survival rates than older women. If diagnosed and treated while the cancer has not spread outside the ovary, the 5-year survival rate is 93%.
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However, only 19% of all ovarian cancers are found at this early stage.
