On an average, around 204,000 cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed across the world every year. In the United States, the average five-year survival rate for this form of cancer is 45.5 percent.
If statistics compiled by various health organizations across the world are to be believed, ovarian cancer is the 8th most common type of cancer in females, and 2nd most common gynecological cancer in the world. More importantly, it accounts for the highest number of reproductive system cancer-related deaths in the world. Statistics also suggest that the ailment is much more common in older women, with more than half of the women diagnosed for it being from the 60+ age group.
An Overview
Ovarian cancer is a medical condition typically characterized by the growth of cancerous cells in either one or both the ovaries. Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common type, and constitutes approximately 90 percent of the total cases. Its symptoms include cramps or pain in belly, pelvis, or lower back, abnormal vaginal bleeding, irregular bowel and bladder habits, etc. Owing to the fact that its symptoms are similar to that of other digestive and bladder disorders, many a time this form of cancer is misdiagnosed as some other ailment.
Although the exact causes of ovarian cancer are not known, many researchers believe that the ailment is related to ovulation and increased hormone levels. Methods of treatment include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy (albeit rarely). On the basis of preliminary diagnosis, the doctor will recommend a surgery, which will be followed by chemotherapy and medication to kill the affected cells that remain after the surgery.
Survival Rate
Most often, cancer survival rates are measured in terms of 5-year relative rates. The relative survival rate of any type of cancer is calculated by comparing the number of cancer patients with the general population. It would be the percentage of people alive five years after the disease was diagnosed. Ovarian cancer survival rates are based on several factors, including type, stage, age, medical history, etc.
Ovarian Epithelial Cancer
| Stage | Survival Rates (%) |
| I | 89 |
| II | 66 |
| III | 34 |
| IV | 18 |
Low Malignant Potential Ovarian Cancer
| Stage | Survival Rates (%) |
| I | 99 |
| II | 98 |
| III | 96 |
| IV | 77 |
Ovarian Germ Cell Cancer
| Stage | Survival Rates (%) |
| I | 98 |
| II | 80 |
| III | 84 |
| IV | 55 |
Fallopian Tube Carcinoma
| Stage | Survival Rates (%) |
| I | 93 |
| II | 74 |
| III | 66 |
| IV | 40 |
Statistical data following the trends of prognosis suggests that 75 percent women with ovarian cancer live for a year after being diagnosed for the ailment. The sooner the ailment is diagnosed, better the chances of living a long life. If this form of cancer is diagnosed and treated before it spreads to the other parts of the body, the chances of the patient surviving are 93 percent. The problem though, is that it is very difficult to diagnose it in its preliminary stages. Less than 20 percent of cases are diagnosed in the first stage.
These survival rates are based on studies of large groups of people, however, they are not suitable to predict the future of a patient suffering from the ailment. No two individuals are same. Different individuals will respond to a particular treatment in a different manner, so it’s very difficult to relate one case with another.
More importantly, these survival rates are averages, wherein extreme figures have been omitted. This means there have been some cases wherein the patient couldn’t survive for long time after the ailment was diagnosed, and other cases wherein the patient survived for a significant period after the diagnosis. The better part is that, owing to progress achieved by us in fields of medicine and science, the incidences of ovarian cancer have seen a significant decline over the last 20 years.
