Every year, there are 22,430 new cases of ovarian cancer and more than 15,280 deaths from the disease. Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other form of cancer of the reproductive system. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cause of death from cancer among women in the United States.


Signs of ovarian cancer include abdominal or pelvic pain or pressure, and bloating, nausea and urinary frequency. If any of these symptoms persist for more than a week, you should see your doctor. Unfortunately, the symptoms are often a sign that the cancer is advanced - which is one of the reasons ovarian cancer is so deadly.


A woman's risk increases with age. Ovarian cancer has been shown to have a strong hereditary linkage. Women with no family history of ovarian cancer have the lowest risk, and women with a parent or siblings who have had ovarian cancer carry a much higher risk. Additionally, women who have never had children, women who have had breast cancer, or women who have had hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer are also at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.


There is no routine screening program for ovarian cancer. By the time there are symptoms indicating that there may be ovarian cancer, the cancer is usually at a later stage. Since early detection is nearly impossible, prevention is key. Pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives may reduce a woman's risk for ovarian cancer. The surgical removal of both ovaries is sometimes recommended to the highest risk women after the age of 40; however, because this treatment causes premature menopause, it is highly controversial.


Common treatments include surgery, followed by traditional radiation therapy and chemotherapy.


Ovarian cancer has a 76% survival rate for patients one year after diagnosis. However, there is only a 45% survival rate five years after diagnosis. If diagnosed at the localized stage, the 5-year survival rate is 93%, however only 19% of ovarian cancers are caught at this stage.