About Ovarian Cancer*

Ovarian cancer is cancer that begins in tissues of the ovaries. It ranks fifth as the cause of cancer death in women. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 21,650 new cases of ovarian cancer in the U.S. in 2008, and about 15,520 women will die because of the disease. Around two-thirds of women with ovarian cancer are 55 or older. It is slightly more common in Caucasian women than African-American women. A woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 71.

Ovarian cancer is sometimes called, "the disease that whispers" because it very often is not detected until it is in the advanced stages. Currently, there is no effective means of early detection for the disease. As a result, only 50% of women survive longer than five years. Today, only 20% of cases are diagnosed in the early stages, before the cancer has spread beyond the ovary to the pelvic region. However, if ovarian cancer is detected and treated early, the five-year survival rate is 94%. Several large studies are in progress to learn the best ways to find ovarian cancer in its earliest stage.

Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
  • Vague but persistent and unexplained gastrointestinal gas, nausea, and/or indigestion
  • Abdominal bloating, pelvic and/or abdominal pain, and/or feeling of fullness
  • Unexplained change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea)
  • Unexplained weight gain or loss
  • Increased frequency and/or urgency of urination
  • Unusual fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Risk Factors
  • Increasing age, with highest occurrence in women over 50
  • Family or personal history of ovarian, breast, endometrial, or colon cancer (only 10% of cases are linked to family history, however)
  • Having no pregnancies
  • Presence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations
  • Obesity (a body mass index of at least 30)
Prevention and Risk Reduction
  • Use of oral contraceptives for more than five years can reduce your risk by approximately 50%
  • Multiple pregnancies, having first full-term pregnancy before the age of 25
  • Breast feeding
  • Hysterectomy/tubal ligation substantially reduces risk
  • Removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes (oopherectomy) dramatically reduces but does not completely eliminate the risk of developing ovarian cancer
What to Do If You are Concerned or Have Symptoms that Persist
  • Speak to your gynecologist for more information.
  • Have a vaginal-rectal pelvic examination.
  • Have a transvaginal ultrasound.
  • The CA125 blood test measures the level of a substance in the blood that may increase when a cancerous tumor is present. However, because CA125 misses half of early cancers and can be elevated by benign conditions, the National Cancer Institute does not endorse using it to screen women at ordinary risk or in the general population.
  • It is important to note that none of these tests are definitive when used on their own. They are most effective when used in combination with each other. The only way to confirm the presence of ovarian cancer is through a surgical biopsy of the tumor tissue.
  • Note: A PAP test is used to detect cervical cancer, NOT ovarian cancer.
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* The information in this section was obtained from the American Cancer Society web site, www.cancer.org, and the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund web site, www.ocrf.org, in February 2008.