Marsha Rivkin Center - What You Should Know about Ovarian Cancer

What You Should Know About Ovarian Cancer

Facts & Figures

In 2008, the American Cancer Society estimates that 21,650 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate of all gynecologic cancers, and an estimated 15,520 women will die this year from this disease.

Unfortunately, most women with the disease are diagnosed in stage III or IV, when the survival rate is severely reduced. However, when ovarian cancer is detected early, there is a 5 year survival rate of more than 90%.

Signs & Symptoms

Bloating
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

Several other symptoms have been commonly reported by women with ovarian cancer including fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation and menstrual irregularities.

These symptoms may be caused by ovarian cancer or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to check with a doctor, preferably a gynecologist, about these symptoms if they are new and persist for 2-3 weeks, especially if you experience several at one time. Tests for ovarian cancer include a combination pelvic/rectal exam, CA 125 blood test and a transvaginal ultrasound. A Pap smear is NOT a test for ovarian cancer. If ovarian cancer is suspected, consult a gynecologic oncologist. For a referral to a gynecologic oncologist in your area, call the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation at 1-800-444-4441.

Risk Factors

A women's risk of developing ovarian cancer increases:

As women grow older
When there is a history of breast or ovarian cancer in the family
With the use of fertility drugs

Protective Factors

There are a number of factors that may help protect women against ovarian cancer, including:

Number of pregnancies (protective factor increases with each pregnancy)
Length of breast feeding (protective factor increases with increased length of breast feeding)
Use of oral contraceptives (protective factor increases with continued oral contraceptive use)
Tubal ligation
Hysterectomy (surgical removal of uterus)
Oophorectomy (surgical removal of ovaries)
Use of Aspirin

For more information, please see our list of resources.

* Information provided by the National Cancer Institute Information Resources Department, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and the American Cancer Society.