About Ovarian Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society - Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women. The American Cancer Society estimates that 21,650 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. in 2008 and about 15,520 women will die from the disease. It is an insidious disease that can strike without warning or cause.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague and subtle, making it difficult to diagnose. There is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer but there are tests which can detect ovarian cancer when patients are at high risk or have early symptoms. About 3 in 4 women with ovarian cancer survive at least 1 year after diagnosis. Almost half (45%) of women with ovarian cancer are still alive at least 5 years after diagnosis (this is called the 5-year survival rate). If ovarian cancer is found (and treated) before the cancer has spread outside the ovary, the 5-year survival rate is 92%. However, less than 20% of all ovarian cancers is found at this early stage.

Until we have better early detection tools, all women should be educated about the disease so they can achieve early diagnosis and successful treatment. A woman’s lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 1 in 71. Listen to your body. Do not ignore symptoms.

Ovarian Cancer: The Facts

Currently, there is no accurate test for ovarian cancer. The most effective way women can protect themselves against ovarian cancer is to learn the signs and symptoms. If these symptoms are unusual for you and persist, see a health care professional to rule out the possibility of ovarian cancer.

Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer may cause several signs and symptoms. Women are more likely to have symptoms if the disease has spread beyond the ovaries, but even early stage ovarian cancer can cause them. The most common symptoms include:

  • bloating
  • pelvic or abdominal pain
  • trouble eating or feeling full quickly
  • urinary symptoms such as urgency (always feeling like you have to go) or frequency (having to go often)

These symptoms are also commonly caused by benign (non-cancerous) diseases and by cancers of other organs. When they are caused by ovarian cancer, they tend to be persistent and represent a change from normal -- for example, they occur more often or are more severe. If a woman has these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks, she should see her doctor, preferably a gynecologist.

Others symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:

  • fatigue
  • upset stomach
  • back pain
  • pain during sex
  • constipation
  • menstrual changes

However, these symptoms are more likely to be caused by other conditions, and they occur just about as often in women who do not have ovarian cancer.

If there is reason to suspect you may have ovarian cancer, your doctor will use one or more tests or procedures to be absolutely certain that the disease is present and to determine the stage of the cancer.