Ovarian Cancer: Statistics And Facts

When talking about women’s health issues we often immediately think about breast cancer, the most common type of cancer that affects women. But with so much discussion and dialogue focused on that issue it’s easy to forget that all women are also at risk of developing five types of gynecologic cancers: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar.  And not only are all women at risk of developing one of these cancers, but the risk of that happening also increases with age.

Today we want to talk about ovarian cancer, which affects about 20,000 women each year and is the deadliest of the five gynecologic cancers. Roughly 44% of women survive 5 years or more after a diagnosis.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention report that, “Among women in the United States, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death, after lung and bronchus, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, but it accounts for only about 3% of all cancers in women.”

One of the reasons ovarian cancer is so dangerous is that it’s harder to detect than other cancers. Because of this women should always monitor for signs of trouble and speak to their doctors about their risk of developing ovarian cancer. Mayoclinic.org reports that symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

• Abdominal bloating or swelling
• Quickly feeling full when eating
• Weight loss
• Discomfort in the pelvis area
• Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
• A frequent need to urinate

All women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer, though most cases appear in women aged 55 and up. A family history of ovarian or breast cancer, a higher weight or BMI, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, and certain reproductive issues can all also contribute to a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Click this link to read more about ovarian cancer statistics, risk factors, and symptoms.