Ovarian cancer survival rate

Ovarian cancer is one of the killer diseases prevalent among the female population all over the globe. It is shocking to know that every year ovarian cancer takes a toll of 1500 lives each year! In US alone every year 2500 new cases of ovarian cancer are registered. Among women, it is the fifth most common type of cancer. The rate of survival by ovarian cancer is less than any other type of reproductive cancer.

It is seen that as the age of a woman increases, so does her risk of getting ovarian cancer. It is more prevalent among women who are older than 55 years. Nearly 25% of all the cases are among women aged between 35 and 54. Women taking estrogen replacement for 5 years or more have a higher risk of ovarian cancer. Birth control pills fertility drugs both increase the chances of getting ovarian cancer.

The cause for poor survival rate largely depends on the fact that the early detection of ovarian cancer is rarely done. The symptoms are minor and are generally confused with the symptoms of other diseases. For example, it a person has back pain or frequent in indigestion, one will not promptly conclude that it is caused by ovarian cancer. The detection gives ample time for ovarian cancer to spread and even affect other body parts and organs. Hence, the later the diagnosis is mode, the less are the chances of survival.

Various methods are put to use while calculating the rate of survival and the percentages. Relative survival rate is one of the methods. In this method, the ratio is calculated by comparing the healthy population with cancer affected population. This gives the ratio of survival rates. The relative ovarian cancer in the last five year from1996 to 2002 was 44.7%. It was seen that the survival rate of white women was more than the black women.

For white women it was 44.2% and for black women it was 39.5%. Year 2004 saw 25,580 new cases of ovarian cancer in US. This was the diagnosed figure and the number of women who died was 16,090. In the 10 year study it was found that the range of survival varies from 84.1% in stage IA to stage IIIC with 10.4%. 3% of all the cancers in women is ovarian cancer. 1 in every 71 women gets invasive ovarian cancer during her whole life span. The chance of dying due to ovarian cancer is 1 in 95. 3 in every 4 women survive ovarian cancer for at least one year.

Nearly 46% of the women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer can live up to 5 years. Women whose ages are less than 65 years survive better and have better chances of recovery. The older have fewer chances. A whooping 93% are the chances of total recovery if the cancer has not spread beyond ovaries and to the other organs. The rate of death due ovarian cancer is gradually decreasing over the last 20 years. Incidence rate is another method to calculate the survival rate. This method is used to describe the common or rare disease. It is defined as how many new cases of ovarian cancer are reported every year per 100,000 women. Around the globe, nearly 20400 cases of ovarian cancer are reported every year.

The survival rate for every stage

The survival rate for stage I is 89%. Stage II has 66% survival rates. Stage III has 34% survival rate while the survival rate for stage IV is 18%.

Stage I has 99% survival rate. While stage II has 98%, stage III has 96% and stage IV has 77% survival rates.

Stage I has 98% survival rate. Stage II has 80% survival rates. Stage III has 84% while stage IV has 55%.

Stage I - 93%, stage II - 74%, stage III - 66% and stage IV - 40%.

The best way to prevent ovarian cancer is by having children before the age of 25. Breastfeeding before that age also reduces the risks. Take birth control pills for longer span of time. If the fear is still in the mind then removing the ovaries after child birth by surgery is the best way. If there is a family history of ovarian or breast cancer then a periodic pelvic check up is advised. Though the symptoms are varied and negligible, it is better to pay attention to one's bodily changes and pay heed to the minor symptoms also.