Ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States.1,2 According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 21,410 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States in 2021, and approximately 13,770 women will die from the disease.1 The average lifetime risk for being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is approximately 1 in 78, and the risk for dying from the disease is approximately 1 in 108.1 The likelihood of developing ovarian cancer increases as women age, with most cases developing after menopause.1 How much do you know about ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer in the United States and causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.3 It can develop in different types of cells that make up the ovaries, including epithelial cells, which cover the outer surface of the ovaries, germ cells, which form eggs, and stromal cells, which help hold the ovary together and release estrogen and progesterone. Although the 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer has improved significantly in the past 30 years, the prognosis remains poor overall, with a 5-year relative survival rate of approximately 49%.4 Public awareness of ovarian cancer needs to remain a priority to increase survival rates and improve patient quality of life.
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