Information About Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer Facts and Statistics

• Ovarian cancer is the growth of abnormal malignant cells that begins in the ovaries (women’s reproductive glands that produce eggs) or in the fallopian tubes. There are three types of ovarian cancer: epithelial ovarian cancer (90%, on the outer layer of the ovaries), germ cell cancer (rare, starts in the egg-producing cells) and stromal cell cancer (7%, in the tissue that contains hormone-producing cells).

• Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer deaths in women.

• Over 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018.

• Over 14,000 women will die of ovarian cancer in 2018.

• 1/78 women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer.

• White women are more likely to be diagnosed with or die of ovarian cancer, followed by Hispanic women.

• When caught early, ovarian cancer can be effectively treated and the less likely the cancer is to return. However, because most women are diagnosed in later stages, recurrence is more likely, but it is hard to predict who will recur.

• The Foundation for Women’s Cancer estimates that about 15% of women will survive more than 10 years after being diagnosed with an advanced-stage ovarian cancer. These women may or may not develop recurrence.

• The five-year survival rate for a patient whose surgeon was a gynecologic oncologist is significantly increased.

View the Infographic: What is Ovarian Cancer?