Ovarian Cancer Survival Rate

If statistics compiled by various health organizations across the world are to be believed, ovarian cancer is the 8th most common type of cancer in females, and 2nd most common type of gynecological cancer in the world. More importantly, this gruesome ailment accounts for the highest number of reproductive system cancer related deaths in the world. Statistics also suggest that the ailment is much more common in older women, with more than half of the women diagnosed for the ailment being from the 60+ age group. The average five-year survival rate for this form of cancer is 45.5 percent.

An Overview

Ovarian cancer is a medical condition, characterized by the growth of cancerous cells in either one or both the ovaries. Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common type, and constitutes approximately 90 percent of the total cases. The common symptoms include cramps or pain in belly, pelvis or lower back, abnormal vaginal bleeding, irregular bowel and bladder habits, etc. Owing to the fact that its symptoms are similar to symptoms of other digestive and bladder disorders, many a time this form of cancer is misdiagnosed as some other ailment. Although the exact causes of ovarian cancer are not known, many researchers believe that the ailment is related to ovulation and increased hormone levels. Methods of treatment include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy (although very rare). Depending on the diagnosis of the ailment, the doctor will recommend a surgery, which will be followed by chemotherapy and medications to kill the affected cells which remain after the surgery.

Survival Rate

Most often, cancer survival rates are measured in terms of 5 year relative rates. The relative survival rate of any type of cancer is calculated by comparing the number of cancer patients with the general population. In case of ovarian cancer, it would be the percentage of people alive five years after the disease was diagnosed. Ovarian cancer survival rates are based on several factors, such as type, stage, age, medical history, etc.

Ovarian Epithelial Cancer

Stage	Survival Rates (%)
I	89
II	66
III	34
IV	18

Low Malignant Potential Ovarian Cancer

Stage	Survival Rates (%)
I	99
II	98
III	96
IV	77

Ovarian Germ Cell Cancer

Stage	Survival Rates (%)
I	98
II	80
III	84
IV	55

Fallopian Tube Carcinoma

Stage	Survival Rates (%)
I	93
II	74
III	66
IV	40

Statistical data following the trends of prognosis suggests that 75 percent women with ovarian cancer live for a year after being diagnosed for the ailment. The sooner the ailment is diagnosed, more are the chances of living a long life. If this form of cancer is diagnosed and treated before it spreads to the other parts of the body, the chances of the patient surviving are 93 percent. The problem though, is that it is very difficult to diagnose it in its preliminary stages. Less than 20 percent of cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the first stage.

These survival rates are based on studies of large groups of people, however they are not suitable to predict the future of a patient suffering from the ailment. No two individuals are the same, and hence it's very difficult to relate one case with another. Different individuals will respond to a particular treatment in a different manner.

More importantly, these survival rates are averages, wherein extreme figures have been omitted. This means there have been some cases wherein the patient couldn't survive for long time after the ailment was diagnosed, and there were other cases wherein the patient survived for a significant period after the diagnosis. The better part is that, owing to progress achieved by us in fields of medicine and science, the incidences of ovarian cancer have seen a significant decline over the last 20 years.