What is the general outlook for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer?
Because each woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has a different profile, it is impossible to give a general prognosis. If diagnosed and treated early, when the cancer is confined to the ovary, the 5 year survival rate approaches 93% (78-98 percent depending upon tumor type, stage, and grade.) Unfortunately, due to ovarian cancer’s non-specific symptoms, only 24% of all cases are found at this early stage. Because many ovarian cancers are not detected early, the overall 5 year survival rate for women with ovarian cancer is only between 35% and 49%, depending upon the type of tumor. BACK TO TOP Can ovarian cancer be prevented? At present, there is no known method to prevent ovarian cancer, but some things appear to reduce a woman’s risk of developing the disease. They include: • Oral contraception: Use of oral contraceptives for a total of 5 years (does not have to be continuous) can decrease the risk by as much as 60% (or 10% risk reduction per year of use up to 40-60% risk reduction w
