Glossary - O

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer does not have any noticeable symptoms. However some possible warning signals are an enlarged abdomen due to an accumulation of fluid or vague digestive disturbances (discomfort,gas or distention) in women over 40. In some rare cases there will be abnormal vaginal bleeding. The incidence of ovarian cancer is relatively high as one in seventy women will develop ovarian cancer in her lifetime. One of the risk factors associated with this form of cancer are old age, the rate being highest for woman over 60 years of age. Also woman who never gave birth are twice as likely to develop this cancer than woman who have given birth. Women who already have been diagnosed with breast, intestinal or rectal cancer appear to be at increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. On the other hand, early age of first pregnancy, early menopause and the use of oral contraceptives appear to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.If the cancer is diagnosed and treated it is still localized,the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. However, the five-year survival rate for all stages combined is 42 percent. The discrepancy is a result of the fact that only 23 percent of all cases are detected at the localized stage.

 

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