ON THIS PAGE: You will find information about how many people learn they have this type of cancer each year and some general survival information. Remember, survival rates depend on several factors. To see other pages in this guide, use the colored boxes on the right side of your screen, or click “Next” at the bottom.

This year, an estimated 22,240 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It is estimated that 14,030 deaths from this disease will occur this year. Ovarian cancer accounts for nearly 3% of all cancers among women. It is the tenth most common cancer and fifth most common cause of cancer-related death in women.

The overall one-year survival rate (percentage of women who survive at least one year after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) of women with ovarian cancer is 75%. The overall five-year survival rate is 44%, but this varies widely depending on the extent (stage) of the cancer. If the cancer is diagnosed and treated before it has spread outside the ovaries, the five-year survival rate is 92%. If the cancer has spread to the surrounding organs or tissue (regional spread), the five-year survival rate is 72%. If the cancer has spread to parts of the body far away from the ovary (distant spread), the five-year survival rate is 27%.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of women with this type of cancer in the United States each year, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a woman how long she will live with ovarian cancer. Because survival statistics are often measured in multi-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer. Learn more about understanding statistics [2].

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2013.

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