Primary Peritoneal Cancer Guide

For most sufferers and their families the main question they have is regarding ovarian cancer survival rates. Before we get into this let’s focus on what ovarian cancer is. The ovarian cancer is a disease that affects one or both ovaries, the organs on each side of the uterus. One of the ovaries releases an ovum when a woman ovulates. The ovaries also make hormones for reproduction. Unfortunately, approximately 75% of ovarian cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. If it is detected early and treated, the ovarian cancer survival rate is good. Patients increase the ovarian cancer survival rate if it has not spread outside the ovary and have a 90-95% chance of surviving five years or more after treatment.

The type of cancer is based on the cell type where it occurs. The most common is the epithelial cancer. Approximately 85 to 90% of all cancer cases arise from epithelial cancer that occurs in the cells on the surface of the ovary. Most women who develop this cancer are over 40 years of age. Approximately 5% of ovarian cancers are germ cell tumors. Stem cells are cells of the ovaries that become eggs. The cancer cells can also spread other than the abdominal cavity, to the surface of the lungs and chest cavity, resulting in a collection of fluid around the lungs known as a pleural effusion.

Who are at risk? About 3% of all new cancer cases diagnosed each year in women are ovarian cancers. Women of any age can develop ovarian cancer, but the risk increases with age. The most common type occurs more frequently in women between 50 and 75 years of age. Half of all ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in women over 63 years of age. Ovarian cancer is much less common in women under 40 years of age. The following factors increase a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer:

1. Family history of ovarian
2. Personal history of breast cancer
3. Late menopause
4. Use of fertility
5. Women who have never been pregnant, or who became pregnant for the first time at age 30 or older.
6. Approximately 5-10% of all ovarian cancers occur in women who have certain genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) inherited from their parents. There are blood tests to detect if a woman has one of these genes. Women who have one of these genes should consult a genetic specialist.

The prognosis says that the less a woman ovulates during her lifetime, the lower her risk of developing cancer of the ovary. Therefore, women who have had children have lower odds of developing ovarian cancer because they do not ovulate while pregnant or nursing. Women who use contraceptive pills do not ovulate and, therefore, have lower odds of developing ovarian cancer. Women who have undergone tubal sterilization seem to develop ovarian cancer less frequently, but the reason is unclear. After a doctor gives the diagnosis of ovarian cancer the treatment must start immediately. It’s important to understand that a woman can have some or all of the risk factors and yet never develop ovarian cancer and vice versa. All women should know the symptoms and inform their physicians, allowing the ovarian cancer survival rate to increase.