Ovarian Cancer Survival Rate Is Dependent On Many Factors

Ovarian cancer is defined as a tumor that forms in one or both of a woman’s ovaries.  Cancerous tumors are classified as malignant tumors, meaning they spread to other organs and tissues of the body.  All tumors are not malignant.  Some are benign.  During metastasis, a tumor may spread and invade other nearby organs or lymph nodes. Alternatively, they could enter the bloodstream and travel to distant organs.  Metastatic growths are by far the most dangerous tumors.  The ovarian cancer survival rate is dependent on the type of cell that originated the abnormal cell growth,   whether it is metastatic of not, and how long after the origination of the disease it is diagnosed.

                Epithelial tumors emanate from the germinal epithelium which is a layer of cells that surround the ovary.  This comprises about 70-80% of ovarian cancers.  These are commonly found in women of ages 45-70 who have already been through menopause.

                Stromal tumors are born from connective tissue cells that form the structure of ovaries and produce hormones.  In these types of cancers only one ovary is usually involved.  Women affected by stromal tumors are typically 40-60 years old.  5-10% of ovarian cancers are of this type and the survival rate is good.  Surgical removal is ordinarily the only necessary treatment.  If the tumor has travelled to other parts of the body then chemotherapy is required and the prognosis is lowered slightly.

                Germ cell tumors arise from cells that produce the egg and comprise approximately 15% of ovarian cancers.  This generally affects younger women to include teenagers and the survival rate is almost 100% of those treated.  However, most women end up being not able to have children following treatment of germ cell tumors.

                Metastatic tumors are the least common (5%), but the most dangerous.  The typical sites from which these tumors spread are the pancreas (5%), stomach (9%), breast (19%), and colon (50%).  When large masses are found in younger pre-menopausal women, only 20% are cancerous.  When these same masses are found in post-menopausal women about 50% are cancerous.

                Overall, the 5 year ovarian cancer survival rate is more than 75% when it occurs prior to the spread to other organs.  If the cancer spreads to the upper abdomen, then the survival rate decreases to 20%.  The key to survival is early detection and treatment.  In the United State there are about 26,000 new cases each year and about 1 in 56 females will develop ovarian cancer.  Being aware of the causes and symptoms of the disease are key to achieving a favorable survival rate.