The ovaries are part of the female reproductive system. They produce a woman’s eggs and female hormones. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond.
Cancer of the ovary is not common, but it causes more deaths than other female reproductive cancers. The sooner ovarian cancer is found and treated, the better your chance for recovery. But ovarian cancer is hard to detect early.
A little less than 1% of Black women may get ovarian cancer in their lifetime. They have some of the lowest rates of ovarian cancer, compared to other racial/ethnic groups.
Per 100,000 people, here’s a breakdown of how many U.S. women may have ovarian cancer each year, according to studies:
Black women, who do develop ovarian cancer, tend to live cancer-free for less time than women of other races.
Overall, your chances of living years past your diagnosis are closely tied to the kind of cancer you have and how far it’s spread.
According to data recent data, the 5-year survival rates for ovarian cancer in Black women are:
Women with ovarian cancer often have no symptoms or just mild symptoms until the disease has reached an advanced stage, which makes it hard to treat. Symptoms may include:
If you have unusual vaginal bleeding, see a doctor right away. You should also see a doctor if you have any of the other signs for two weeks or longer and they are not normal for you. They may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see a doctor.
By paying attention to your body, you will be able to know what is normal for you.
It’s not clear what causes ovarian cancer, however, doctors have identified things that can increase the risk of the disease.
Doctors know that ovarian cancer begins when cells in or near the ovaries develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. The changes tell the cells to grow and multiply quickly, creating a mass (tumor) of cancer cells. The cancer cells continue living when healthy cells die. They can invade nearby tissues and break off from an initial tumor to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
According to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, ovarian cancer accounts for 2.5 percent of cancers in women. Ovarian cancer is also the 11th most common cancer among women and the deadliest of gynecologic cancers. Currently, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women and Black women have higher mortality rates than white women.
The type of cell where the cancer begins determines the type of ovarian cancer you have and helps your doctor determine which treatments are best for you. Ovarian cancer types include:
To diagnose ovarian cancer, doctors will do one or more tests. They include a physical exam, a pelvic exam, lab tests, an ultrasound, or a biopsy.
Treatment of ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and, although there are other chemotherapy treatments that may be used in certain situations.
Factors that can increase your risk of ovarian cancer include:
Although there is no way to prevent ovarian cancer, there are ways to reduce your risk:
