Ovarian Cancer
In this condition factsheet:
The Facts on Ovarian Cancer
In Canada, an estimated 3,000 people are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. More Canadians die from ovarian cancer than all other gynecologic cancers combined, including cervical and endometrial (uterine) cancers.
Ovarian cancer remains difficult to detect. Although the 5-year survival rate is approximately 90% when ovarian cancer is detected in its earliest stages, 80% of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage where 5-year survival is only about 30%.
Currently, no reliable screening test exists for ovarian cancer.
Causes of Ovarian Cancer
The causes of ovarian cancer are not known. Some factors that may increase the risk of ovarian cancer include the following:
- aged 50 years and above
- family history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer (higher risk in people with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation)
- having had cancer before (e.g., breast, uterine, colon)
- having never been pregnant
- obesity
Some people with ovarian cancer do not have these risk factors, and other people who have these risk factors do not go on to have ovarian cancer.
Other risk factors such as early onset of menstruation or late menopause are not well proven.
Fertility treatments that include stimulation of ovulation may also increase the risk of ovarian cancer, but this is also not well proven and is difficult to confirm.
Symptoms and Complications of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer often goes undiagnosed until it reaches an advanced stage, primarily because symptoms are not common in the early stages and when they do occur, the symptoms may be general and non-specific.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:
- abdominal discomfort
- abnormal vaginal bleeding
- backache
- bloating or increase in abdominal size
- changes in bowel movements (e.g., constipation)
- fatigue
- feeling full earlier than normal after eating
- gas
- increased urinary urgency or frequency
- indigestion
- loss of appetite
- pain during sexual intercourse
- pelvic pain
- upset stomach
- weight loss or gain
These symptoms appear commonly and may be normal or can be associated with a variety of other conditions, but if they persist, talk to your doctor.
