Probability of Developing Ovarian Cancer (Women)

Ovarian cancer affects approximately 1 in 78 women over their lifetime. Often called the "silent killer," ovarian cancer is difficult to detect early because symptoms (bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating, urinary urgency) are vague and easily attributed to other conditions. As a result, about 60% of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Risk factors include BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutations (which raise lifetime risk to 15-45%), family history of ovarian or breast cancer, older age, endometriosis, hormone replacement therapy, and never having been pregnant. Protective factors include oral contraceptive use, breastfeeding, tubal ligation, and having children.

The overall 5-year survival rate is approximately 50%, but this varies dramatically by stage: over 93% for localized disease versus about 31% for distant-stage disease. No reliable screening test exists for the general population. Women with BRCA mutations may consider risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. Treatment involves surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy, with PARP inhibitors representing a major recent advance for BRCA-mutated tumors.