News

  • High Risk Individuals
    • Breast Cancer Survival Gene
      14/04/2010
      QIMR researchers, as part of an international collaboration, have found that a gene that is most commonly associated with skin pigmentation, hair and eye colour may influence a patient's chances of surviving cancer.
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    • Research News NBCF!
      12/04/2010
      Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have discovered that breast stem cells are exquisitely sensitive to the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone....
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    • Should Genes be patented
      5/02/2010
      The lawsuit challenges the government's granting of control of patents on BRCA1 and BRCA2 to Myriad Genetics (USA).
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Ovarian Cancer Facts

What are the risk factors for ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a cancer that affects a woman’s ovaries. Around 90 per cent of ovarian cancers start on the outer covering of the ovary. This is known as epithelial ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is a relatively uncommon disease, affecting only about 1200 women each year in Australia. Eight hundred women die of the disease each year.

While we don’t know exactly what causes ovarian cancer, the evidence shows that increasing age is a well-established risk factor for the disease, with around 80 per cent of cases occurring in women aged 50 years and over. A small number of women (around 5-10 per cent of all cases) will be at increased risk because they have a family history of ovarian cancer. Their risk increases with the number of relatives who have developed the disease.

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer and what can you do?

Symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague and can mimic those of other disorders. This can make ovarian cancer difficult to diagnose in its early stages. A pap smear cannot be used to detect ovarian cancer.

The most common symptoms that may indicate ovarian cancer are:

  • Abdominal bloating/feeling full
  • Appetite loss
  • Unexplained weight gain
  • Constipation
  • Heartburn
  • Back pain
  • Frequent urination
  • Abdominal/pelvic pain
  • Fatigue

These symptoms can also be present in other illnesses. It is important that you have any unusual or persistent symptoms investigated. In order to establish the cause of your symptoms your GP may refer you for further tests such as an ultrasound.

See NBOCC position statement on Surveillance of women at high or potentially high risk of ovarian cancer

Survival

The five year relative survival rate for Australian women with ovarian cancer during 1998-2002 was 42.1 per cent, compared with 34.3 per cent in 1982-86.

Click below to view the NBOCC Ovarian Cancer Symptoms TV campaign

Information source: National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre