Ovarian cancer is cancer of the ovaries, that part of a woman's body where a child grows. According to most medical statistics, over fifteen thousand women die each year from this cancer. Medical studies have also shown that 45% of the women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer live five or more years after the initial diagnosis.
These are pretty grim statistics. Over half of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer die in less than five years after the initial diagnosis. Many medical professionals feel that their studies seem to show that one very real reason for this is that cancer has little or no symptoms and so before it is discovered this cancer has developed and spread.
What can be done to increase these survival rates? One way is to have a gynecological examination performed regularly. Yes, this may well cause you to experience some pain, however not any where's near as much pain as the mental pain of sitting across from your doctor's desk and hearing that you are in the advanced stages of ovarian cancer and will most likely die within five years.
Ovarian cancer isn't just one type of cancer but rather an overall name given to several different forms of cancer which occur in the ovaries.
It is important to note that most medical studies seem to show that cancer is genetic, that is the tendency towards having ovarian cancer of any kind runs in families.
Medical professionals feel that their studies seem to show also that women who have a multiple number of children are less apt to contract some form of this cancer. This is also true of women who use oral contraceptive devices. These medical professionals have therefore theorized that their studies indicate that cancer is related in some way to ovulation, that is the discharge of a mature ovum from the ovary. They feel that various occurrences that suppress ovulation in some way actually serve to lessen the chances of the woman developing some form of this cancer.
It has also been shown that the majority of cases of this cancer happen to older women, many into their seventies.
The ovarian cancer survival rate can be increased by taking proper precautions. Listen to your doctor, have that pap smear as advised. Don't wait until something seems wrong to have yourself checked out, do it on a regular basis. Don't wait, it might be too late.