Symptom-free survival rate dropped from 80% in stage 1 to 20% in stage 3
There are about 3,000 new cases of ovarian cancer each year. Not only the number of patients is large, but it is showing an increasing trend. It is a big problem that many cases are diagnosed late because there are no early symptoms. In the case of stage 3, the 5-year survival rate is only 20-40%. This means that only about 3 out of 10 patients survive for more than 5 years. Why? Let’s learn more about ovarian cancer, which is common in middle-aged women in their 40s and 50s.
◆ Something hard in the stomach… If you feel symptoms, you are in a fairly advanced state
Ovarian cancer does not cause any symptoms in its early stages. If something hard is touched in the stomach, or if the stomach is filled with ascites, the disease is already quite advanced. Because of this, there are many cases in which the stomach hurts frequently and the food is not good, so they visit the hospital.
Ovarian cancer, even if it is quite advanced, can be considered insignificant because the symptoms are very mild or ambiguous. Most of the patients who are aware of the disease in the first stage are discovered incidentally during an internal examination or ultrasound during a regular gynecological examination.
◆ More than 60% of patients in their 40s and 50s and early 60s… Cancer in women focused on ‘middle age’
According to the National Cancer Registry Statistics released last December, 2947 cases of ovarian cancer (2020) occurred. By age group, those in their 50s accounted for the most with 27.6%, followed by those in their 40s with 19.8% and those in their 60s with 19.8%. More than 60% of patients are in their 40s and 50s and in their early 60s. It is a cancer that mainly occurs in ‘middle age’. It is good to go to the obstetrics and gynecology hospital regularly and receive counseling regarding ovarian cancer or endometrial cancer.
◆ Asymptomatic stage 1 survival rate is 76%~93%… 3rd period ‘pop’ up to 20%
The 5-year survival rate is the percentage of patients who survive more than 5 years after treatment. It is often used as a criterion for completeness. The 5-year survival rate for stage 1 ovarian cancer is 76% to 93%, except for some cases. Stage 2 is about 60%, but the number of patients is only 10%. The problem is the case of stage 3, which accounts for more than 50% of all ovarian cancer patients. The 5-year survival rate is known to be 41% for stage 3a, 25% for stage 3b, and 23% for stage 3c. Stage 4 is only 11%.
◆ Why does ovarian cancer occur? Heredity, ovulation – long menstruation, etc.
The cause of ovarian cancer is still not known exactly. It is known that heredity has some influence. If a family member has ovarian cancer, the risk of developing ovarian cancer increases. You should be careful even if you have experience or family history of breast, uterine, endometrial, or rectal cancer. In particular, having breast cancer doubles the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer increases the risk of developing breast cancer three to four times. Prolonged ovulation and menstruation increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
Statistics show that women who have been pregnant are less likely to get ovarian cancer. Compared to women who have never given birth, women who have had one child have a 10% lower risk of ovarian cancer, and those who have had three children have a 50% lower risk. Breastfeeding after childbirth also reduces the number of ovulations, reducing the risk of ovarian cancer.
◆ Prevention?… Middle-aged and older should be aware of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer
If an immediate family member, such as your mother or sister, has had ovarian cancer, you should be careful too. You should consult with a specialist to consider genetic testing or pay more attention to regular checkups. If you’re over 40, it’s a good idea to talk to your gynecologist about ovarian and cervical diseases. When symptoms appear, treatment is not easy. If you pay close attention, you can prevent ovarian and uterus-related diseases.
