Ovarian Cancer
Symptoms1,2
Ovarian cancer can be difficult
to detect, particularly at early
stages when there might be few
or no symptoms. Symptoms can
also be vague or non-specific,
making it easy to confuse them
with less serious, non-cancerous
conditions. Some of the more
common symptoms of ovarian
cancer include:
Fact Sheet
August 2016
What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer is a prominent gynecologic
cancer that begins in the ovaries, located on
each side of the uterus.3 About 90% of
ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian
carcinomas, which originate in the cells that
cover the outer surface of the ovaries.1,4
Uterus
Vagina
Ovaries
Key Risk Factors
1,5
• Old age
• Obesity
• Having a first baby later in life
(>age 35) or never carrying a
pregnancy to term
• Young age at first menstrual
period
• Late menopause
• Family history of ovarian, breast or
colorectal cancer
• Having an inherited cancer syndrome, such
as hereditary breast and ovarian cancer
syndrome (i.e., BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation)
• Personal history of breast cancer
Diagnosis and Prognosis
BLOATING
PAIN IN THE PELVIS
OR ABDOMEN
About half of all ovarian cancers are diagnosed in women age 63 years and older.6
Ovarian cancer is most frequently diagnosed when it has already metastasized to
other parts of the body that are not near the original cancer.7,8 At least 60% of
patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease.7
Worldwide, the 5-year survival rate for all stages of ovarian cancer ranges between
30-50%, and declines as the disease advances.9,10 In the U.S., the 5-year survival rate
for metastatic ovarian cancer is approximately 29%.7
Incidence
FEELING OF
FULLNESS
URINARY URGENCY
OR FREQUENCY
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in women worldwide, with the
highest incidence reported in Europe and North America.9,10 Epidemiologic data
suggests that there are over 239,000 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed annually
worldwide.9
Epidemiologic data suggests that each year there are:
In 2016, more than
FATIGUE
VAGINAL
BLEEDING
22,000
cases of ovarian cancer will
be diagnosed in the U.S.7
In 2012, more than
44,000
cases were diagnosed
in the E.U.11
Treatment12,13
CONSTIPATION
OR DIARRHEA
LOSS OF APPETITE
Current treatment options for ovarian cancer may include:
• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapies
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Ovarian Cancer
Fact Sheet
August 2016
Need for Further Research
Despite advances in the field of ovarian cancer, the prognosis remains poor for the majority of women, who are typically
diagnosed with advanced-stage disease.9 There is a clear unmet medical need for new treatment options. To learn more about
current clinical trials in ovarian cancer, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov and search for 'ovarian cancer.'
References
1. Ledermann JA, Raja FA, Fotopoulou C, et al. Newly diagnosed and relapsed epithelial ovarian carcinoma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis,
treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol 2013;24(Suppl 6):vi24–vi32.
2. Cancer Research UK. Ovarian cancer symptoms. Available from: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/ovarian-cancer/about/ovarian-cancer-symptoms. Accessed April 2015.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is gynecologic cancer? Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/gynecologic/basic_info/what-is-gynecologic-cancer.htm. Accessed May 2016.
4. National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Types and stages of ovarian cancer. Available from: http://www.ovarian.org/types_and_stages.php. Accessed May 2016.
5. American Cancer Society. Ovarian cancer risk factors. Available from: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-risk-factors.
Accessed April 2015.
6. American Cancer Society. Ovarian cancer. Available from: http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003130-pdf.pdf. Accessed May 2016.
7. National Cancer Institute Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER). SEER stat fact sheets: Ovarian cancer. Available from: http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/ovary.html. Accessed April 2015.
8. Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. What is ovarian cancer – statistics. Available from: http://www.ocrf.org/about-ovarian-cancer/what-is-ovarian-cancer/statistics. Accessed March 2016.
9. World Cancer Research Fund. Ovarian cancer statistics. Available from: http://www.wcrf.org/int/cancer-facts-figures/data-specific-cancers/ovarian-cancer-statistics. Accessed May 2016
10. World Cancer Research Fund. Worldwide data. Available from: http://www.wcrf.org/int/cancer-facts-figures/worldwide-data. Accessed June 2016
11. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)/EUCAN. Ovarian cancer: Estimated incidence, mortality & prevalence, 2012. Available from: http://eco.iarc.fr/eucan/CancerOne.aspx?Cancer=27&Gender=2. Accessed April 2015.
12. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Ovarian cancer. Version 1.2015. Available from: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/ovarian.pdf. Accessed April 2015.
13. National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. Ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer treatment (PDQ®). Available
from: http://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/patient/ovarian-epithelial-treatment-pdq. Accessed May 2016.
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About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees
work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems
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Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority
owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany, holds the global rights to the Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, name and brand. The
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