Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the most common type of gynaecological cancer in the Western world. Denmark has one of the highest incidence rates of ovarian cancer worldwide, and more than 650 new cases are diagnosed every year among Danish women.

Ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed at a late stage. In more than 70% of the cases, the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. This is caused by the disease having only a few distinct symptoms that would lead to seeking medical attention or give rise to suspicions at a more routine medical examination.

This is of course significant with respect to the prognosis for the disease. The five-year survival rate is 80-90% when the cancer is detected at an early stage (stage 1), while it is down to approx. 15% when detected in stage 3 and less than 5% when the disease is diagnosed in stage 4.

Based on the studies MALOVA, OCAC, and COGS and the Borderline Tumour Cohort, we have worked for many years to identify e.g. risk factors and prognostic factors for this type of cancer.

Contacts:

Allan Jensen, allan@cancer.dk
Susanne Krüger Kjær, susanne@cancer.dk