Cancers at a glance

Click the cancer types below to view the latest key facts on trends in new cases, deaths and survival in NSW.

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In depth cancer reports

For detailed data and analysis, please see the latest cancer reports published by the Cancer Institute

Cancer in NSW: Incidence and Mortality 2008

Other cancer reports

Online cancer statistics

Run detailed and customised reports on specific cancers, with comparisons on age, genders and geography:

Online statistics module

Ovarian cancer

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Ovarian cancer accounts for three per cent of all new cancer in females in NSW and five per cent of cancer deaths in females.

At a glance

2008 statistics Women
Cases Rate Trend
New cases 426 10.7 icon-trend-static.png
Deaths 285 6.8 icon-trend-static.png
Relative survival
(5 year)		 44% icon-trend-static.png 2%

icon-trend-static.png No statistically significant change.

  • Ovarian cancer is the tenth most common cancer in females in NSW and sixth in female cancer deaths.
  • One in 78 females will develop ovarian cancer by the age of 85.
  • Overall, five-year survival is 44 per cent. Early detection is a very important factor in  survival, with survival at 86 per cent when the disease is localised when diagnosed

Cases refers to the number of people with the disease; Rate means cases per 100,000 people (age standardised); Trend means the change in the rate over 10 years.

Historical trends

New cases

Age-standardised incidence, NSW

ovarian-incidence.png

Deaths

Age-standardised mortality, NSW

ovarian-mortality.png

 

Risk factors

Risk factors are similar to those of breast cancer.

  • Reproductive factors:
    • not having children
    • having children after the age of 30
    • early onset of menarche
    • late onset of menopause
    • oestrogen-only hormoner eplacement therapy or
      treatment with fertility drugs.
  • Ovarian cancer may be associated with a family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancer, or a personal history of breast cancer.
  • Uncommon mutations with the BRCA1 BRCA2 genes is associated with the breast ovarian cancer syndrome.
  • Increasing age.

 

Prevention

A diet rich in fibre and vegetables, breast feeding and use of the contraceptive pill may be protective.

Detection and screening

There is currently no screening method for ovarian cancer and early diagnosis is often difficult. A Pap test cannot be used to detect ovarian cancer.

Diagnosis usually occurs when a woman experiences persistent symptoms, such as lower abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, abdominal swelling or pelvic pain. However, these symptoms are associated with many other illnesses.

Research

Around $5.9 million was spent on cancer research in gynaecological cancers, including ovarian cancer, in NSW between  2007 and 2009.

Data sources:

  1. Cancer In NSW, Incidence and Mortality Report 2008. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW, August 2010.
  2. Cancer Research in NSW 2007-2009. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW. March 2011.
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