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Ovarian Cancer Statistics

Related Information: Compare by Race and Ethnicity, Compare by State

Among women in the United States, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death, after lung and bronchus, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.*¹ Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.¹ Ovarian cancer incidence (new cases) and mortality (deaths) rates are higher among Caucasian women than for women of any other racial group.¹

According to the U.S. Cancer Statistics: 2004 Incidence and Mortality report, 20,095 women in the U.S. learned they had ovarian cancer in 2004,^† and 14,716 women died from the disease.¹ It is estimated that more than $2.2 billion^‡ is spent on the treatment of ovarian cancer per year in the U.S.²

The number of women in the U.S. who develop or die from ovarian cancer each year varies by state. Find more information about ovarian cancer rates by state.

Statistical Trends

The rates for new ovarian cancer cases (incidence) have decreased or remained level for all ethnic groups, as follows:³

• 0.9% decrease per year from 1987 to 2004 among all women.^†
• No change from 2001 to 2004 among white women.**
• 0.4% decrease per year from 1975 to 2004 among African-American women.
• No change from 1995 to 2004 among Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native women.**

The rates for ovarian cancer deaths (mortality) have remained level for all ethnic groups, as follows:³

• No change from 1998 to 2004^† among all women.**
• No change from 1997 to 2004 among white women.**
• No change from 1975 to 2004 among African American women.**
• No change from 1995 to 2004 among Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native women.**

Find more information about ovarian cancer rates by race and ethnicity.

*Incidence counts cover approximately 98 percent of the U.S. population. Mortality counts cover 100 percent of the U.S. population. Use caution in comparing incidence and mortality counts.
^†The most recent year for which statistics are available.
^‡Cost is in 2004 dollars.
**Any changes in the rates recorded for these groups were not statistically significant.

References

1. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 2004 Incidence and Mortality. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2007.
2. Brown ML, Riley GF, Schussler N, Etzioni RD. Estimated health care costs related to cancer treatment from SEER-Medicare data. Medical Care 2002;40(8 Supplement)IV:104–117.
3. Ries LAG, Melbert D, Krapcho M, Mariotto A, Miller BA, Feuer EJ, Clegg L, Horner MJ, Howlader N, Eisner MP, Reichman M, Edwards BK (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2004, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, based on November 2006 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER Web site, 2007.