Ovarian Cancer Statistics

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

In 2005,*

• 19,842 women in the U.S. learned they had ovarian cancer, and 14,787 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.

*The most recent year for which statistics are currently available. Incidence counts cover approximately 96% of the U.S. population. Death counts cover 100% of the U.S. population. Use caution in comparing incidence and death counts.

†The cost estimates is in 2004 U.S. dollars, updated using the Medical Care Component of the Consumer Price Index [MCPI].

References

¹U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2005 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2009. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/uscs.

²Brown 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.