Ovarian cancer statistics - Key Facts

• Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in females in the UK and the second most common gynaecological cancer after uterus.
• There were over 6,500 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed in 2008 in the UK, that is around 126 women every week
• Ovarian cancer is more common in women who have been through the menopause: more than 8 in 10 new cases are diagnosed in women aged over 50 years.
• Since the mid 1970s, the incidence of ovarian cancer in women aged 65 and over has increased by more than 50%.
• In 2008 around 45,000 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Europe (EU-27).
• Worldwide, around 225,000 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008.

Read more in depth UK ovarian cancer incidence statistics

• Survival from ovarian cancer has almost doubled over the last 30 years. Over 1,000 more women per year in England and Wales are now surviving ovarian cancer for at least 5 years due to improved survival rates.
• Latest rates show that around 40% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive the disease for at least five years.
• Ovarian cancer survival rates are higher the earlier the cancer is diagnosed. Women with early stage ovarian cancer have survival rates in excess of 90%. 
• Around a third of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are now likely to survive their disease for at least ten years.
• Ovarian cancer survival rates are highest in younger women who are more often diagnosed with early cancer.

Read more in depth ovarian cancer survival statistics

• Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in women in the UK and the most common cause of gynaecological cancer death.
• About 4,370 women died of ovarian cancer in 2008 in the UK.
• Ovarian cancer mortality has remained fairly stable over the last thirty years, and in younger women it has decreased.
• In Europe (EU-27) around 29,000 women died from ovarian cancer in 2008.
• Worldwide, around 140,000 women died from ovarian cancer in 2008.

Read more in depth ovarian cancer mortality statistics

• The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age; more than 4 out of 5 cases are diagnosed in women over 50 years.
• Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
• Women who have not had children have a higher risk of ovarian cancer than women who have given birth.
• Oral contraceptive use reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and the protective effect persists for many years after stopping the Pill.
• Women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for more than five years have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
• Women with endometriosis have a greater than average risk of ovarian cancer.
• Research shows that women who have difficulties conceiving may have a higher risk of ovarian cancer than fertile women.
• Sterilisation by tubal ligation (having your tubes tied) has been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.
• The evidence suggests that women who breastfeed their children have a lower risk of ovarian cancer than those who do not.
• Research suggests that women who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Read more in depth ovarian cancer risk factors information

*age-standardised to the European population 

More detailed ovarian cancer statistics can be found using these links: incidence, survival, mortality, risk factors, molecular biology and genetics, symptoms and treatment.