Ovarian Cancer Survival Rate | Types | Stages

(Image credit © to ‘Getty’)

As the name implies, ovarian cancer (OC) is a kind of cancer that begins, grow, and occurs in the ovaries. There are two ovaries on each side of uterus of the female reproductive system. The size and shape of each ovary is similar to the size and shape of an almond. So, what are types and stages of ovarian cancer? And … how about with the survival rate? 

You might also like to read the previous posts about -- ”Can ovarian cysts be cancerous?" and symptoms of ovarian cancer, before continuing!

For some patients, knowing the prognosis and survival rate of their type of cancer may be helpful to keep motivated, while others may not find these statistics helpful. However, there is no statistic that can be detailed enough to explain what will happen. Furthermore, you should always remember that each case of cancer is unique!

Types of ovarian cancer

Before discussing about the survival rate of the disease, you may also like to know more about types of the disease.

How experts classify the types of OC? In general, they are classified according to the cell’s type from which they start. And the following are some types of OC:

Epithelial

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common type, it affect about 90 percent of all cases -- according to the UK Cancer Research.

It is a kind of OC that begins /starts in the surface layer of ovary (layer that covers ovary). Epithelial OC itself also has some different types, and some of them are (a) serous (it is the most common type of epithelial), (b) clear cell, (c) mucinous, (d) endometrioid, (f) and unclassifiable epithelial OC (it dominates about 10 percent of all epithelial cases).

Most of these different types are currently treated /cured in a similar way of the treatment. But the research is ongoing to investigate whether each type of epithelial requires different approach of the treatment.

Germ cell OC

For this type, the cells of tumor usually begin to develop from the cells of ovary that have function to produce /create eggs (ova). This type is much less common if compared with epithelial -- it only affects about 1-2 percent of all ovarian cancer cases. 

Fortunately, most abnormal cells from this type are non-cancerous /benign (often called as ‘dermoid cysts’). And for malignant cells (cancerous) of germ-cell is more common in women of twenties or teenagers.

Moreover, today most of germ cell ovarian cancer cases can be successfully cured and the fertility of patient also can be preserved.

What are other types of OC?

In fact, there are a lot of types of ovarian cancer (about more than thirty different types -- according to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition). ‘Primary peritoneal carcinoma’ and ‘Stromal’ are other known types of OC!

1. Primary peritoneal carcinoma! Sometimes doctors may recommend some patients to remove one of the ovaries in order to decrease the patient’s risk of developing ovarian cancer. But this option may increase the risk of primary peritoneal carcinoma. It usually begins to develop from the cells of abdominal lining (peritoneum). Doctors believe that it is closely rated to the most common type of OC (epithelial).
2. Stromal! It is a rare class of tumors that usually begin from the connective tissue cells (connective tissue that hold the ovary together and also have important contribution to produce /maintain the crucial female hormones ‘progesterone and estrogen’). 

How about with the stages of ovarian cancer?

The stage of ovarian cancer is closely associated with when the cells of cancer are diagnosed for the first time. The stage of the disease can describe how far the disease and whether or not the abnormal cells have spread. Therefore, it is the most important variable in predicting the successful of the treatment and predicting survival. Read also about diagnosing ovarian cancer!

In general, cancers are a kind of serious disease that usually categorized into four major stages -- from stage 1 (I) to stage 4 (IV). The number of 4 is the most advanced stage, and for the earliest stage is labeled by the number of 1.

Stage 4 (IV)

As mentioned before, it is the most advanced stage of the disease. It describes that the cells of cancer have spread to other organs /distinct organs (like lungs or liver). But when the cancer is still not found inside of the liver (only found on the liver’s surface), doctors usually still classify this condition into ‘stage III’.

Stage 3 (III)

In general, this stage is divided into three major categories:

1. Stage 3A (IIIA) - The cells of cancer are found in the tissue from the abdomen’s lining.
2. 3B (IIIB) - The tumor is about 2 centimeters in diameter or smaller on the abdomen’s lining.
3.  3C (IIIC) - If the tumor also has spread to the lymph nodes, or/and when it is larger than 2 centimeters on the abdomen’s lining.

Stage 2 (II)

This level describes that the disease (cancer) has spread and grown outside of the ovary. It is also classified into three major phases:

1. Stage 2A (IIA) - If the disease has grown into the womb /fallopian tubes.
2. 2B (IIB) - If the disease has grown into the rectum, or bladder, or other tissues in the patient’s pelvis!
3. 2C (IIC) - In this stage, the tumor can be classified either 2A /2B, and there are usually also cells of cancer that found in the fluid taken from the inside patient’s abdomen.

Stage 1 (I)

It is the level when the disease still only occurs in the ovaries (cells of cancer have not spread). 

1. Stage 1A (IA) - It describes when the disease is still completely inside one ovary.
2. 1B (IB) - If the disease is also still completely inside the ovary, but it now affects both ovaries!
3. 1C (IC) - In general, this stage describes that cancer cells are not only found inside the ovary, but some of them also can be found on the ovary’s surface.

Ovarian cancer survival rate!

Earlier diagnosis of the disease is very helpful for the prognosis of patient. In general, patients with stage 1(I) have much better prognosis or survival rate than others with later stages. The following are some helpful tables from the American Cancer Society:

(Table credit © to ‘cancer.org’)

*** 5-year survival rate means the chance /percent of patient to live at least 5 years after she is diagnosed.

And the following are another explanation about OC survival rates from the UK Cancer Research (based on the patients in the UK (Anglia region) who were diagnosed with OC between 2004 and 2008):

(Table source: cancerresearchuk.org)

What are other factors that influence the prognosis?

Although the stage of the disease is the most significant factor for the prognosis of patient - but there are also other factors that also have contribution in predicting the prognosis. These factors include:

1. The overall health of patient.
2. Whether the cells of tumor can be cured /removed in the initial surgery?!
3. The age of patient (younger patients are more likely to have better survival rate).
4. And the grade of the disease. In general, this variable is used to analyze about how slowly /quickly the cancer cells will grow. For more detailed information, talk more with a doctor!