What Is the Rate of Ovarian Cancer Growth?
Ovarian cancer is one of the more deadly forms of reproductive cancer. According to Medline Plus, ovarian cancer results in more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer. One factor influencing this high mortality rate is the astonishing growth rate seen among certain cases of ovarian cancer.
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Ovarian Cancer
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Age increases the risk of developing ovarian cancer, along with genetics (presence of the BRAC1 and BRAC2 genes), and a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancers. The trouble with ovarian cancer is that tumors in the area can grow quite large before they trigger symptoms, making early detection difficult.
Growth Rate
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Growth rate of tumors is another possible complicating factor when it comes to early detection. According to information from the BC Cancer Agency, the growth rate of some types of ovarian cancer (specifically tumors based on germ cells) can develop quite rapidly and aggressively, making early detection next to impossible.
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Considerations
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Not all types of ovarian cancer are predisposed to an exceptionally rapid rate of development. Aside from the germ cell tumors mentioned above, the other two types of ovarian cancer (epithelial ovarian and sex cord stromal) can have growth rates that vary widely, ranging from relatively slow (taking years to progress) to fairly aggressive (manifesting symptoms within several months to a year).
Survival Rate
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Detecting ovarian cancer early through routine pelvic examinations can help increase the odds of survival, no matter how rapid the growth rate of the particular tumor happens to be. If caught in the early stages, the five year survival rate for ovarian cancer is around 94 percent, according to Medline Plus. However, as ovarian cancer is not normally detected until it is advanced, the average five year survival rate for all cases of ovarian cancer is only 46 percent.
Warnings
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Certain medications have been shown to increase the growth rate of ovarian cancers. According to a 2001 article in ScienceDaily, certain estrogen therapy drugs such as Raloxifene can serve to accelerate the natural progression of ovarian cancer, along with increasing the rate of recurrence for those already afflicted.
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