Ovarian cancer is a cancer affecting the reproductive system of women and is called the silent killer since in most cases the diagnosis of the condition is done during later stages. This is because the symptoms may not be observed in early stages of the condition. Ovarian cancer statistics indicate that this condition is ranked fourth in list of cancer related deaths among women. In fact there is growing incidence of women being affected with almost 1 in each 69 women affected by the condition. Statistics also indicate that older women are more likely to suffer from ovarian cancer, with the average age for the diagnosis of this condition being 61 years.

Current ovarian cancer statistics seem to reflect that in 2011 as many as 21,990 women are likely to receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer with the deaths from this condition amounting to 15,460. Ovarian cancer is most often observed in white women compared to African American population. Statistics also indicate that 3 in 4 women tend to live for a period of minimum 1 year following the diagnosis. Around 46% women also tend to remain alive for a period of 5 years after the diagnosis. The 5 year survival rate in case of women whose cancer is limited to the ovaries is as high as 94%. However this 5 year survival rate drops in cases where the ovarian cancer has reached metastasis and spread beyond the ovaries. The reason why ovarian cancer is called the silent killer is that only 15% of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in the early stages.

Ovarian cancer statistics indicate that around 204,000 cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year, with the number of deaths related to the condition amounting to 125,000. The 10 year survival rate for the condition including all its stages is 39%. The 5 year survival rate refers to the number of individuals surviving five years after the initial diagnosis is received. The overall survival rate for this condition in 1996-2002 was recorded to be 44.7 percent. For white women the five year survival rate was 44.2 percent while for black women the rate was 39.5 percent.

Ovarian cancer statistics also indicate the prognosis of the condition is based on the stage of the cancer. These statistics reflect that around 19 percent of the ovarian cancer cases tend to be diagnosed while the cancer is in primary or localized stage. As against this, in 7 percent of cases the diagnosis is done when the cancer spreads to regional lymph nodes. In 68 percent cases, the diagnosis of the cancer is done once the cancer has metastasized. Likewise in 7 percent cases the diagnosis is done where staging information is not known. The survival rates are different for the diagnosis made in different stages.

The 5 year survival rates for cases diagnosed in localized or primary stage are 93.1 percent. The survival rate for cases diagnosed in regional stage is 69 percent. The survival rate for diagnosis in distant stage is 29.6 percent while for diagnosis in unstaged cases, the survival rate is 23.3 percent. On the whole ovarian cancer statistics indicate that 1.44 percent women may be diagnosed to be suffering from ovarian cancer. This means that 1 in 69 women have the possibility of suffering from this condition.