Live Webinar via Zoom Meeting
12:00 - 1:00 PM ET

In women ages 35-74, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. An estimated one woman in 78 will develop ovarian cancer during her lifetime. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 21,750 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed in 2020, and that more than 13,940 women will die from ovarian cancer this year.

When a woman is diagnosed and treated in the earliest stages, the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent, Due to ovarian cancer’s nonspecific symptoms and lack of early detection tests, about 15 percent of all cases are early, meaning stage I or II. If detected at stage III or higher, the five-year survival rate can be as low as 28 percent. Historically, ovarian cancer was called the silent killer because symptoms were not thought to develop until the chance of cure was poor. However, recent studies have proven this untrue. The following symptoms are more likely to occur in women with ovarian cancer than in women in the general population, even patients with early stage disease: bloating; pelvic or abdominal pain; difficulty eating or feeling full quickly; and urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency). As soon as ovarian cancer is diagnosed, rapid referral to a gynecologic oncologist can improve survival prognosis.

This webinar will illustrate the benefits of referral to gynecologic oncologists and will review risk factors including genetic syndromes, presentation in early and late stages, diagnostic evaluation, physical exam, and indicators for referral to a gynecologic oncologist.