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What is the prognosis (outlook)?

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There is a good chance of a cure if ovarian cancer is diagnosed and treated when the disease is at an early stage (confined to the ovary and has not spread). Unfortunately, most ovarian cancers are not diagnosed at an early stage. This is because symptoms often do not occur until after the cancer has grown quite large or has spread. In this situation, a cure is less likely but still possible. In general, the later the stage and the higher the grade of the cancer, the poorer the outlook. Even if a cure is not possible, treatment can often slow down the progression of the cancer.
The treatment of cancer is a developing area of medicine. New treatments continue to be developed and the information on outlook above is very general. The specialist who knows your case can give more accurate information about your particular outlook, and how well your stage and grade of cancer is likely to respond to treatment.

Further help and information

CancerBACUP
3 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3JR
Tel: 0808 800 1234 Web: www.cancerbacup.org.uk
Provides information and support to anyone affected by cancer.

Cancer Research UK
Their website www.cancerhelp.org.uk provides facts about cancer including treatment choices.

Ovacome (ovarian cancer support)
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6DH
Tel: 020 7380 9589 Web: www.ovacome.org.uk A nationwide support group for all those concerned with ovarian cancer, involving sufferers, families, friends, carers, and health professionals.

Other support groups
See www.patient.co.uk/selfhelp.asp for a list of self help and support groups for cancer patients.

For information on hereditary and genetic factors involved in ovarian cancer see
Public Health Genetics Unit - Section on Breast/ovarian cancer www.phgu.org.uk/info_database/diseases/cancer/breast.html
and
Cancer Research UK - Familial Breast and Ovarian Cancer Pack www.dphpc.ox.ac.uk/crcpcerg/resources/genpack.htm