According to new research published in the British Journal of Cancer, younger women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have a greater chance of surviving the disease for five years or more. Researchers at Stanford University in California looked at the records of more than 28,000 American women diagnosed with ovarian cancer between 1988 and 2001.
They researchers found that:
- Women diagnosed under the age of 60 were more likely to survive at least five years than women over 60.
- Women diagnosed under 30 generally had better survival rates, although the disease is rare in this group.
- Women diagnosed under 30, 79 percent were still alive at five years.
- Women diagnosed between 30 and 60 years the survival rate for five years was 59 percent.
- Women diagnosed over the age of 60 had a 35 percent survival rate at five years.
The researchers are not sure of the reasons for the differences in survival at this point. It could be that the younger women had their cancer detected sooner or it could be due to biological differences. The researchers think that understanding the differences in survival for different age groups may help to improve survival for all age groups in the future.
1. So that means it can only be survived for some years. But for sure you're days are numbered. I never knew this. Anything to prolong life in this case is good. But I hope there is minimal discomfort. If only we really knew what causes these cancers.
Posted at 9:22AM on Nov 20th 2006 by David Bowe