Ovarian Cancer: Diagnosis & Treatment Including Gene Therapy

In 2005, approximately 26,800 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Of these women, 14,200 are expected to die of this disease or gynecologic cancer. In the United States and northern Europe have the highest ovarian cancer rates in the world. Most women diagnosed having ovarian cancer can expect, life expectancy three to four years, despite aggressive surgery and chemotherapy treatment. Ovarian cancer in the United States is the seventh most common cancer among women, and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths, after lung and bronchus, breast, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. A women's risk of getting ovarian cancer during their lifetime is about one in 58. When the disease is diagnosed in it's early stages of development, there is 95 percent chance of survival. Approximately twenty-five percent of ovarian cancers are diagnosed at an early stage. Fortunately, according to American Cancer Society the rate of ovarian cancer has gone down since 1991. Also, statistics for ovarian cancer estimates, in 2006 new cases will be 22,200, and 15,310 deaths.

In the female reproductive system, a pair of ovary organs, located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus (where a baby develops). The ovaries have two functions: Produce eggs and female hormones (estrogen and progesterone). These hormones influence the development of woman's breast, body shape and body hair. Also, regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Once a month, during the menstrual cycle, one ovary releases an egg called ovulation. The egg travels from the ovary through the fallopian tube to the uterus.