Ovarian cancer usually is not diagnosed in its early stages because few, if any, symptoms are present. Laparotomy surgery is done to confirm the diagnosis, to provide initial treatment, and to stage the disease with biopsies of abdominal tissue, peritoneal fluid, and lymph nodes.

A 5-year survival rate means the percentage of people who are still alive 5 years or longer after their diagnosis. It is important to remember that these are only averages. Everyone's case is different, and these numbers do not necessarily show what will happen in your case.

Survival rates decrease as the stage and grade of cancer become more advanced and involve lymph nodes or other body organs.¹

Survival rates also depend on the type of ovarian cancer you have. There are three forms of ovarian cancer—epithelial, stromal, and germ cell. Epithelial cancer starts in the cells on the outside of the ovary and is by far the most common. The survival rates shown here are for epithelial ovarian cancer.