Ovarian cancer usually is seen on the surface of the ovary. The
American Cancer Society estimates that 21,550 women will learn
they have ovarian cancer in 2009. It is the deadliest
gynecologic cancer and is the 5th cause of cancer deaths in
women. If caught early, over 90% of women with ovarian cancer
survive five years. Once spread to other organs, the five year
survival rate drops to 25%. The American Cancer Society
estimates approximately 14,600 women will die of this disease in
2009. Many types of tumors can start in the ovaries. Some are
benign (non-cancerous) and never spread beyond the ovary. Women
with these types of tumors can be treated by removing either the
ovary or the part of the ovary that has the tumor. Other types
of tumors are cancerous (malignant) and can spread to other
parts of the body. As a rule, tumors in the ovary are named for
the kinds of cells the tumor started from and whether the tumor
is benign or cancerous. There are 3 main types of tumors: Germ
cell tumors: These start from th