17.1 Summary

Ovarian cancer was the fourth most common cancer for women in Ireland, accounting for 4.6% of all malignant neoplasms, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (Table 17.1). The average number of new cases diagnosed each year was 479. During 1995-2007, there was little change in the number of new cases diagnosed per year in RoI while the numbers decreased slightly in NI.

The risk of developing ovarian cancer up to the age of 74 was 1 in 71 and was similar in NI and RoI. At the end of 2008, 1,441 women aged under 65 and 994 women aged 65 and over were alive up to 15 years after their cancer diagnosis.

Table 17.1 Summary information for ovarian cancer in Ireland, 1995-2007

 

Ireland

RoI

NI

% of all new cancer cases

3.4%

3.3%

3.5%

% of all new cancer cases excluding non-melanoma skin cancer

4.6%

4.6%

4.6%

average number of new cases per year

479

319

159

cumulative risk to age 74

1.4%

1.4%

1.4%

15-year prevalence (1994-2008)

2435

1564

871

The age distribution of ovarian cancer at diagnosis was more uniform than for most other cancers (Figure 17.1). Approximately 18% of cases presented under 50 years of age, 21% between 50 and 59, 25% between 60 and 69 and 23% between 70 and 79; the remainder (13%) presented at 80 years or over. There was a similar age pattern in RoI and NI.

Figure 17.1 Age distribution of ovarian cancer cases in Ireland, 1995-2007

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