ovarian cancer

Ovarian Cancer: The Stages, Symptoms, Survival Rates, and Causes

May 8, 2026

With it being one of the deadliest cancers in women, it’s the fifth most common cause of cancer death in women, and remains a conundrum because of how difficult it is to treat. In this article, we will discuss ovarian cancer stages, symptoms, survival rates, and causes, and of course, what you can do for your personal ovarian cancer prevention plan.

Ovarian Cancer: Stages, Symptoms, and Survival Rates

Early detection is often difficult, with less than 30% of women diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, which is stage I (localized to the ovaries) or stage II (metastasis to the pelvis). A woman’s chance of survival is better when it is detected early because the data shows the 10-year survival rate is projected to be 50 – 70% at these early stages. Early detection is key, because the stage III or IV long-term survival rate is only 15 – 25% (10 year survival rate) when detected at later stages.

Ovarian cancer symptoms vary depending on the stage of the disease. When just over 100 ovarian cancer patients were polled, researchers found common symptoms in stages I and II:

Abdominal pain and
Urgency to urinate, or urinary incontinence
Urinating frequently

Symptoms in women at late stages of the disease, stage III or IV, were increased abdominal girth and pain in the abdomen.

Ovarian Cancer: Causes and Prevention

The risk factors for ovarian cancer include lifestyle, environmental, and hereditary factors, though a curious risk factor has emerged as the cause of this disease: inflammation. We’ve talked about inflammation and its role in not only cancer development but also disease development.

As women, you should know that the act of ovulation creates inflammation in the ovaries, which increases the risk of ovarian cancer. The body will repair the damage caused by this inflammation, however, if chronic inflammation persists, damage to the ovaries will linger.

This is one reason why birth control medication has been shown to lower the risk of ovarian cancer, because women do not ovulate on this medication. An early menopause or a late menarche is also associated with a lower risk of the disease. Breastfeeding and pregnancy also lower the risk.

Other risk factors include:

Obesity
Infection from bacteria and viruses
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Endometriosis
Talc powder exposure

Chronic inflammation is a well-recognized risk factor in the development of ovarian cancer. Anything women can do to lower thier levels of chronic inflammation is vital for preventing ovarian cancer.

Watch My Latest Video: The Rise in Cancer in Those Under 50

Thoughts

Thanks for reading this article, “Ovarian Cancer: The Stages, Symptoms, Survival Rates, and Causes.” If you have any thoughts or comments, share them below. Schedule a complimentary 15-min call with me to get clear on what modern, science-based cancer prevention looks like.

FREE RESOURCES

Have more cancer prevention questions? We may have the answers in our free resources. Read or download them now:

1. Download the FREE eBook “HEALTHY FOOD SWAPS” if you’re ready to ditch processed and ultra-processed foods (which are linked to chronic inflammation) with healthier snack options. You’ll also get a list of healthy snacks according to weight and health goals (heart, brain focus, energy)
2. READ about the 10 foods that prevent cancer and our article on 6 Foods for Cancer Prevention

3. Read the article 4 Tips to Improve Breast Cancer Survival along with The Breast Cancer Diet that Increases Survival, then DOWNLOAD the FREE breast cancer survival kit that includes questions to ask your doctor, 8 tips to help lower your risk of a new or recurring breast cancer diagnosis, and 3 days of easy plant-based recipes.

4. Read the article Prevent a Colon Cancer Recurrence and The Optimal Colon Cancer Diet

ABOUT THE CANCER DETOX

Hi! I am Dee Grace Ph.D., scientist, author, and health coach based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Cancer Detox helps cancer patients, survivors, and those wanting to stay ahead of the curve prevent a new or recurring cancer with science-based health coaching.

Is the fear of cancer keeping you up at night? Is what you’re eating putting you at risk for cancer? What if you’re doing everything wrong and don’t even know it? Schedule a complimentary 15-min call with me to get clear on what modern, science-based cancer prevention looks like.

Purchase my book “Cancer Prevention: Diet and Lifestyle Factors that Reduce Your Risk” on Amazon. Pulling from over 100 science-based studies, I provide the case for why cancer isn’t always random and often preventable. You’ll get 24 Prevention Habits that hold you accountable for implementing a cancer prevention lifestyle. along with over 40 cancer prevention guidelines for fighting breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancers.

The information in this article is for educational purposes and is not meant to treat, diagnose, or prescribe medications or herbs. For questions on the information contained in this article, please consult with your healthcare provider. This information is intended for educational purposes only, and you should consult with your healthcare provider and a licensed dietician or certified nutritionist for additional information related to the content of this article.

REFERENCES

[1] McTiernan A, Friedenreich CM, Katzmarzyk PT, Powell KE, Macko R, Buchner D, Pescatello LS, Bloodgood B, Tennant B, Vaux-Bjerke A, George SM, Troiano RP, Piercy KL; 2018 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES ADVISORY COMMITTEE*. Physical Activity in Cancer Prevention and Survival: A Systematic Review. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019 Jun;51(6):1252-1261. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001937. PMID: 31095082; PMCID: PMC6527123.

[2] Orange ST, Dodd E, Nath S, et al. Exercise serum promotes DNA damage repair and remodels gene expression in colon cancer cells. Int J Cancer. 2026;158(10):2641-2649. doi:10.1002/ijc.70271

[3] Newcastle University. “Just 10 minutes of exercise can trigger powerful anti-cancer effects.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 January 2026. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225535.htm>.

Format:

Ovarian Cancer: The Stages, Symptoms, Survival Rates, and Causes