Ovarian cancer is responsable for 3.5 % of all malignant new cancer cases in women and 5.6 % of all cancer cases. Average age at onset of disease lies at 69 years. However, 5 to 10 % of all new cases already occur in younger women (< 45 years). The morbidity rate of ovarian cancer is clearly decreasing since 1999. Even though mortality rate is sinking since 1999, ovarian cancer remains the deadliest of all gynaecologic tumors. Those women whose disease is discovered at an early stage have a relatively good prognosis for permanent healing. This is the case in around 30 % of cases. Among these, 5 year survival is between 65 and 90 %. Since ovarian cancer is not causing symptoms at first, it mostly remains undiscovered for a long time. That's why the avarage 5 year survival of ovarian cancer in Germany lies around 40 %. The risk to fall ill of ovarian cancer is associated with hormonal influences during many years. That is taking into account an early first period, a late onset of the climacteric period, childlessness or lacking lactation. Hormone replacement therapy also counts among the unfavourable factors. But taking the pill for contraception is protective of ovarian cancer. Source: Zentrum für Krebsregisterdaten, http://www.krebsdaten.de (Stand: Mai 2012) Source: Krebs in Deutschland 2007/2008, 8. Auflage, Robert Koch-Institut [Hrsg.], 2012More infos here