Peak Age of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer incidence peaks in the eighth decade of life, specifically between ages 70-74 years, with an age-specific incidence of 57 per 100,000 women per year. 1
Age Distribution Pattern
The incidence of ovarian cancer follows a clear age-related pattern:
- Median age at diagnosis is 63 years 1, 2
- Peak incidence occurs in the eighth decade (ages 70-79 years), with the highest rates specifically between ages 70-74 years 1
- More than 80% of cases are diagnosed in women over age 50 1, 3
- Nearly half (48%) of all ovarian cancers occur in women aged 65 years and older 4
Clinical Implications by Age Group
Postmenopausal Women (Standard Pattern)
- The vast majority of epithelial ovarian cancers occur in postmenopausal women, with incidence rates increasing steeply after age 40 and continuing to rise through the seventh and eighth decades 1, 5
- Age-adjusted rates peak at 54.0 per 100,000 in the 75-79 year age group 4
Younger Women (Alternative Histologies)
- Germ cell tumors predominantly affect women between ages 10-30 years and carry a better prognosis 3
- Sex cord stromal tumors can occur in younger women and are more likely to be diagnosed at early stage 3
Hereditary Cases (Earlier Onset)
- Women with BRCA1/2 mutations develop ovarian cancer approximately 10 years earlier than those with sporadic disease 1, 3
- BRCA1 mutations confer a 15-45% lifetime risk, while BRCA2 mutations confer a 10-20% lifetime risk 1, 3
- Consider genetic testing regardless of family history, as nearly half of BRCA mutation carriers lack a reported family history of cancer 1, 3
Important Caveats
Older women are frequently undertreated despite ovarian cancer being predominantly a disease of the elderly, with mortality declining only 2.2% in elderly women compared to 21.7% in younger women over the past decade 6. This undertreatment occurs even though older women can benefit from standard cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy combinations 6.