Daly M B, Lerman C
Family Risk Assessment Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Oncology (Williston Park). 1993 Nov;7(11):27-34; discussion 34, 37-8, 41.
Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer diagnosed in women in the United States, with over 20,000 newly diagnosed cases per year. Over 70% of these patients present with advanced, stage III or IV disease, resulting in more than 13,000 deaths each year. This figure is all the more tragic given the long-term disease-free survival of approximately 85% for early stage disease. The natural history of the disease is poorly understood but is characterized by an insidious onset with vague, non-specific symptoms (which are commonly overlooked), and a high but often transient response to current surgical and chemotherapeutic approaches. It is commonly associated with a prolonged and painful death accompanied by repeat bowel obstructions, malnutrition, and immunologic compromise. In addition to the pain and suffering and loss of life of those affected with the disease, there is a profound and long-lasting impact on the entire family who experience the loss.
上皮性卵巢癌是美国女性中诊断出的最常见的妇科癌症，每年有超过20000例新诊断病例。这些患者中超过70%表现为晚期（III期或IV期）疾病，每年导致超过13000人死亡。鉴于早期疾病的长期无病生存率约为85%，这一数字更令人悲痛。该疾病的自然史了解甚少，其特点是起病隐匿，症状模糊、不具特异性（常被忽视），对当前的手术和化疗方法反应较高但往往是短暂的。它通常与长期痛苦的死亡相关，伴有反复肠梗阻、营养不良和免疫功能损害。除了给患者带来痛苦和生命损失外，该病还会对经历丧亲之痛的整个家庭产生深远而持久的影响。
