Ovarian Cancer Deaths Vary According to Your State

The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 21,880 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2010, and that about 13,850 women died as a result of the disease.

Ovarian cancer statistics overall vary from state to state, and deaths due to the disease are no exception. In Georgia, it is estimated that 390 women died from ovarian cancer in 2010. That ranks the state tenth in the United States, tied with the state of North Carolina. Georgia ranks ninth in the nation in regard to population, with more than 9.7 million people.

The state with the highest number of estimated deaths due to ovarian cancer in 2010 was California with 1,500. One of the biggest determinants for this high ranking can be attributed to the state’s large population. According to the United States Census Bureau, California has the highest population of any U.S. state, claiming over 37 million people.

Correspondingly, the states with the lowest amount of deaths in 2010 due to ovarian cancer -- less than 50 deaths each state -- were Delaware, Alaska, North Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.  Not surprisingly, all five of those states rank in the bottom six in the nation in population.

While state population size is a definite factor as to number of deaths caused by ovarian cancer each year, there are other factors which must be considered. These include an array of demographic factors, such as the percentage of each state’s population that consists of older women or that are of Caucasian descent. Both of those factors have proven to increase a woman’s likelihood of developing ovarian cancer.