Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer, and eighth most common cause of death from cancer in women around the world, according to the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

However, this killer disease is almost impossible to prevent, extremely difficult to detect and has an overall poor survival rate compared to other types of gynecological cancer.

"All women are at risk of ovarian cancer, but it is very rare in woman younger than 40. Like with many other diseases, the risk of developing ovarian cancer increases as you age. In fact, the largest percentage of woman diagnosed are older than 50," says Momentum Chief Underwriting Officer Janet Brodie.

In addition to age, woman with positive family history of breast or ovarian cancer at a young age, typically below 50, and a type of colon cancer, are also at greater risk, say Brodie, adding that some women have inherited gene abnormalities that result in breast or ovarian cancer.

Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to prevent cancer from developing, but there are some factors that could lower the risk.

"There are always going to be risk factors present, like aging or a family history or genetic make-up, but certain things can put you in a different risk category," says Brodie.

For example, the risk of developing ovarian cancer can be reduced by having a baby before the age of 30 or having used birth control pills for an extended time or having a hysterectomy or oophorectomy (surgical removal of one or both ovaries).

"According to the American Cancer Society, following a healthy diet, being active and maintaining your weight may reduce your risk of developing cancer, and the benefits also extend to other diseases," Brodie points out.

Detecting ovarian cancer can also be extremely difficult, as it often presents no symptoms in the early stages. Later stages are associated with symptoms, but they can be non-specific, such as loss of appetite and weight loss.

"The signs relating to this cancer are not as obvious as for example breast cancer, where you might find a lump in your breast when doing a self-examination, or where you might see dimpling in the breasts, or some of the other signs associated with the disease," says Brodie.

"The most frequently experienced symptoms are abdominal bloating or swelling, feeling full sooner than normal when eating, frequent urination, and pain or discomfort in the pelvis or abdomen."

She notes that symptoms can often be confused with other commonly experienced conditions and woman will typically ignore the symptoms until they become unbearable or until they start to influence their daily lives.

This means that ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread to the pelvis and stomach, at which stage it is more difficult to treat and can be fatal.

"A woman needs to know and listen to her body. If you are worried, speak to your gynecologist and share your concerns. There are blood tests and ultrasounds that can be performed to test for this," says Brodie.

Survival rates are closely linked to the stage at which ovarian cancer is diagnosed, so early diagnosis is crucial.

Brodie offers the following advice to those diagnosed with ovarian cancer: "You ultimately control your life and no disease should define who you are. I believe in a holistic approach to disease management, focusing on mind body and spirit. Give yourself time for you."

She also says that women must take ownership of their wellness, including their financial wellness, and not leave it to someone else.

"We only really think about insurance when it is too late and with the cost of treating cancer and with the advances in medicine, it becomes imperative for woman to own their wellness.

"You can see from the ages at which women are diagnosed how important it is to get cover at a younger age. Last year, the largest percentage of our critical illness claims paid were for cancer. Of that number, a third were for female cancers, one of which was ovarian cancer," Brodie concludes.