15 Celebrities who have opened up about surviving the ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the most difficult health issues to deal with. Because early-stage ovarian cancer is often asymptomatic, studies have found that over 75 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage -- and even then, the symptoms (like abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, pelvic pain, and bloating) apply to many different health conditions. That means it's crucial to be aware of ovarian cancer risk factors, like being in middle age or older and having a family history of ovarian and breast cancer, in order to determine your own personal risk. It's important to talk about and educate yourself about ovarian carcinoma. That's why we have a list of celebrities who have spoken about their experience.

In the United States alone, it's estimated that more than 19,000 people will receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer this year, per the American Cancer Society. The ACS also estimates that about 1 in 78 women will get ovarian cancer in their lifetime, and the familiar (and famous) faces ahead are a few of them. These celebrities were diagnosed with ovarian cancer at a variety of ages, come from a multitude of backgrounds, and spoke out about their experiences to raise awareness, following in the footsteps of celebs like Gilda Radner and Coretta Scott King (who both ultimately passed away from the disease). Continue reading to find out about their diagnoses and journeys.