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Thanks for the ping. I just saw this news reported on C-SPAN.

I will say a prayer for Katherine Harris -- I do not wish ovarian masses on any woman.

And, I am sad to say I know something about these masses: (1) not having children puts a woman at greater risk for ovarian cancer, based on what I have read on Web MD, as having children (multiple births) provides a woman with decades of protective hormones against this type of cancer; and (2) while most masses are benign, that is only true if the woman is under 45.

So, Katherine Harris, I hope, does not have ovarian cancer, but, she has no children as far as I know, and, she is over 45, as far as I know. Consequently, she really does need some prayers and I do hope she is OK after her surgery. Finally, I am not a doctor and I do not play one on tv, but, this above info is based on what I have read on Web MD and elsewhere.

One never knows, I have also read the same info as you have. My Mom, at age 60, who had 5 children had Ovarian Cancer. My friend at age 43, who had 2 children also had Ovarian Cancer. My Mom beat it, but sadly passed away from another type of cancer 6 years later. My friend lost her battle at age 44.

I think the most significant factor is not so much age as whether she has had menopause. None of us know that, but if I had to guess, I would say she is not. She's several years younger than the average age at menopause.

There should be a good likelihood of a benign result, just as her doctor has said.