Written evidence from Ovarian Cancer Action
BRIEFING PAPER FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS
INTRODUCTION
Ovarian Cancer Action[1]
is the UK's leading ovarian cancer charity. The charity is dedicated
to improving the poor survival rates for women diagnosed with
ovarian cancer in the UK by raising awareness of the disease,
funding research at the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre
and giving a voice to women affected by the disease.
Ovarian Cancer Action is dedicated to advancing and
supporting ovarian cancer research as part of its mission to save
women's lives. We are an independent charity who funds a broad
range of research to achieve accurate and early detection of ovarian
cancer, more effective treatments as well as preventative measures
to combat the disease.
THE IMPORTANCE
OF EARLY
DETECTION
Most women diagnosed with ovarian cancer experience
symptoms, even in early stage disease, when survival rates can
be as high as 90%. Yet in this country, three out of four women
are only diagnosed with ovarian cancer once it has spread beyond
the ovaries, when survival rates fall dramatically.
KEY FACTS
- ¾ Ovarian
cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women, and the biggest
gynaecological killer in the UK.
- ¾ Every
year, 6,800 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
- ¾ Only
38% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will survive five years
beyond a diagnosis.
- ¾ 12
women die from the disease each day.
UK survival rates have not improved in 20 years,
remaining low at 38%, compared with an increase to 79% for breast
cancer.
There is currently no proven national screening tool
for ovarian cancer. Women often mistakenly believe ovarian cancer
will be detected by a cervical smear. The fact is we are still
years away from conclusive and informative answers on national
screening. Therefore, it is vitally important to raise awareness
of the symptoms among the general public and healthcare professionals.
Focused research undertaken at the Ovarian Cancer
Action Research Centre will eventually improve our understanding
of what causes ovarian cancer and the most effective ways of treating
and diagnosing it but, in the meantime, a greater awareness of
the symptoms of ovarian cancer amongst the public, healthcare
professionals, parliamentarians and the media, provide our best
hope of ensuring more women are diagnosed at an earlier stage—when
the disease can be treated more effectively.
RAISING AWARENESS
OF OVARIAN
CANCER
Ovarian Cancer Action's * Remember the symptoms campaign
is the UK's first national ovarian cancer symptoms awareness campaign.
The campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the common symptoms
of ovarian cancer and encouraging women to share this information
with the other women in their lives. Raising awareness will improve
women's chances of the disease being diagnosed earlier—before
it has spread beyond the ovary.
We recently launched our online campaign "Every
woman should remember" and so far 1,846 people have taken
the pledge to remember the symptoms of ovarian cancer. We are
working with health professionals, parliamentarians and policy
makers to ensure that more people take the pledge to remember
and improve women's chances of surviving the disease.
CALL TO
ACTION!
Many women with ovarian cancer are passionate about
improving awareness to achieve earlier diagnosis. Ovarian Cancer
Action shares this passion, and works with women to tell their
stories and experiences.
Ovarian Cancer Voices provides a platform for women
and their families affected by ovarian cancer to share their experiences
with others. Ovarian Cancer Action is keen for women who have
been diagnosed with ovarian cancer to voice their experience.
These individuals can offer valuable knowledge and insight into
symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. This information
is used to support the charity in its development of services,
ensuring we are meeting the needs of women and their families
affected by the disease.
We are calling on all parliamentarians to become
Ovarian Cancer Action Champions and ensure that ovarian cancer
is a priority for all political parties. With your help we can
ensure that millions more women and health professionals will
know about the symptoms of ovarian cancer and take action to combat
the disease, which has been known for far too long as the silent
killer.
1 Ovarian Cancer Action is a member of the Association
of Medical Research Charities - a membership organisation of the
leading medical health and research charities in the UK.
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