Projections indicate a substantial increase by nearly 55 per cent in ovarian cancer diagnoses worldwide over the next twenty years, as reported by a global coalition. The coalition emphasises the urgent need for enhanced efforts to address the poor outcomes associated with this disease.
According to the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, global survival rates for ovarian cancer vary between 30 per cent and 50 per cent. This coalition, comprising various patient organisations, underscores the urgency for improvement in diagnosis and treatment.
Ovarian cancer currently exhibits the lowest survival rates among female cancers. In contrast, the ten-year survival rate for breast cancer has nearly doubled over the past decade, reaching 78 per cent. However, progress in diagnosing and treating ovarian cancer has been limited.
The increasing incidence of ovarian cancer diagnoses worldwide is primarily attributed to the ageing population, with the disease predominantly affecting post-menopausal women over 50. In the developing world, many women succumb to infectious diseases before reaching this age.
Factors such as rapid population growth and urbanisation are contributing to the rise in ovarian cancer diagnoses. While the shift from rural to urban areas is identified as a factor, its exact influence remains unclear.
Additionally, ovarian cancer rates are expected to climb by 15 per cent in the next two decades. However, the rate of diagnosis has slowed somewhat, partly due to a significant number of women having used oral contraceptives in earlier years, which are known to offer some protection.
These findings stem from the coalition's comprehensive 2018 Every Woman study, which includes an analysis of global ovarian cancer data, interviews with women and healthcare professionals from various countries, and a survey involving over 1,000 women across 39 nations.
Scientists believe there is persistent gap between ovarian cancer and other cancers that have seen significant progress in recent years, such as breast cancer. However, there is an urgent need for a coordinated global approach to tackle this issue.