World Ovarian Cancer Day: Shining a Light on a Silent Killer

Every year on May 8th, the world comes together to raise awareness of ovarian cancer, a disease often called the “silent killer” due to its subtle symptoms and late diagnosis. Despite advances in medicine, ovarian cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers to detect and treat.

Understanding Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer arises when abnormal cells in the ovary begin to multiply uncontrollably and form a tumour. If left untreated, the tumour can spread to other parts of the body. It is the eighth most common cancer among women worldwide and the leading cause of death from gynaecological cancers (World Health Organization, 2023).

The disease is often diagnosed at an advanced stage because early symptoms — such as bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating, and urinary urgency — are vague and easily mistaken for more benign conditions (Cancer Research UK, 2024).

Risk Factors and Prevention

While the exact cause of ovarian cancer remains unknown, several risk factors have been identified. These include:

• Age: Most cases occur in women over 50.
• Family history: A history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer increases risk.
• Genetic mutations: Inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes significantly raise the likelihood (Kurman and Shih, 2016).
• Reproductive history: Factors such as infertility and never having been pregnant are associated with increased risk.

Genetic testing and counselling have become critical tools in identifying women at high risk, enabling preventative strategies such as risk-reducing surgery or intensified surveillance (NCCN, 2024).

The Importance of Early Detection

Currently, there is no effective screening method for ovarian cancer in women at average risk (American Cancer Society, 2024). As a result, early detection relies heavily on awareness of symptoms and proactive healthcare-seeking behaviour.

When diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer can be as high as 90%. However, when diagnosed at a late stage, survival drops dramatically to around 30% (Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, 2023).

Advances in Treatment and Hope for the Future

Recent advancements, including targeted therapies like PARP inhibitors and immunotherapy, offer new hope for women battling ovarian cancer (Matulonis et al., 2016). Research into liquid biopsies and novel biomarkers also holds promise for earlier and more accurate diagnosis.

Global collaborations, such as the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Every Woman Study, continue to highlight the urgent need for equitable access to care, better treatments, and increased funding for ovarian cancer research (World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, 2023).

How You Can Help

On World Ovarian Cancer Day, let’s stand together to:

• Educate: Share information about the symptoms and risks.
• Advocate: Support policies that fund cancer research and improve access to genetic testing.
• Donate: Contribute to organisations working to advance ovarian cancer research and support patients.
• Support: Listen to and uplift the voices of those affected by ovarian cancer.

Early detection saves lives. By raising awareness and supporting research, we can change the future of ovarian cancer and give hope to women worldwide.

Reference List

American Cancer Society, 2024. Can ovarian cancer be found early? [online] Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/detection.html [Accessed 28 April 2025].

Cancer Research UK, 2024. Ovarian cancer symptoms. [online] Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/ovarian-cancer/symptoms [Accessed 28 April 2025].

Kurman, R.J. and Shih, I.M., 2016. The origin and pathogenesis of epithelial ovarian cancer: a proposed unifying theory. The American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 40(3), pp. 403–413.

Matulonis, U.A., Sood, A.K., Fallowfield, L., Howitt, B.E., Sehouli, J. and Karlan, B.Y., 2016. Ovarian cancer. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2, p. 16061.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), 2024. Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, and Pancreatic. [online] Available at: https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/guidelines-detail?category=2&id=1502 [Accessed 28 April 2025].

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, 2023. Ovarian cancer statistics. [online] Available at: https://ocrahope.org/patients/about-ovarian-cancer/statistics/ [Accessed 28 April 2025].

World Health Organization, 2023. Ovarian cancer. [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ovarian-cancer [Accessed 28 April 2025].

World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, 2023. Every Woman Study. [online] Available at: https://worldovariancancercoalition.org/every-woman-study/ [Accessed 28 April 2025].