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Ovarian Cancer

Today, four women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It’s a devastating experience, because:

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are so vague. For many women, the only signs are cramps, bloating, feeling full or needing to urinate more often—all symptoms which mimic common female complaints;
Historically 70% of women were diagnosed in the advanced stages, and only 25% survived beyond five years;
Many women will have entered hospital to undergo exploratory surgery, but most will wake to find they have undergone a complete hysterectomy;
This invasive surgery is currently the only way of detecting and accurately diagnosing ovarian cancer;
Instead of then being allowed to simply rest and recover from major surgery, they then undergo intense chemotherapy, without a clear understanding of whether this approach is suitable or effective for their specific cancer strain.

Many women discover that even if their treatment succeeds in getting rid of their cancer, there’s an 80% chance that it will come back.

It is a bleak and depressing picture of the reality of ovarian cancer—a picture that hasn’t shifted in thirty years but needs to change urgently.

These statistics scratch the surface of why innovative research is so urgently needed—to find an early detection test and also discover better, more effective treatments that will help women survive their diagnosis long term.

Early cancer detection will save lives

"While other cancers can be diagnosed by effective screening at an early stage (e.g. cervical cancer by PAP smear or breast cancer by mammography), an early detection test for ovarian cancer does not exist. The OCRF’s priority is developing an early detection test. I hope my daughters will be beneficiaries of that."
- Sarah Tidey, OCRF ambassador, Ovarian Cancer Patient

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What is Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the growth of malignant cells in one or both ovaries, and is often accompanied by the spread of malignant cells to surrounding organs in the abdominal cavity.

Facts about Ovarian Cancer

Find out the statistics and important facts about ovarian cancer.

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms of ovarian cancer can be vague, or can often be misdiagnosed as common female complaints—like bloating and abdominal cramps.

Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer

There is no screening or early detection test available for ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is usually detected by a combination of several tests and examinations.

Personal Stories

Here are the stories of women who have experienced ovarian cancer first-hand, and share their experiences to help spread awareness of the urgent need for an early detection test.

Support Services

While we cannot offer direct support services, we know that the need for specialised support is common among our supporters and indeed all women experiencing ovarian cancer.

We are tackling ovarian cancer in new ways

“The researchers we have funded are taking innovative approaches to tackling ovarian cancer from a range of different angles. We are encouraged by the precision of these projects, and optimistic that more women’s lives will be saved by the efforts of our researchers.”
- Lucinda Nolan, OCRF Chief Executive

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