Closing the Care Gap

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The Heart of Cancer Advocacy

By: Frances Reid, Every Woman Study™ Lead & Programme Director

Closing the care gap is, or should be, at the heart of cancer advocacy, no matter the setting or type of cancer. There is always the opportunity to improve, to drive progress forward, ensuring people get the care they need and deserve. At the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, we firmly believe that it is vital to find where the care gaps are, and to find opportunities that are revealed during that search.

This time last year as World Cancer Day was adopting this theme for the first time, we were getting ready to launch the Every Woman Study™, Low- and Middle-Income Edition with our Strategic Advocacy Partners, the International Gynecologic Cancer Society.  The aim of this wide ranging study is to identify the challenges and opportunities to improve survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer in these settings.  Global incidence is set to increase 40% by 2040, and mortality by 50%, and developing countries will see the greatest increases.  We felt it was vital to gather timely data on women’s experiences, so we can articulate the issues and opportunities at hand and unite local communities behind prioritised action, backed by evidence.

Locations for the Every Woman Study™ LMIC Edition

One year later, data collection, which takes place via hospital clinics in our 24 Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMICs) in 31 languages, is underway.  Over 400 responses from our target of 2,000 women have already been recorded, with analysis of our Country Lead Clinician interviews being prepared for journal submissions.  The overwhelming energy and collaborative approach from our partners on the ground show they agree that documenting the experiences of women with ovarian cancer in their country is the first step to improving care.  Whilst we know that a significant number of women never get a diagnosis or sadly they disappear after diagnosis, the demographic factors we are collecting are revealing diverse communities. So far:

  • 12.8% travel more than 5 hours to get to the hospital, for 3% it takes more than 24 hours
  • For 15.8% of women, they either have no formal education, or were only educated to primary school level
  • 25.3% report their household income is below average for their country

It is evident that there are significant gaps in the care provision between lower and higher income settings, but even early on, it is interesting to see how this varies not only country by country but also within countries, especially between rural and urban settings. Levels of health literacy and their role in society also impact sharply on women’s ability to access and afford care. Cruelly, it is already clear that standard of care is out of reach for a significant number of women.  Above and beyond ovarian cancer specifically, we are seeing that there is still an enormous amount of work to be done by the global cancer community to improve health literacy, improve awareness of the importance and value of medical treatment, and ensure women are not disadvantaged.

Beyond these generic themes the call to action in each country will differ, whether it is to improve access to affordable diagnostics, or tackle affordability and accessibility of treatments on the WHO Essential Medicines List, or to ensure sustainability of supply and quality of treatments.  But the foundation for any change will be rooted in better data to support cancer control planning and action in national communities, and for the focus to turn towards what can be done for non-communicable diseases like cancer.  It is our aim that each country will not only have a National Cancer Control Plan, but will have one one that mentions ovarian cancer.

70% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer live in LMICs where they have the least access to medicines

70% of women in the world who have ovarian cancer live in LMIC, therefore tackling the inequities that exist in ovarian and other cancers is an important priority.  We all have a role as a wider cancer community to step up and work on these issues.  The things we learn along the way will also likely impact on care in higher-income countries, as we find out more about the impact of geography, socio-economic factors, and levels of health literacy on patients’ ability to access good quality and affordable care. 

As part of our preliminary work for the study, we are updating the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Atlas to launch March 2023, documenting the current evidence surrounding incidence, mortality, survival, treatments, risk factors and access to care. What is encouraging to note for this third edition, is the beginning of a new direction in the literature, one that at last is beginning to think more carefully about inequity, and the importance of having localised relevant data to guide planning, treatment and support.

We hope by this time next year, even more groups will be considering these issues, and, of course, data from our own Study, which closes in June 2023, will be beginning to spotlight and focus on exactly where and how those gaps can be closed. 

Frances Reid, Programme Director and Every Woman Study™ Lead World Ovarian Cancer Coalition



Reflections on 2022 from our Chair, Annwen Jones OBE

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As this year draws to a close, I reflect on 2022 with much gratitude and look ahead to 2023 with eager anticipation.

My first year as Chair of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Board has been filled with many highs, and I am hugely in awe of the outstanding work of the global ovarian cancer community. As Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, I know how tough these last few years have been, fraught with challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and now we face further uncertainty with the cost of living increasing globally against a backdrop of political instability. Because of this I am enormously proud to be part of a global movement that remains committed to improving survival and quality of life for every woman at risk of or living with an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

I am amazed by the work being done in the face of – and in spite of – these challenges, that I am left in no doubt we will indeed change the future of ovarian cancer.

It has been a busy year for the Coalition as well. Our record-breaking World Ovarian Cancer Day campaign in May transitioned into our first-ever Pride Month campaign, where we addressed the particular challenges and risks of the often-overlooked LGBTQ2+ community.

Our strategic partnership with the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) continues to bear fruit, as our much anticipated Every Woman Study™: Low- and Middle-Income Edition is now out in the field, with data starting to come in from 24 countries.

It was our profound joy to be able to meet in person as a Board as we gathered for an intensive three-day summit to map out our strategy for the next 5-years. We have some exciting plans in the works, as we sharpen our focus and adjust our mission and vision to reflect our maturing organisation.

Heading into 2023, I renew our pledge to provide global leadership and insight so we can make ovarian cancer a global priority. Supporting our stellar partner organisations will remain a key pillar of our work and empowering them with new pieces of strategic evidence so at local, national, and international levels we can, individually and as a community, advocate for all women no matter where they live.

And by continuing to develop and build collaborations and partnerships, we are confident we WILL get to “No Woman Left Behind.”

On behalf of the Coalition, thank you and we wish you the most peaceful of holidays and a safe and healthy New Year.

Annwen Jones OBE

Chair, World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

World Ovarian Cancer Coalition to Unveil New Report that Highlights Gaps in Ovarian Cancer Care within Low- and Middle-Income Countries

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Insights will outline challenges and opportunities to improve equitable access and affordability to essential medicines in ovarian cancer

Toronto, Canada, September 7, 2022 – Today, The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition (Coalition), announced that it will release findings from a new report titled, The Journey to More Equitable Ovarian Cancer Care, Access to Essential Medicines Roundtable Report, that identifies challenges and opportunities surrounding access and affordability of essential medicines in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) for women with ovarian cancer. The report summarizes insights from an April 2022 roundtable discussion convened by the Coalition, featuring a diverse panel of global experts including clinicians, policy experts, NGOs, and ovarian cancer patient advocates. Highlights of the report are to be presented prior to the International Gynecologic Cancer Society Annual Meeting on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 8:00am EDT at the Arlo Nomad Hotel in Manhattan, NY, with a virtual option.

By 2040, the number of women around the world diagnosed with ovarian cancer will rise almost 42% and the number of women dying from ovarian cancer each year will increase by 50%. Furthermore, based on 2020 mortality rates, if nothing changes, by 2040 it is estimated that over four million women will die from ovarian cancer worldwide, with the majority of those lost from LMICs. The Roundtable aimed to identify challenges and opportunities to improve access to essential medicines and inform the Coalition on actions it could take to advocate for better access to cancer medicines.

“The burden of ovarian cancer disproportionally impacts countries with minimal resources as over 70% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer live in LMICs. Access to treatment is vital for all women regardless of where they live, but for those in lower income settings it is especially important to address the access challenge now,” said Clara MacKay, CEO of the Coalition. “Barriers to accessing basic care are complex and require coordinated efforts. By partnering with the International Gynecological Cancer Society to expand our initial Every Woman Study™, and with the knowledge gained from the Roundtable, we hope to empower the global community to recognize that ovarian cancer needs to be a priority that requires action at a global and national level.”

In addition to discussing the access to medicines results, the briefing will also cover early anecdotal reports and details of the Every Woman Study™: Low- and Middle-Income Edition. Presenting in person or virtually at the event will be representatives from the Coalition including the Study Lead, their Study partner, the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, along with several of the Study’s Oversight Committee members. Expanding on the 2018 Every Woman Study™️, this new iteration will document the experiences of women with ovarian cancer in up to 30 LMICs, highlighting the true patient experience and the ways in which ovarian cancer is impacting the lives of women around the world. Initial results are expected in the second half of 2023.

“There is a significant lack of local data within LMICs which hinders the development of accessible cancer treatment and services for those populations,” said Frances Reid, Director of Programmes for the Coalition and Study Lead of the Every Woman Study™: Low- and Middle-Income Edition. “By expanding these data, we hope to raise awareness of those gaps in care and support women and clinicians to tackle the societal, systematic and practical barriers that prevent women from accessing the best care possible.”

“The time is now for global policymakers and governments to recognize the impact of ovarian cancer on women, families, societies, and economies,” said Mary Eiken, CEO of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. “The concept of equity is embedded into the core of our work and this joint project speaks to the power of collaboration and the importance of bridging the widening gap for women worldwide.”

Watch the replay here

Click here for the electronic press kit

About the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition is a not-for-profit organization, formally established in 2016, working across the globe towards a world where every woman with ovarian cancer has the best chance of survival, and the best quality of life – wherever she may live.

The Coalition builds on the significant impact of the annual flagship ovarian cancer awareness campaign – World Ovarian Cancer Day, started in 2013 and the ground-breaking Every Woman Study™ published in 2018. Building on the Study, the Coalition launched the Global Ovarian Cancer Charter at the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) annual meeting in 2020. The Charter, a living document, pivots around six Global Goals and is a clear call-to-action for all those committed to improving survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer. In 2022 and in partnership with IGCS, the Coalition is undertaking the Every Woman Study™️: Low- and Middle-Income Edition in over 25 countries. This next generation of the Study will for the first-time detail the experiences of women living with an ovarian cancer diagnosis in settings that, for a number of reasons, have been until now overlooked. Initial results from this Study are due out in 2023.

About the International Gynecologic Cancer Society
Established in 1987 as a not-for-profit, the International Gynecologic Cancer Society is a partnership of advocates, gynecologic oncologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, and other clinicians and researchers who devote their professional lives to the field of gynecologic oncology and to uniting the globe in the fight against gynecologic cancers.

The mission of IGCS is to enhance the care of those affected by gynecologic cancers worldwide through education and training and public awareness. The society works to achieve its mission through strategic collaborations with regional and international organizations, hosting and supporting scientific meetings, promoting research and publications, providing mentorship and training opportunities and patient advocacy programming.

The concept of global health equity is embedded in the IGCS mission and is reflected in the breadth of its membership and the design and implementation of its programs. With over 3,000 members from low-, middle-, and high-income countries around the globe, IGCS has purposefully developed an inclusive membership framework that encourages interaction and growth across diverse social, political, and health care systems. Through this framework, IGCS connects members with specific needs to those with corresponding resources and programs; forms partnerships; educates, trains, and mentors clinicians, survivors-patients, and caregivers. More information can be found at www.igcs.org.

Media Contact:
Phaedra Charlton
Director of Marketing and Communications
World Ovarian Cancer Coalition
phaedra@worldovariancancercoalition.org

One Woman Health: Opportunities to Benefit All Women

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The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition works with a diverse group of nearly 200 patient advocacy organizations from around the world. Many of these organizations focus on ovarian cancer – but many have an interest more broadly in women’s cancers and/or women’s health. This special event held on June 23, 2022 explored the social and economic detriments that undermine access to good health for women – and the opportunities that may exist to work together to achieve change for women in relation to ovarian cancer and/or other health concerns.


Here are the initiatives and organizations mentioned in the video above:

  1. Global Breast Cancer Initiative
  2. UICC International Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination in the Commonwealth
  3. WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative
  4. IGCS Mentorship and Training Programme
  5. WOCACA – Women’s Coalition Against Cancer
  6. Campaigning 4 Cancer Guide App
  7. WHO Be Health Be Mobile Initiative
  8. ACTO Onlus

Thank you to our sponsors for helping to make this event possible

Too Late To Treat – Average Time to an Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis is Almost 8 Months

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World Ovarian Cancer Coalition stresses the need for awareness never greater

Toronto, Canada, May 5, 2022 – On the eve of the organization’s 10th World Ovarian Cancer Day (May 8), the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition (Coalition) has today released an analysis showing that if actions were taken across all countries to equalize the ovarian cancer diagnostic pathway, the average, time from symptom appearance to diagnosis could be almost halved by close to 4 months.  This conclusion is based on a further analysis of the 2018 Every Woman Study™️ findings that showed that, globally, the average time to an ovarian cancer diagnosis from when first noticing symptoms is 31 weeks, or 7.75 months.

“The sooner a woman is diagnosed with ovarian cancer the more likely she will be well enough to start and tolerate treatment,“ states Clara MacKay, CEO of the Coalition, “Yet, sadly too many women receive their diagnosis when they are so unwell that few, if any, options remain.  With the advent of new treatments for those with specific genetic mutations or characteristics, this means that many women will miss out on the chance of benefiting from improved outcomes.”

With no screening programme yet available, clinicians who took part in the Coalition’s 2018 Study agreed that raising awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms and risks among women and their physicians provides the best chance of reducing this time to diagnosis. Crucially, the Study found that the more women knew about the disease, the faster they went to their doctor and the more rapidly they were diagnosed.

Key findings from the Coalition’s Every Woman Study™️ highlighted in the Data Briefing on Rapid Diagnosis include:

  • Over two-thirds of women who contributed to the Study said they knew very little or nothing about ovarian cancer prior to their diagnosis.
  • 9 in 10 women experience one or more key symptoms prior to their diagnosis
  • 4 in 10 women felt their doctor didn’t take their concerns seriously

In some countries women are waiting twice as long for a diagnosis than others

The Briefing also compared annual incidence and prevalence of ovarian cancer and concluded that up to 89,826 women die with ovarian cancer within one year of diagnosis.

With incidence and mortality rates set to climb by 2040, the need for awareness have never been greater. “Too many women are being left behind,” explains MacKay, “even when it comes to symptom and risk awareness.  This is something we are determined to change and is why on this our 10th World Ovarian Cancer Day, and for the next two years, we are adopting the theme of “No Woman Left Behind””

To help drive the global awareness movement, the Coalition this year has worked with many of their close to 200 patient advocacy partner organizations to provide core social media materials in as many languages as possible.  “Thanks to our supporters and partner organizations, we now have key messages available in 24 languages with more coming in,” said Phaedra Charlton, Director of Communications and Marketing “As we are a global organization, we want to ensure that we reach as many of those at risk as possible, so no woman – no person – is left behind. Last year, thanks to our partners, our message reached over 100 million people, but we still have a lot of work to do.”  For many, the opportunity of co-branded translated awareness assets is an important step forward in their work.  Raising awareness both amongst women and health professionals are two of the three core activities identified in the latest Data Briefing to reduce delays in diagnosis.

Part of that work, as outlined in this latest Data Briefing includes:

  1. Raise awareness of symptoms among women so they know when to seek help
  2. Improve knowledge among health professionals so they know when to refer women on
  3. Build capacity in health systems to enable timely access to diagnostic tests. 

“Rapid Diagnosis” is one of the six Global Goals as set out by the Coalition’s 2020 Global Ovarian Cancer Charter, and states that: “Women must have access to diagnosis without delay.  Symptom awareness must be improved so women seek and access appropriate help quickly. Doctors also need support so they know who should undergo testing and that they have access to tests without delay so more women can start and tolerate treatment quickly.”

Read more about the Coalition’s Global Ovarian Cancer Charter here.

World Ovarian Cancer Day 2022 has been made possible through the generous contributions of corporate sponsors, including: AstraZeneca, GSK, Novocure, Immunogen, Teckro, Alkermes, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Mersana. Additional support provided by IMV Inc and AOA Dx Inc.

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About the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition is a not-for-profit organization, formally established in 2016, working across the globe towards a world where every woman with ovarian cancer has the best chance of survival, and the best quality of life – wherever she may live.

The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition builds on the significant impact of the annual flagship ovarian cancer awareness campaign – World Ovarian Cancer Day, started in 2013 and the ground-breaking Every Woman Study™ published in 2018. Building on the Study, the Coalition launched the Global Ovarian Cancer Charter at the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) annual meeting in 2020.  The Charter, a living document, pivots around six Global Goals and is a clear call-to-action for all those committed to improving survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer. In 2022 and in partnership with IGCS, the Coalition is undertaking the Every Woman Study™️: Low- and Middle-Income Edition in over 25 countries. This next generation of the Study will for the first time detail the experiences of women living with an ovarian cancer diagnosis in settings that, for a number of reasons, have been until now overlooked. Initial results from this Study are due out in 2023.

Media Contact:
Phaedra Charlton
Director of Marketing and Communications
World Ovarian Cancer Coalition
phaedra@worldovariancancercoalition.org

Remembering Celina

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Last week we shared the very sad news of Celina May’s passing with The Every Woman Study™️ Oversight Committee.  Celina was a part of this dedicated group of international doctors and patient advocates that is overseeing the largest ever study of the experiences of women with ovarian cancer in low- and middle-income countries. Response to the news about Celina from our colleagues on the Committee was immediate and heartfelt.

Celina will be greatly missed by all of us that had the great privilege to meet and work with her. But we firmly believe that Celina’s contribution to The Every Woman Study™️, which has the potential to drive significant change for the many, many women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, will be long-lasting and far-reaching.

Sadly, the many women currently living with or to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the future will not have the honour of knowing Celina, but they will directly benefit from her commitment and passion. The Every Woman Study™️: Low- and Middle-Income Edition has the potential to be undertaken in up to 31 countries collecting the views of up to 2.500 women. At its conclusion, we will finally have essential evidence about the experiences of women in these countries which will form the foundation for change to improve outcomes for those diagnosed with the disease.

Celina generously shared her views with us on every aspect of the Study from the perspective of what someone living with the disease should want and expect from us – but also professionally as an experienced communications expert.  Malaysia is one of the countries that is leading the way and likely to be one of the first to start implementing the Study at country level. Celina, alongside team Malaysia, Professor Dr. Woo Lin Ying and Sook Yee Yoon worked hard and with urgency on behalf of women in their country and beyond.  Her passion and fierce determination to support other woman and to make a difference in her own country, led to Malaysia’s very first support group for women with ovarian cancer, Ovarian Cancer Malaysia. We were bowled over by how quickly and professionally Celina set out to fill this gap and we are delighted that this group is now established and will carry Celina’s legacy onward. Reassuring us as we move towards the future is this quote from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, “Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.”

Finally, in the many conversations that we had with Celina she often mentioned her family and her concern about the impact of her ovarian cancer on those she loved most.  We know how heart-breaking it must be for her family, loved ones and many friends. We want you to know that in her life Celina made a difference and we are dedicated to continuing our work with our fond memory of her as a guiding light. We think Co-chair Tracey Adams summed it up best, “May we use Celina’s passion and memory to further drive us with this Study and advocacy for many more.”

 

 

 

LGBTQ2+ Patient Experts

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We are excited to share our newest awareness raising campaign that we will be launching to mark Pride month (June) – entitled “No Person Left Behind”. This is just the beginning of work we will be doing to ensure that we better represent all those who are or who could be affected by ovarian cancer.

As a first step, the campaign in June will focus on reflecting the experiences of the LBGTQ2+ community when it comes to ovarian cancer awareness, diagnosis, treatment and overall care. We are recruiting Patient Experts to advise us and inform the campaign and ways forward as we continue to develop more diversified content. If you are interested in becoming a Patient Expert we would love to meet with you – just drop us a line and we can set up a call.

We need to take urgent action now – A Blog from our CEO

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Between now and 2040 we will lose over four million women worldwide to ovarian cancer. This is the hard reality of the future of this lethal disease.

Rather, that is unless we take urgent action now.

Current estimates state that each year over 300,000 women globally are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. That figure is set to rise significantly – by almost 50% over the next twenty years to almost half a million.  As it stands right now, well over half will die within five years of their diagnosis making this disease the one of the deadliest of all women’s cancers.

These are shocking statistics, but they don’t really quantify the true tragedy of this loss.  These are not only our mothers, sisters, cousins, and friends, but they are also business owners, athletes, scientists, teachers, doctors, and more. In just 18 years four million women and the vital contributions they make to society will be gone.

Distressingly, we are also increasingly aware that for many women geographic, financial, and social circumstances stand between them and access to best possible care.

In a recent exercise, the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition looked at access to ovarian cancer treatment across thirteen countries, from low- to high-income. This review of availability, accessibility, and affordability covered a core set of standard ovarian cancer treatments. With the exception of PARP inhibitors, the recent, break-through treatment for some women with a genetic mutation or tumour characteristics all of the other treatments included are currently on the WHO’s Essential Medicines List (EML).

Unsurprisingly PARP inhibitors were rarely available to women in lower income countries. Indeed, it was found that even some high-income countries have limited access to this treatment. What was shocking, though, was that women in lower income countries do not even have routine access to the most basic of treatments that have been in use for decades.

However, the review’s most concerning conclusion was that the women least able to afford treatment were the ones most likely to have to pay out-of-pocket. Women in higher-income countries are more likely to have access to state or private coverage, women in low- and middle-income settings are more likely to pay for more than half of the core treatments themselves – even if they are approved for use and available in their country.  It is worth noting that 70% of the woman who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year live in lower income countries.

More generally, low global awareness of the disease, on the part of health care professionals as well as women, hampers a more rapid diagnosis – with delays in initial investigations, testing, referrals to specialist surgery and care all standing in the way of potentially better outcomes.

Even where there is awareness, healthcare systems frequently lack the resources and expertise to help women. Many lower income countries also suffer from a pronounced lack of specialist cancer physicians and support services, all hindering women’s chance of receiving the best possible care.

On a positive note, there is actually a lot to feel excited about in relation to new developments in the understanding of ovarian cancer and treating it more effectively. But this will only make a difference if we take meaningful steps today on behalf of the millions of women we stand to lose in the very near future. Our Global Ovarian Cancer Charter sets out the following six key areas that require action.

  • Make ovarian cancer a global priority: including examining guidelines on the diagnosis and care for women; investing and better planning at local, national, and international levels.
  • Rapid diagnosis: increase awareness among individuals and across healthcare systems so that women have the best chance of being diagnosed without delay.
  • Commitment to best possible care: tangible investments in ovarian cancer care including training, hiring, and retaining ovarian cancer healthcare professionals and specialists as well as financial support to those without means to access treatments.
  • Data improvement: current ovarian cancer data fluctuates widely and excludes many. It is vital we improve and increase the quality, quantity, and diversity of data on this disease so we can determine and develop evidence-based strategies for those with ovarian cancer so they have the chance at the best possible outcomes – no matter where they live.
  • Support and inform: those diagnosed with ovarian cancer must have access to appropriate information and support in their own language and their mental and physical well-being should be considered in equal measure.

Women deserve better. The time for us to act is now to close the care gap. Whoever and wherever you are, please join us  so no woman is left behind.

Clara MacKay
CEO
World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Data Briefing Projects Loss of Over 4 Million Women to Ovarian Cancer by 2040

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World Ovarian Cancer Coalition calls for disease to be made a global priority now

Toronto, Canada, February 1, 2022 – Days before World Cancer Day (February 4), the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition (Coalition) has released a global data briefing with sobering projections about the loss of women to ovarian cancer worldwide and is calling for urgent action and global prioritization of the disease.

“We need to recognize ovarian cancer as the significant global health challenge that it is and take immediate action today to address its trajectory,’’ said Clara MacKay, CEO of the Coalition. “We are seeing a steady increase in women diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. We need a collective, global commitment and practical action at country level to bolster efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat women who are at risk or who have ovarian cancer. “

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest female cancers with approximately half of women dying within five years of diagnosis. Survival rates for the disease are low globally but are particularly poor in low-income settings.  By 2040 incidence and mortality will have jumped disproportionately in low-income countries, with Africa’s numbers alone almost doubling.

Stark projections for the near future

Key findings and projections highlighted in the Coalition’s Global Ovarian Cancer Charter Data Briefing include:

  • 313,959 women worldwide were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020 – by 2040 this number is expected to rise to 445,721, an overall increase of 42%.
  • In 2020, 207,252 women worldwide died from the disease and that number will increase by 51% by 2040, with a projected number of 312,617 deaths.
  • While the greatest increase of women diagnosed in terms of numbers will be in Asia, the greatest percentage increase will be in Africa, where the number of women diagnosed is expected to rise by 86.8% over the next two decades.
  • The same holds true for ovarian cancer deaths. By 2040, Asia will see the greatest number of deaths overall, but the greatest percentage increase in mortality will be seen in Africa, where it is expected to jump by 92.3% – almost two-fold the number from 2020.

Millions of missing women

Ovarian cancer’s high mortality rate means hundreds of thousands of women die each year from the disease. Current data projections indicate a staggering total loss of 4,145,040 women to the disease by the time we reach 2040.  Millions of partners, colleagues, friends, mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, and grandmothers will be absent from their families’ tables if the status quo is maintained.

“Additionally concerning is that 70% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year already face overwhelming barriers to access because of geography, economics, or social circumstance.  Treatments are unaffordable; universal healthcare is anything but universal worldwide, and many healthcare systems are just not equipped or resourced to effectively deal with this disease,” added MacKay. “Collectively, we must close the care gap, so no woman is left behind. Everyone living with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer deserves the best chance of survival and the best quality of life possible – wherever she may live.”

While recent advancements in ovarian cancer treatments have been promising, the Coalition’s Global Ovarian Cancer Charter Data Briefing underscores the fact that inequities in access render those developments meaningless for many – particularly for women in poor and developing nations. Increased disease awareness and significant improvements and investment in research, prevention, diagnosis, care, and treatments worldwide are vital so that care gaps can be closed, and all can benefit from progress and have the best possible care.

Read more about the Coalition’s Global Ovarian Cancer Charter here.

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About the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

 The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition is a not-for-profit organization, formally established in 2016, working across the globe towards a world where every woman with ovarian cancer has the best chance of survival, and the best quality of life – wherever she may live.

The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition builds on the significant impact of the annual flagship ovarian cancer awareness campaign – World Ovarian Cancer Day, started in 2013 and the ground-breaking Every Woman Study™ published in 2018. Building on the Study, the Coalition launched the Global Ovarian Cancer Charter at the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) annual meeting in 2020.  The Charter, a living document, pivots around six Global Goals and is a clear call-to-action for all those committed to improving survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer. In 2022 and in partnership with IGCS, the Coalition is undertaking the Every Woman Study™️: Low- and Middle-Income Edition in over 25 countries. This next generation of the Study will for the first time detail the experiences of women living with an ovarian cancer diagnosis in settings that, for a number of reasons, have been until now overlooked. Initial results from this Study are due out in 2023.

Media Contact:

Phaedra Charlton

Director of Marketing and Communications,

World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

phaedra@worldovariancancercoalition.org