A Call to Action
The Global Ovarian Cancer Charter is a call to action for all those committed to improving survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer. The six Global Goals of the Charter are intended to drive short- and medium- term improvements for women no matter where they live. The Charter was launched at the Presidential Plenary session of the 2020 xDigital Annual Global Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society on 12th September 2020.
The Global Goals
Women who develop ovarian cancer should have the best possible chance of survival and best quality of life – wherever they live.
Sustained investment in research and infrastructure will ultimately deliver new and better diagnostic and treatment options, but there are opportunities to make progress right now through the Charter’s six Global Goals. Click each goal for more information. There are several translated versions of the Charter Summary available here.
Rapid Diagnosis
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.
For a PDF of all of the Global Goals, click [here].
Best Possible Care
Women must have access to surgery, treatments, and clinical trials that optimize their chances of survival and quality of life, no matter where they live. Lack of finance should not be a barrier to best possible care, nor should the gap between highest and lowest resource countries widen any further.
For a PDF of all of the Global Goals, click [here].
Family History
Women and doctors must have access to appropriate and timely genetic testing and counselling. For women with a family history of ovarian and other cancers1 it is important to determine if they or others in their family are also at risk.
For a PDF of all of the Global Goals, click [here].
1 For example breast, pancreatic, prostate, and bowel cancers.
Information and Support
Women must have access to good, quality information and support in their own language that helps them to live well with the disease. Mental and physical well-being should be addressed and considered in equal measure.
For a PDF of all of the Global Goals, click [here].
Charter Documents
Full Charter
The Global Ovarian Cancer Charter is intended as a living document that will evolve over time. The document here represents a particular moment in time and will be updated as the Coalition and our partners move through implementation.
Click here to download the current document.
2020 Atlas
Supporting the Global Priority goal, the 2020 World Ovarian Cancer Atlas was launched in October 2020. The incidence of ovarian cancer is set to rise by 47% by the year 2040, with the burden most felt by those in low- and middle-income countries. This comprehensive literature view examines this in detail and explains why making ovarian cancer a global priority is urgent.
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Global Priority Event Report
This report summarises the virtual meeting, ‘Making Ovarian Cancer a Global Priority’, which took place on 22nd October 2020 as part of the Global Ovarian Cancer Charter Summit Series. A recording of the meeting is available [here].
The purpose of the meeting was to highlight key challenges and opportunities for improving survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer and to explore in particular the gap between care for women in high resource settings compared to those living in low- and middle-resource settings.
Better Data Event Report
This report summarises the virtual meeting, Ovarian Cancer: Better Data, Better Outcomes, which took place on 18th November 2020 as part of the Global Ovarian Cancer Charter Summit Series. Recordings of the individual elements of the meeting are available [here].
The purpose of the meeting was to highlight key challenges and opportunities for improving ovarian cancer data collection, with a view to improving cancer control and planning, and improving outcomes.
Supporter and Champion Sign-Up
Individuals or organizations can get involved with the Global Ovarian Cancer Charter on many levels to help advance one or more of the Global Goals. From signing up as a Supporter or Champion to starting or joining a local patient advocacy group, there are many ways to help improve survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer.
Individuals and organizations can formally register to be Supporters here. Additional information is not required. Supporters are encouraged to share their endorsement via their networks and can choose to receive regular updates. As a Supporter, your name or logo will appear on our website closer to the Charter’s official launch. Supporters are welcome to go on to apply for Champion status at any time.
Charter Champions are those who want to showcase examples of their good practice in action. Potential Champions need only provide a brief outline of the current or upcoming project that speaks to one or more of the Global Goals. Champions will be publicly acknowledged as such during the Charter’s period of implementation with their work put before the global community.
For more information on applying to be a Charter Champion, click here.
Potential Champions can sign up here.
