Toronto, Canada, April 8, 2024 – In an unprecedented call to action, the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition has today released a startling Data Briefing, alongside a global petition, emphasising the urgent need to recognise ovarian cancer as a global health priority. The Coalition’s findings and petition signify a pivotal moment for the global ovarian cancer community, as projections indicate nearly twelve million women will be diagnosed and eight million will die from the disease by 2050.
The 2024 World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Ovarian Cancer Data Briefing reveals that the incidence and mortality rates of ovarian cancer are set to surge by 55% and almost 70% respectively by 2050, with the greatest increases projected in low- and middle-income countries. The ominous mortality prediction alone surpasses the population of cities like Hong Kong and is more than double that of Los Angeles, underscoring the devastating scale of the crisis at hand.
In response to these findings, a petition addressed to the World Health Organization and health leaders worldwide has been initiated, calling for immediate recognition of ovarian cancer as a global health priority. The petition, encapsulating the Coalition’s #NoWomanLeftBehind movement and launched in time for next month’s 12th World Ovarian Cancer Day campaign, stresses the necessity for comprehensive action across prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care, particularly focusing on mitigating the disparities and inequalities that exacerbate the disease’s impact.
The Coalition’s briefing and petition highlight the escalating human and economic toll of ovarian cancer, which not only devastates families, friends, and communities but also inflicts significant financial burdens on the global economy. Clara MacKay, CEO, asserts, “With hundreds of thousands of women dying each year, we must work together to make significant improvements in ovarian cancer management, so we can avert the loss of millions more lives.”
In the face of this mounting crisis, the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition urges the global health community to:
- Recognise ovarian cancer as a global health priority.
- Integrate ovarian cancer into global women’s health initiatives and National Cancer Control Plans.
- Address health inequities to ensure access to care and treatment is universal.
“As the data shows, without immediate and coordinated action, millions of women will be left behind,” commented Board of Directors Chair, Annwen Jones OBE. “Our call to action is a rallying cry for a shared global commitment to change the future of this disease, and to work towards our vision of a world where everyone living with, or at risk of, ovarian cancer has the best chance of survival and the best quality of life possible, no matter where they live. The time to act is now.”
For more information about the petition and the Data Briefing, visit worldovariancancercoalition.org.
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 everyone living with, or at risk of, ovarian cancer has the best chance of survival, and the best quality of life – wherever she may live. More information can be found on www.worldovariancancercoalition.org
Leveraging the momentum of their annual flagship World Ovarian Cancer Day campaign, established in 2013, and insights from the groundbreaking Every Woman Study™ in 2018, the Coalition continues to spearhead initiatives for change. At the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) annual meeting in 2020, it introduced the Global Ovarian Cancer Charter, emphasizing six Global Goals to enhance care and outcomes. Furthering its research, the Coalition, in collaboration with IGCS, is conducting the Every Woman Study™: Low- and Middle-Income Edition across 22 countries, focusing on previously underrepresented populations. This effort is complemented by an 11-country Ovarian Cancer Cost-of-Illness Study commissioned by the Coalition. The study will evaluate the economic impact of ovarian cancer, exploring direct and indirect costs of the disease across low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Results from these comprehensive studies are anticipated in 2024, promising to offer pivotal insights and foster targeted interventions to mitigate the disease’s burden.
Media Contact:
Phaedra Charlton
Director of Communications and Marketing
World Ovarian Cancer Coalition
phaedra@worldovariancancercoalition.org
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