Global Expert Advisory Group on Ovarian Cancer

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Statement of Intent

Ovarian cancer can be difficult to diagnose quickly as symptoms can resemble less serious conditions. Currently there is no reliable screening test. Survival rates are low overall around the world. Incidence and mortality are on the rise everywhere, but with disproportionately higher rates in low- and middle-income countries. About 20–25% of those diagnosed with ovarian cancer have a hereditary tendency to develop the disease and around 10–20% of ovarian cancer overall are linked to an inherited genetic mutation in one of two genes – BRCA1 and BRCA2 – although variants in other genes can also increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

New research commissioned by the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition shows the huge socioeconomic burden of ovarian cancer affecting not only patients living with the disease but also their families, caregivers, health systems and economies. The groundbreaking Every Woman Study™ highlights the low awareness among women of the disease and lack of knowledge about their potential genetic risk. In addition, obtaining an accurate diagnosis was identified as a major barrier to better outcomes. Without urgent action we will lose 8 million women to ovarian cancer by 2050.

Now is the time to address this global challenge by using this evidence and taking action.

The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition has established the Global Expert Advisory Group on Ovarian Cancer bringing together patient advocates, leading clinicians and policy makers from around the world to move this initiative forward. The Group has identified three key areas of focus:

Building community and policymaker awareness;
Optimizing routes to diagnosis and;
Driving access to services and treatment for hereditary ovarian cancer

The Group will develop a framework outlining global initiatives which will have an impact at country level, reinforcing the Coalition’s mission to ensure that 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.