About ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is not a single disease, but a group of cancers that arise from different cell types and behave differently. High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most common subtype of ovarian cancer. The majority of patients with HGSOC are diagnosed at an advanced stage (stage 3 or 4), which adversely affects prognosis.
Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to the extent of a cancer in the body, strongly influences treatment options and survival. In general, if cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started, it is localised (stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, it is distant (stage 3 or 4). The earlier ovarian cancer is detected, the greater the chance of surviving five years after diagnosis.
According to 2016–2022 data from NIH-NCI SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results programme), the rate of new cases of ovarian cancer was 10.4 per 100,000 women per year. The death rate was 5.7 per 100,000 women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2019–2023 cases and 2020–2024 deaths. In the UK alone there are around 3,900 ovarian cancer deaths every year, that's 11 deaths every day (based on 2022–2024 figures).
Upcoming webinar: OvarianVax: First insights into a preventative vaccine
As part of ongoing efforts to advance ovarian cancer research, Professor Ahmed Ahmed will host an online webinar on Thursday, 21 May (2:00 – 2:45) exploring the OvarianVax research programme, which is working towards the development of a preventative vaccine for ovarian cancer.
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health website.