Ahead of World Ovarian Cancer Day on 8 May, new figures have been released suggesting that rates of this type of cancer are set to greatly increase globally by nearly 55% over the next 20 years.

This is particularly concerning because survival from ovarian cancer is particularly low, compared with other forms of common cancer.

The five-year relative survival rate once diagnosed with ovarian cancer is 46%, with only 35% surviving beyond 10 years.

The UK performs particularly poorly compared to the rest of the Europe, with England and Wales being ranked second and third worst for five-year survival while Scotland and Northern Ireland also falling well below the European average.

Comparing these results to breast cancer, where survival for 10-years after diagnosis is 78%, reflects how poorly outcomes when women develop ovarian cancer are.

Rise in incidence within the UK is expected to be 15% and rates are expected to rise globally at a faster rate.

The reasons for this increase have been identified as being due to longer life expectancy for women and the rise in population levels. There is also a correlation due to shift from rural to urban living, though this is, as yet, unexplained.

Annwen Jones, Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, Vice-Chair of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition and Co-Chair of the Every Woman Study, says: "The projected rise in incidence of ovarian cancer is especially concerning because we still lack the means to diagnose it early and treat it effectively. This is a global problem that requires a global solution, and the Every Woman Study is the first step. The more we know, the more we can transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of women, so that they are diagnosed earlier and can spend a lifetime with their loved ones."

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