Delays to ovarian cancer diagnoses cost lives

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of female cancer death in the UK. The lives of women with ovarian cancer in Glasgow are still being cut short because of delays to their diagnoses. Cancer Research UK state that the 5 year survival rate in the UK is just 36%, amongst the worst in Europe. 

Early diagnosis is key to survival, but women face delays at every turn, according to new data in the Target Ovarian Cancer’s Pathfinder Study published in January. New study data shows that women are still facing delays that are costing lives. Women still faced problems getting a correct diagnosis.

For almost a third of women diagnosis was more than 6 months after they first went to see their doctor. Misdiagnosis is common, with 30% of women misdiagnosed as having Irritable Bowel Syndrome; 15% ovarian cysts and 13% a urinary infection. The Pathfinder Study also surveyed health professionals, with by far the biggest proportion (55%) of clinicians believing that tackling earlier diagnosis is the most urgent issue to ensure women in the UK have as good a chance of surviving ovarian cancer as women in other countries.

It is vital to improve symptom awareness with women, improve GP knowledge and ensure they have prompt access to diagnostic tests.  During Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in March, we can raise women of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and take action to stop women needlessly dying.

Useful link:

Target Ovarian Cancer - http://www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/