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We'll be here until no woman dies of ovarian cancer.

In the UK, too many women are losing their lives to this cancer. But we can change that, together.

Take a look below to find out more about ovarian cancer survival rates, including the UK average, why investment is poor and what Ovarian Cancer Acton is doing to improve the statistics.

How we're improving ovarian cancer survival rates in the UK

Ovarian cancer can be hard to spot early because its symptoms are often mistaken for other less serious issues. By improving research, treatment, and awareness, we can help more women catch it early and survive.

New drugs. Personalised treatment. We're developing and trialling new approaches to cure and manage ovarian cancer. One of our teams is seeing if a successful breast cancer drug can be used to treat ovarian cancer.

When cancer is found early women have a much better chance of surviving for longer. We're making discoveries to make an ovarian cancer screening test a reality.

We're discovering and sharing information on risk. So, every woman knows her options and can take control of her future.

No woman should lose her life to ovarian cancer because of her age, her race or where she lives. We’re driving change to make sure every woman has the best treatment possible.  Our IMPROVE programme is levelling up the quality of care across UK.

In 2009 we led the campaign for the Department of Health to recognise the four main symptoms of ovarian cancer - ending the myth that ovarian cancer is a silent killer. 

What's the situation with ovarian cancer survival rates in the UK?

What's the average ovarian cancer survival rates?

In the UK, the survival rate for ovarian cancer is lower than it is in many other European countries. This means fewer women in the UK are surviving this disease compared to their neighbours in Europe.

Here’s a quick comparison:

UK: About 46% of women with ovarian cancer will survive for 5 years or more after diagnosis.

Europe: The average survival rate is around 58%.

Around half of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stage 3 and 4, where survival beyond 5 years is as low as 16%.

This drop in survival rates is partly due to less investment in research and treatment compared to other countries.

Why are survival rates poor in the UK?

Ovarian cancer is a serious illness that needs a lot of research to find better treatments and save lives. But recently, investment in this research in the UK has been going down. Let’s look at why this is happening.

Funding focus shift

Many charities and government bodies have put more money into researching cancers like breast and prostate cancer. These cancers get a lot of attention because they are more common and can affect more people. As a result, ovarian cancer research has received less support (Cancer Research UK, 2023).

Budget Cuts

The overall budget for medical research has faced cuts in recent years. The UK government and other organisations have had to make tough choices about where to spend their money. Sometimes, this means that less money goes to research areas that are already getting less attention, like ovarian cancer (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2022).

Lack of awareness

Not everyone knows how serious ovarian cancer is or how important research is for finding new treatments. Without enough awareness, fewer people are motivated to support or fund research. When awareness is low, it’s harder to raise money for studies (Ovarian Cancer Action, 2023).

Research complexity

Ovarian cancer is complicated to study. It often doesn't show symptoms until it's advanced, making it harder to catch early and research thoroughly. This complexity can make it less appealing to funders who might prefer to support research on more straightforward issues (The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, 2024).

Why does this matter?

The decline in funding means that fewer new treatments and breakthroughs are happening for ovarian cancer. With less money, researchers have fewer resources to work on finding ways to detect it early or improve treatments. This affects how quickly we can make progress and save lives.

What can we do?

  • Raise awareness: Tell people about ovarian cancer and why it needs more research. The more people know, the more likely they are to support it.

  • Support charities: Donate directly to organisations that fund ovarian cancer research specifically. Your money helps specialised researchers find new treatments.

  • Advocate for more funding: Encourage the government to invest more in ovarian cancer research. Write letters, join campaigns, and make your voice heard.