We want to reach a world where no woman dies of ovarian cancer. This March, there’s so many steps you can take to help us get there.
March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and we’re highlighting the inequalities that thousands of women with ovarian cancer face to ensure women receive the best care regardless of age, location or ethnicity. We’re driven to reach a world where no woman dies of ovarian cancer.
In the first of a series of inequality reports, we’ve revealed that women over 70 are not receiving the standard of care necessary to survive ovarian cancer. Almost half (48%) of patients aged 70-79 do not have surgery to treat their ovarian cancer, despite it offering the best long-term prognosis for the disease. In fact, one in five (22%) of ovarian cancer patients aged 70-79 received no treatment at all for their cancer, rising to three in five (60%) for women over 80 years old. Women over 70 are also less likely to be asked to take part in research or clinical trials than those under 70, denying them access to new and innovative treatments. Read our news article to find out more about the report and what we’re doing to transform survival rates.
Every year, 295,000 women around the world are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and only half will survive beyond five years. You can help change this. Walk In Her Name and join our Step Challenge and take 295,000 steps across March (one for every woman diagnosed) to fund life-saving research. You can walk, run, dance or even jump your steps and record your progress on your online fundraising page. Get sponsored for your achievements, raise funds for the next generation of ovarian cancer research and save lives.
Since 2006, we have funded £12.3 million of research projects: more than any other ovarian cancer charity in the UK. We fund research that focuses on the prevention, early detection, and treatment of ovarian cancer because improvements in each of these three areas will transform how long and how well women will live. In the first of a weekly blog throughout March, you can find out more about the pioneering projects we’re funding – the next generation of research that will prevent ovarian cancer, catch it early, and treat it effectively.
Tell us what you’re doing this March
Throughout the month we’ll be showcasing the amazing things that you’re doing - frowalking 295,000 steps to skydiving from 10,000 feet or getting creative with crafts to sharing your inspirational stories of living with ovarian cancer.
We’d love to hear from you and what you’re doing, so please get in touch.
Doris’ ovarian cancer diagnosis came as a huge shock, as despite her medical background, she was unaware of the disease. Now she’s sharing her story to help spread awareness of ovarian cancer in the hope that a focus on research will help more women survive the disease.
70-year-old Fiona Jones was diagnosed with stage 3C high grade epithelial ovarian cancer during the coronavirus pandemic. Now in remission, she shares her experience.
On July 7th 2020, we said goodbye to cancer campaigner and award-winning researcher Fi Munro.
Fi was diagnosed with non-genetic stage four ovarian cancer just four years earlier, aged 30, and it changed her life forever. Little did we know then, how much she would go on to change other people’s lives too.
Join our newsletter, be the first to read our equality reports and stay up-to-date with the latest news and information from Ovarian Cancer Action.