Why is ovarian cancer research important to our community?

With little progress having been made in the last 45 years to prevent, detect and treat ovarian cancer and a five-year survival rate of 46% – the current statistics of ovarian cancer will tell you the quantitative reasons as to why funding ovarian cancer research is so critical; however, they won’t tell you the qualitative. 

We reached out to our OCRF community via Instagram to understand why ovarian cancer research is so important to them. 

Here are some of their responses:

Why is ovarian cancer research important to you?

“Because survival rates are unfairly low and can feel hopeless.” 

@mollie.scarra 

“My mother died of O.C. without any symptoms until it was too late.”  

@leon_ie86

“I have breast cancer – early detection via free screening found it.” 

@dottieang13 

“I lost my wonderful friend to ovarian cancer.” 

@helen_roberst_midwife 

“Because at 30, I had my ovaries removed & 22 years later my mother-in-law died from OC.” 

@themakingtoomtas 

“My mum passed away from this horrible cancer 16yrs ago at the young age of 63.” 

@wlprior 

“Because I’m still grieving my Nan. She died of this at 69 in October 2018. We still miss her.” 

@the_downunder_dolls 

“My mum died at 65, four months after diagnosis.” 

@kymrunstheworld 

“Because I was diagnosed with a rare type and the lack of info out there is shocking.” 

@ncal 

“Because there should always be hope… just like all the ‘other’ cancers…” 

@samisace 

“Because being diagnosed at age 30 with a cancer that has a 46% 5-year survival rate is terrifying and unfair.” 

@gracetahlia  

Improvements in survival rates for women with breast cancer – now at 91%, came from research, early detection tests, public campaigns and advocacy. It’s now ovarian cancers turn.  

As the OCRF continues to invest in essential research projects, we plan to help improve the current statistics and reduce the tragic human cost of lives lost and families devastated.