The lack of effective methods for early detection of ovarian cancer persists as one of the main obstacles. Within the framework of World Day for this disease, Asaco emphasized the importance of raising awareness among both women and healthcare professionals about a condition that, despite its severity, remains largely unknown.
“"Talking about ovarian and vulvar problems is still more taboo than discussing prostate cancer. This directly impacts the lives, not only of the women who suffer from it, but also their environment."
An association representative lamented the silence surrounding female gynecological health, noting that topics such as ovaries or menopause are still taboo, unlike prostate cancer, which tends to have more support and specific medications for masculinity. Therefore, Asaco insists on the need to guarantee optimal and equitable care for all patients, as well as equal access to maintenance treatments and therapies in cases of relapse.
Currently, there is no effective screening method to detect the disease in its initial stages, which leads to approximately 80% of cases being diagnosed when the cancer is already advanced. Symptoms, often non-specific and easily confused with other digestive pathologies, further hinder early diagnosis. The association also focuses on the need to refer patients to specialized centers with multidisciplinary teams and expert professionals in oncological gynecology, as an intervention performed by specialists can significantly improve the prognosis.
Each year, around 3,800 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in Spain, an incidence that Asaco considers high and that has maintained a slow but steady growth since the 1960s. Globally, more than 1.3 million women were diagnosed with gynecological tumors in 2018. The association reminds that between 15% and 20% of ovarian tumors are related to hereditary genetic factors and that most diagnoses occur between the ages of 45 and 75.
