Cancer of the ovary is both the most prevalent and lethal form of gynaecological carcinoma. In Australia it is the eighth most common cancer among the general population of women. At present there is no effective technique of routine population screening for ovarian cancer and ovarian tumours typically present at an advanced stage, where the survival rate is less than 20%. In comparison, the survival rate for early stage cancer is 90% or better. Early diagnosis however is difficult as symptoms are often vague and resemble other common medical conditions.

2007 Couran Cove Meeting