New data highlights postcode lottery in ovarian cancer diagnosis

‘We want to see all patients diagnosed early enough to get treatment and survive this disease, no matter where they live’

Only 33 per cent of cancers were diagnosed at stage one or two while 50 per cent were detected at stage three and four (Getty/iStock)

Women in some parts of the country are half as likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer as elsewhere, new analysis of NHS data has revealed.

The proportion of women diagnosed at an early stage of the disease, when it is most susceptible to treatment, varied in some areas from 22 per cent to 63 per cent.

UK survival rates for cancer have lagged behind other countries and NHS England has set a target to improve early diagnosis with an ambition to have 75 per cent of all cancers diagnosed early by 2028.

The ovarian cancer audit data shows the UK is far from achieving this with only 33 per cent of cancers diagnosed at stage one or two while 50 per cent of cancers were detected at stage three and four.

In some places the NHS is also not collecting data effectively with information on diagnosis missing for one in four women.

The data, compiled by experts at Public Health England, found there were almost 7,000 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in England between 2015 and 2017.

Mortality rates for ovarian cancer patients across 195 local areas in England ranged from 6.2 to 21.3 deaths in every 100,000 people.

Chief executive of Ovarian Cancer Action, Cary Wakefield, said: “Diagnosing ovarian cancer at the earliest stages is crucial, but sadly as we gather data it is clear that a postcode lottery exists around the country, with some areas diagnosing significantly more patients early than others.

“We want to see all patients diagnosed early enough to get treatment and survive this disease, no matter where they live.”

The ovarian cancer audit feasibility pilot study is a two year attempt to track ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment and has been jointly funded by the British Gynaecological Cancer Society, Target Ovarian Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Action.

President of the British Gynaecological Cancer Society, professor Sudha Sundar, said: “Today’s report shows significant regional variation in diagnosis and survival for ovarian cancer across England – it also shows that we have significant regional variation in the level of information recorded.

“If we are to drive forward the transformation in ovarian cancer services that we all want to see, it is vital that we have accurate and reliable data that tells us how different areas are performing.”

The charities are hoping the pilot study will persuade the government to fund long term audits of ovarian cancer to help drive improvements in care.

The data was drawn from the national cancer registration and analyses service which collects data on all causes of cancer in England.