International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Ovarian cancer must be made a health priority if the high mortality rates associated with the condition are to be reduced, it has been claimed.

Annwen Jones, chief executive of UK-based Target Ovarian Cancer, claimed that while breast cancer mortality has been lowered from 50 per cent to 20 per cent over the last 30 years, the rate for ovarian cancer remains at 70 per cent.

She claimed that the "woefully low" awareness of symptoms is the reason for this, with only four per cent of women confidently able to identify a symptom of the cancer.

Ms Jones added: "It is really important that the Department of Health hear our pleas for a national symptoms awareness campaign.

"We want everyone – and especially GPs – to be as familiar with the symptoms of ovarian cancer as those of breast cancer."

She claimed that where women are diagnosed early they have a 90 per cent chance of survival, but any later, the likelihood drops dramatically.

Cancer Research UK reports that ovarian cancer is the fifth most common in females in the UK and the second most common gynaecological cancer after uterus.