During Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month this September, we will provide essential information on the five types of gynaecological cancers, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, womb cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulval cancer. We’ll also highlight the groundbreaking research we’re funding to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Understanding gynaecological cancers

Gynaecological cancers are cancers that start in a woman's reproductive organs. Early detection and knowledge of symptoms can save lives, but awareness and research into these conditions remain underfunded.

Learn more about each type of gynaecological cancer

Spotlight on research: Detecting ovarian cancer sooner

Ovarian cancer is often not diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage, making it difficult to treat effectively. Currently, less than half of women survive for five years after being diagnosed.

When women go to their GP with symptoms that could suggest ovarian cancer, like persistent bloating, a blood test called CA125 is usually done. But CA125 is not a perfect test. It can be abnormal in conditions other than cancer, and it fails to pick up some ovarian cancers, especially early-stage cases.

We funded Dr Garth Funston’s research project to see if a newer blood test called HE4 may be better than CA125 at detecting ovarian cancer within GP settings.

After analysing 1,247 patients over a 12-month period, the results showed that a combination of CA125, HE4 and an algorithm (called ROMA) could improve detection of ovarian cancer – particularly in those under 50. The next steps are to do a larger-scale study, and if successful, this testing could transform early-diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Detecting more ovarian cancers at an early stage when treatment is more effective could be lifesaving for the thousands of women who will be diagnosed every year.

Dr Funston said: “This is particularly significant for women who are under the age of 50 as the current blood test for CA125 is notoriously less accurate in younger women.