Please note that this information was updated in August 2021 with the final results of the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS).
Purpose
Cancer Australia Position Statements address significant clinical issues, emerging issues in cancer control and issues of ongoing interest, using the best available evidence.
The purpose of this Position Statement is to provide information and guidance in relation to routine screening of women who are at population risk of ovarian cancer, and surveillance of women who are at high or potentially high risk of developing ovarian cancer. The scope encompasses unimodal and multimodal strategies for early detection of ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women. The scope does not include diagnostic testing for assessment of individual women presenting with symptoms.
The term ovarian cancer is used in this Position Statement to include ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer.
The intended audiences for this Position Statement are health professionals, medical colleges, consumers, media and policy makers.
This Position Statement has been endorsed by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Australian Society of Gynaecologic Oncologists, Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council’s Standing Committee on Screening, Cancer Council Australia, Ovarian Cancer Australia, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.
Cancer Australia has also developed a consumer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) resource to assist with promoting and understanding the key messages of the Position Statement.