A Gynaecologist’s Perspective Ovarian Cancer: A Screening Challenge, With New Tools

April 17th, 2026

Dr James Brown, Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, wrote this article for Sydney Breast Clinic’s Newsletter. 

Ovarian cancer, while less common than breast or colorectal cancers, can be difficult to detect in its early stages making it a particular concern for Australian women. In Australia, ovarian cancer is among the top ten most commonly diagnosed cancers in females, with an incidence of approximately 12-14 per 100,000 women. This means around 2,000 new cases are discovered each year. Among other factors, genetic predisposition remains a key element in identifying those women who are the highest risk. (1) 

These global patterns reflect differences in reproductive risk factors, genetic predisposition and diagnostic practices,
with a consistent epidemiologic feature being a strong age-related increase in incidence, particularly after menopause. For example, BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations confer a lifetime ovarian cancer risk estimated at 35–45% and 10– 20%, respectively.  

Download the March Newsletter to continue to read all about screening for ovarian cancer here Download File