Ovarian cancer is widely recognised as a “silent killer”, characterised by vague, non-specific symptoms and the absence of an effective population-based screening test.
These features contribute to delayed diagnosis, with many women presenting at advanced stages when prognosis is poor and treatment options are limited. In Malaysia, this challenge is compounded by persistently low levels of public awareness.
More than a decade ago, a Malaysian study conducted in Penang and published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention revealed that 71.3 per cent of women had low awareness of ovarian cancer risk factors.
Within the same Balik Pulau community, only 28.7 per cent demonstrated adequate knowledge. These figures expose a substantial deficit in public understanding that should have triggered sustained action yet remains insufficiently addressed.
More recent Malaysian studies continue to report similar findings, with over half of women still demonstrating poor knowledge of ovarian cancer, particularly in recognising symptoms and risk factors.
Despite increased access to health information, awareness has not improved at the pace required, indicating a persistent gap in public health education.
Ovarian cancer remains one of the leading cancers among women in Malaysia, yet it receives comparatively less attention than other gynaecological malignancies.
In the absence of an effective screening strategy, early detection depends largely on women’s ability to recognise symptoms and seek timely care before the disease progresses.
However, the clinical presentation is often subtle. Symptoms such as persistent abdominal bloating, pelvic discomfort, early satiety, and urinary changes are frequently misinterpreted as benign conditions.
This leads to delays in help-seeking, with most cases detected only at advanced stages, when survival outcomes are significantly poorer.
Crucially, recognising these symptoms early and acting on them can shift diagnosis to earlier stages, where treatment is more effective and survival is improved.
Understanding of risk factors also remains limited. While some women recognise associations with increasing age and family history, fewer are aware of other contributors such as genetic predisposition and reproductive history.
Misconceptions persist, further hindering timely recognition and early presentation.
Disparities in awareness are evident.
Younger and more educated women tend to have better knowledge, whereas older women and those with lower educational attainment are more likely to be unaware of ovarian cancer risks. This highlights the need for targeted and inclusive health education strategies.
Addressing this issue requires a coordinated and sustained response. Public health campaigns must be strengthened and integrated into national cancer control strategies, delivering clear and actionable information on symptoms, risk factors, and when to seek medical attention.
Health care professionals, particularly nurses and primary care providers, play a crucial role. Routine clinical interactions should be leveraged to educate women, reinforce symptom awareness, and encourage early consultation.
Ultimately, improving awareness is essential to reducing late-stage presentation and the burden of ovarian cancer in Malaysia. The evidence is consistent: knowledge remains low, and progress has been limited.
Ovarian cancer may be silent, but delayed recognition should not be the norm. Strengthening awareness to enable earlier detection is an urgent public health priority that can no longer be delayed.
Assoc Prof Dr Soon Lean Keng is from the School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Sunway University.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Ova.
