Awareness Day

World Ovarian Cancer Day

May 8, 2026 Recurs yearly

A gynecologic oncology team discusses ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment with a patient in a modern cancer center, emphasizing symptom awareness, early diagnosis, and compassionate care.

2026 Theme

No Woman Left Behind

Campaign Representation

Officially represented by the Teal Ribbon.

Campaign Description

World Ovarian Cancer Day is an annual global awareness campaign that brings together healthcare professionals, advocacy organizations, patients, and caregivers to increase awareness of ovarian cancer, promote recognition of its often-overlooked symptoms, encourage earlier diagnosis, and advocate for equitable access to quality treatment and support.

Theme Focus

“No Woman Left Behind” focuses on the persistent inequalities affecting ovarian cancer diagnosis, treatment and outcomes. It recognizes that ovarian cancer can present with nonspecific symptoms, contributing to delayed diagnosis, while access to specialist care, effective treatments and supportive services varies considerably between countries and communities.

The theme therefore moves beyond awareness alone. It calls for health systems, policymakers, communities and the global ovarian cancer community to close the gaps that influence survival and quality of life, ensuring that progress in ovarian cancer care reaches women everywhere.

Key Priorities

  • Increase awareness of ovarian cancer and its possible symptoms
  • Encourage women to take persistent or unusual symptoms seriously
  • Reduce delays in diagnosis
  • Improve access to appropriate diagnostic services
  • Strengthen referral pathways and specialist ovarian cancer care
  • Expand access to effective and affordable treatments
  • Address geographic, financial and health-system inequalities
  • Improve outcomes in countries and communities with limited resources
  • Support ovarian cancer research and innovation
  • Strengthen patient advocacy and the voices of people affected by ovarian cancer
  • Provide appropriate support for families and caregivers
  • Improve quality of life during and after treatment
  • Challenge misconceptions and stigma surrounding ovarian cancer
  • Ensure that women have access to reliable health information
  • Integrate ovarian cancer more fully into broader global cancer-control efforts

Key Concepts

  • Ovarian cancer
  • Ovarian tumors
  • Epithelial ovarian cancer
  • Fallopian tube cancer
  • Primary peritoneal cancer
  • Ovarian cancer symptoms
  • Abdominal bloating
  • Pelvic pain
  • Abdominal pain
  • Early satiety
  • Urinary symptoms
  • Abnormal bleeding
  • Diagnostic delay
  • Family history
  • BRCA1
  • BRCA2
  • Genetic testing
  • Hereditary cancer
  • Gynecologic oncology
  • Chemotherapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • PARP inhibitors
  • Cancer genetics
  • Cancer screening
  • Cancer disparities

Campaign Resources & Support


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