§ Ms CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths of women for each of the last five years for which information is available were due to ovarian cancer; what is the latest estimate of the risk of death within five years of the onset of this disease; and what steps are being taken by her Department, and by hospital trusts, to improve detection in the earliest possible stages.
§ Mr. SackvilleDeaths from ovarian cancer in England and Wales for the years 1988–92 are shown in the table. The average relative five-year survival rate after diagnosis of ovarian cancer is 28 per cent. based on cancers registered in 1981. Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer offers the best prognosis. Research to develop an effective means of ovarian screening in reducing mortality is being undertaken by the Medical Research Council which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who spent £318,000 on ovarian cancer research in 1992–93; as well as by national health service bodies and cancer charities.828W
Deaths from ovarian cancer in England and Wales in the years 1988–92 Year Deaths 1988 3,798 1989 3,934 1990 3,995 1991 3,866 1992 3,880