Fighting in the Dark: Ovarian Cancer Crisis in Bangladesh!

Ovarian cancer is often called the “silent killer” because no one pays attention to the symptoms of this cancer. In Bangladesh, this silence is deafening. Recently, a global study by the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition—The Every Woman Study: LMIC Edition—has highlighted the experiences and suffering of women in 24 low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh. The results of this study are both alarming and a call for immediate action.

Ovarian cancer is the eighth leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. More than 70 percent of its cases occur in low- and middle-income countries. It is feared that the death rate from this disease may increase by more than 50 percent by 2045. However, in Bangladesh, like many other countries, this cancer is still not properly diagnosed, there is no necessary budget allocation, and awareness among the public is very low.

According to the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020, 2,231 women died of ovarian cancer in Bangladesh, which is 0.31 percent of the total deaths in the country. The age-adjusted mortality rate for the disease is 3.34 per 100,000, pushing Bangladesh to 133rd in the world.

This study, conducted by doctors in Dhaka and other regions, reveals a stark reality. Our health system fails to listen to the voices of women suffering from this disease. Most hospitals lack adequate diagnostic facilities. Medical services are largely urban-centric, increasing the suffering and costs of rural women. Modern treatments, such as targeted therapy or genetic testing, are virtually non-existent.

Patients usually come to hospitals only when the disease has spread far and wide. This is not due to their apathy — but rather to lack of awareness, social stigma, economic dependency, and the weakness of the system. In many cases, women need their husbands’ permission or financial support to seek treatment. Some even become separated from their husbands, resulting in treatment stopping altogether.

The coronavirus pandemic has deepened this crisis, delaying treatment and taking a toll on mental health.

Yet, there is hope amidst the despair.

Doctors say survivors can be the most powerful voices. With the right training, local doctors and nurses can also play a key role in raising awareness. Men need to be included in this awareness — not just as decision-makers, but as partners who stand by women.

If the government wants to, it can make a difference — and many other countries have already taken that initiative. For example, in countries like Uzbekistan and Zambia, the government fully covers the cost of ovarian cancer treatment. It is possible to implement this in Bangladesh too. This requires additional allocations in the health budget, the creation of a national cancer registry, and the expansion of gynecologic oncology services to remote areas of the country.

Ovarian cancer is not just a problem in elite hospitals in Dhaka — it is a national crisis that requires grassroots awareness, community-based activities, and political will to solve.

Today, on World Ovarian Cancer Day, we must break this silence and take strong action. This day should be a call to action that compels government policymakers to ensure healthy lives for women, to include this disease in national health strategies, and to ensure affordable treatment for women in remote areas. This

is not a symbolic initiative, but effective policy and implementation.

If not today, when?

Author: Director, World Ovarian Cancer Coalition.