Pathfinder Wales

Pathfinder Wales provides an up-to-date snapshot of Wales’s ovarian cancer landscape.

Pathfinder is Target Ovarian Cancer’s ground-breaking research that provides a detailed picture of the experiences of those with ovarian cancer in the UK.

It provides an up-to-date snapshot of Wales’s ovarian cancer landscape. We'll use the findings of this unique study to ensure that we continue to deliver the maximum impact for everyone with ovarian cancer in Wales.    

Read Pathfinder Wales

Pathfinder Cymru

 

What did we find out?

Pathfinder Wales discovered that

  • 42%

    42%

    of women in Wales

    wrongly believe that cervical screening detects ovarian cancer

  • 3%

    3%

    of women in Wales

    are able to name feeling full as a symptom of ovarian cancer

  • 75%

    75%

    of people surveyed

    said having ovarian cancer had a negative impact on their mental health

A headshot image of Target Ovarian Cancer CEO Annwen Jones OBE
Everyone diagnosed with ovarian cancer deserves to be heard, have the best possible chance of living well and surviving. For this to happen it is imperative to invest in awareness campaigns, research, diagnosis, and support. We can change the course of this disease.
Annwen Jones OBE, Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer
Pathfinder Wales Methodology

Women who received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer during or after 2016: Our last Pathfinder research was conducted in 2016 and this survey aimed to understand the experiences of those diagnosed since then. It was hosted online by Target Ovarian Cancer between February and May 2022 and received 24 responses from across Wales. This was a self-selecting group, who chose to complete the survey, which was promoted to as wide a group as possible.

Public Awareness: The awareness survey was carried out by our research partner Survation who interviewed, by phone, 155 women across the Wales, using an adaptation of the Ovarian Cancer Awareness measure.[i]  

UK GPs:  30 GPs in Wales were surveyed online between April and May 2022. The sample was taken from the membership of Doctors.net which is free and gives doctors access to forums, Continuous Professional Development and wider resources.

[i] The Ovarian Cancer Awareness Measure is a validated tool based on the wider Cancer Awareness Measure developed by Cancer Research UK, University College London, King’s College London and Oxford University.

The Pathfinder Advisory Panel

Chair: Professor Sudha Sundar - immediate past president British Gynaecological Cancer Society and Professor of Gynaecological Cancer, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham  

Our patient reviewers: Pauline, Helen, Vicky, Sophie, Lisa, and Lorraine.

Dr Shibani Nicum - Associate Professor of Oncology/ Honorary Consultant Medical Oncologist - University College London Cancer Institute

Helen Manderville - Macmillan Gynaecological Oncology Nurse Specialist, Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre

Lisa Young - Macmillan Lead Gynae Cancer CNS, Wessex Cancer Alliance

Dr Nina Craft - General Practitioner, Woodbrooke Medical Practice, Belfast