🩺 The Future of Early Cancer Detection: A Game-Changer for Women’s Health

🚨 Women’s Pain Is Being Ignored—And It’s Costing Lives

30% of women who are ultimately diagnosed with ovarian cancer were first referred to a mental health specialist and prescribed antidepressants—as if their pain were all in their head. Let that sink in.

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, yet there is STILL no reliable, widely available test for early detection. The result?
❌ 80% of cases are diagnosed too late (stage 3 or 4)
✅ Early detection (stage 1 or 2) raises survival rates from 28% to 90%

But here’s the game-changer: A simple blood test using liquid biopsy technology could revolutionize early ovarian cancer detection. This isn’t a distant dream—it’s happening NOW.

I recently had an incredible conversation with Oriana Papin-Zoghbi, CEO of AOA Dx. She and her team are developing a liquid biopsy test for ovarian cancer, a potential breakthrough that could change the future of women’s health.

🔬 Why hasn’t this existed before?
➡️ Symptoms are vague and dismissed as IBS, perimenopause, or stress
➡️ Imaging isn’t reliable for detecting ovarian cancer
➡️ A biopsy requires surgical removal of the ovary or fallopian tube

💡 The biggest barrier? Not science—policy.
Even with cutting-edge diagnostics, reimbursement policies and insurance hurdles keep these life-saving innovations out of reach. It’s time to shift from a reactive healthcare model to one that prevents diseases before they become deadly.

💭 So, what needs to happen?
✔️ Women must advocate for themselves—don't settle for “It’s just stress.”
✔️ Doctors need better tools—and AOA Dx is leading the way.
✔️ Public policy must evolve—early detection saves lives AND reduces costs.

It’s time to start taking women’s health seriously. Let’s not wait another 30 years for action.

🔥 What are your thoughts on the state of women’s healthcare? Let’s discuss.

 #WomensHealth #OvarianCancer #HealthcareInnovation #EarlyDetection #CancerAwareness

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

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