Background: Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality amongst women globally and is popularly referred to as the 'silent killer' owing to its late presentation and paucity of early symptoms. In India, particularly in rural and semi-urban settings of West Bengal such as Purba Medinipur, awareness about ovarian cancer remains abysmally low, resulting in delayed diagnosis and consequent poor clinical outcomes. Objectives: To assess the level of awareness regarding symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer among women attending a tertiary care hospital in Purba Medinipur and to evaluate the clinical management practices adopted therein. Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of six months (July–December 2023) at the Gynaecology OPD of a tertiary care centre in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal. A total of 76 women aged 18 years and above were enrolled using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through structured, pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0; Chi-square test, odds ratio (OR), and logistic regression were applied. Results: The mean age of participants was 37.4 ± 9.8 years. Only 68.4% of respondents had heard of ovarian cancer, while a mere 47.4% could identify any symptom. Awareness about risk factors was found in 36.8%, and knowledge about screening modalities (TVS, CA-125) was present in only 23.7% of participants. Family history of cancer (OR = 4.56, p = 0.001), BRCA mutation suspicion (OR = 5.23, p = 0.004), nulliparity (OR = 3.12, p = 0.004), and age > 50 years (OR = 3.78, p = 0.003) emerged as significant risk factors. The majority of patients presented at Stage III (42.1%). Serous adenocarcinoma was the commonest histological type (55.3%). Standard treatment included cytoreductive surgery followed by Paclitaxel + Carboplatin chemotherapy. Conclusion: Awareness about ovarian cancer remains grossly inadequate among women in Purba Medinipur. Urgent health education campaigns, community screening programmes, and strengthening of oncology services at the district level are imperative for improving early detection and clinical outcomes.

Ovarian cancer, awareness, symptoms, risk factors, CA-125, BRCA, cytoreductive surgery, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, cross-sectional study