Join campaign to help increase the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer
In 2024, more than 200 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Kent and Medway, with more than half of cases diagnosed at a late stage.*
This Ovarian Cancer Awareness month (March), Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance is asking people across Kent and Medway to join its 'Let's talk about ovarian cancer' to get Kent and Medway talking about ovarian cancer all year round.
The campaign aims to increase early diagnosis by raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer; encouraging women to talk to their GP about concerns.
There are free posters, postcards and fold-out cards that you can pop into your pocket or purse available for you to share with and support conversations with your family, friends and community groups, and support women raising concerns with their GP.
The Alliance's Primary Care Cancer Clinical Lead Dr Jonathan Bryant said: “Early diagnosis makes ovarian cancer easier to treat, so it's very important to know the signs and symptoms.
“I encourage everyone who has any of the symptoms, or feel that something isn't right, to contact their GP practice”.
'My son turned two - then I was diagnosed with cancer'
Emily Prescott, aged 26, was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer just after her son's second birthday.
She had suffered with abdominal pain and bleeding after the birth of her second child and was diagnosed with endometriosis.
Surgery provided a temporary relief, but the pain returned two weeks later, and a biopsy revealed she had stage two ovarian cancer.
Emily said: “My symptoms were bloating, back pain, and abdominal pain, as well as bleeding, and no one thought it could possibly be cancer.
“It's really important to speak up if you are worried, because the earlier it is diagnosed the better your chances will be.”
Read Emily's story in full on East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust's website.
About the Let's talk about ovarian cancer' campaign
In 2023, Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance's earlier diagnosis team worked with women in Kent and Medway to develop the 'Let's talk about ovarian cancer' campaign.
The campaign encourages women to know the signs of ovarian cancer and to contact their GP if they are concerned and is part of the alliance's on-going work to increase earlier diagnosis of the disease.
Although we are promoting the campaign this month, the materials to enable conversations are available throughout the year.
Take part in the campaign
You can take part in the campaign by:
Requesting 'Let's talk about ovarian cancer' campaign printed posters, postcards and wallet-sized cards to share with your community group or in your workplace. Just email england.kmcanceralliance@nhs.net putting 'Let's talk about ovarian cancer campaign materials request' in the subject header.
Looking out for 'Let's talk about ovarian cancer' posts on social media and sharing them with your followers and friends.
Signs and symptoms
Main symptoms are:
- persistent bloating or a swollen tummy
- reduced appetite or feeling full quickly after eating
- pain or tenderness in your tummy or pelvis (the area between the hips)
- urinary symptoms (needing to wee more urgently or more often).
These will be:
- frequent - they will usually happen more than 12 times per month
- persistent - they don't go away
- new - they're not normal for you.
There are many other (non-cancer) causes for these symptoms but if you are concerned, it's best to get them checked out.
Finding ovarian cancer early can mean it's more treatable.
Have the conversation. Contact your GP practice.
Find out more on ovarian cancer: www.kentandmedwaycanceralliance.nhs.uk/ovarian-cancer
You can read more about the campaign on our Let's talk about ovarian cancer page on our public involvement hub.
*(Source: Rapid Cancer Registrations Dataset, 2026).