Please help us get Kent and Medway talking about ovarian cancer
NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance is asking for your help with getting the conversation going on ovarian cancer this March - Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Around 250 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Kent and Medway every year, with 60 per cent of cases diagnosed at a late stage.*
The alliance is asking you to please join its 'Let's talk about ovarian cancer' 2025 campaign to help increase earlier diagnosis.
Primary Care Cancer Clinical Lead Dr Jonathan Bryant said: “It's important to know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer as they are not always obvious. Earlier diagnosis makes ovarian cancer easier to treat.
“Please help increase the earlier diagnosis of ovarian cancer by using our postcards, posters and symptom diaries to get to know what to look out for and record symptoms or share the posts you see on social media.
“If you have any of the symptoms, or something just doesn't feel right, make an appointment at your GP practice to get your concerns checked out. We can refer you for simple blood tests or an ultrasound.”
Join the campaign by:
- requesting 'Let's talk about ovarian cancer' 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.
Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance's earlier diagnosis team worked with women in Kent and Medway to develop its 'Let's talk about ovarian cancer' campaign back in 2023.
The campaign encourages women to know the signs of ovarian cancer and contact their GP if they are concerned. It is part of the alliance's on-going work to increase earlier diagnosis of the disease.
Signs and symptoms
Women can be diagnosed with ovarian cancer at any age but it's more common in women aged between 60 and 80.
The main symptoms of ovarian cancer 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.
* (Source: Cancer registration statistics - NDRS - 2022 data.)
Visit our 'Let's talk about ovarian cancer' page on Have Your Say in Kent and Medway to view the postcards, posters and wallet-sized z-cards.