The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition has launched a new podcast, Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story, aiming to confront the realities of the most lethal of female cancers while highlighting progress and advocacy efforts worldwide.
Presented by journalist and broadcaster Hannah Vaughan Jones, the series will feature voices from across the spectrum of those affected: survivors, campaigners, clinicians and global health leaders. Each episode is designed to explore the challenges facing women, from late diagnosis and limited treatment options to stigma and lack of investment, while also focusing on stories of resilience and the potential for change.
The first episode, Be a Drama Queen, is released on World Gynecologic Oncology Day, today, 20th September. It introduces listeners to the wider context, with Vaughan Jones joined by Clara MacKay, CEO of the Coalition, and broadcaster Sbba Siddique, who was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer in 2023. Together they discuss the neglect ovarian cancer has faced, the delays many patients experience before diagnosis, and the need for women to trust their instincts when seeking care.
“Ovarian cancer has suffered the same neglect as many less common and harder-to-treat cancers. It has been chronically under-resourced and overlooked,” MacKay said, calling for greater ambition and investment.
Siddique’s story brings a personal dimension, recalling how her symptoms were dismissed for months before she was finally diagnosed: “My diagnosis was six months in the making and it was traumatic. I was continually just going back and forth with my GP who was just dismissing me.” Now she uses her platform to encourage other women to speak up and insist on being heard.
The podcast also places a spotlight on the broader systems that shape women’s health outcomes. MacKay underlines the need to challenge taboos and push policymakers to prioritise ovarian cancer alongside other health concerns. Vaughan Jones frames the project as one that aims to amplify those voices, break stigma and inspire action through storytelling.
Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story is available now on major podcast platforms, timed to coincide with a global awareness campaign dedicated to lifting the burden of stigma around gynaecologic cancers.
