News & Blog

Men and BRCA: what you need to know

Demetra Georgiou is a Principal Genetic Counsellor at Imperial College Healthcare (Charing Cross Hospital). She answers our top questions about men and BRCA.

More women now eligible for groundbreaking ovarian cancer drug Olaparib

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), has extended access to olaparib, also known as Lynparza, so that all patients with a BRCA gene mutation can now benefit from the drug.  Hear what our Head of Policy and Research has to say about the update. 

New Drug Combination Shows Promising Results in Ovarian Cancer Trial

In a significant breakthrough for low grade serous ovarian cancer, a new drug combination has demonstrated the ability to shrink tumours in nearly half of the patients involved in a recent clinical trial. 

Niraparib is changing - what you need to know

Many patients are currently taking the cancer drug Niraparib, also known as Zejula, to treat their ovarian cancer. From June 2023 the drug is changing – find out why and how this might affect you.

How we're using your views to inform the Government's Major Conditions Strategy

The Call for Evidence is now opened to inform the Government's Major Conditions Strategy but we want you to know that your voices have and will be heard.

Sarah – ‘this diagnosis doesn’t mean the end of your life – you are still living’

In May 2016, Sarah sat by her 94 year old Grandma’s side whilst she died of ovarian cancer. Her Great Grandmother had died of it in her 60’s too. 18 months later, Sarah’s experience of ovarian cancer became even more personal.

New blood test trial in West Midlands to diagnose ovarian cancer earlier

In the West Midlands, Professor Sudha Sundar and a collaboration University of Birmingham and local NHS trusts, are running a trial where women experiencing possible symptoms of ovarian cancer will be offered a ROMA (Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm) blood test. This tests works alongside the CA125 test.

Mary: ‘I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at only 12 years old - but it’s not stopped me from following my dreams’

Doctors made the horrifying discovery that Mary had an ovarian tumour when she was just a child.

Here Mary, who is now 22, talks about diagnosis, and how her resilience and passion for dance has given her hope for the future.

Harriet: "‘I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just weeks after I’d had a baby’

Mum-of-three Harriet was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer in 2022.

Harriet was told that she had two ovarian cysts during a routine pregnancy ultrasound. But shockingly, she did not discover that she had an ovarian tumour until her daughter Maddison was born.

Can ovarian cysts be cancerous?

You may have noticed there have been a few stories in the news about ovarian cancer being misdiagnosed as ovarian cysts recently. Ovarian cysts are common and are usually non-cancerous. We spoke to Dr Brooke Vandermolen, an Obstetrics and Gynaecology doctor, to find out more.

Fiona: “I’m proud of who I’ve become since my diagnosis, but I wish I had undergone a different treatment”

Fiona was diagnosed with a rare type of ovarian cancer in 2007, aged 25. Now, celebrating 15 years since her diagnosis, Fiona reflects on her journey so far and shares her experiences to highlight the reality of living with ovarian cancer.

Marilyn: ‘I was scared, so I buried my head in the sand and ignored my symptoms’

Marilyn was diagnosed with a rare form of high grade ovarian cancer in early 2022. Here she highlights why she was reluctant to visit the GP, and why it’s vital women are equipped with the information about ovarian cancer as soon as possible. 

Marilyn is determined to make sure no other woman has to go through what she did.

Alexandria: ‘I had ovarian cancer, that’s why I’m discovering breakthroughs for other women with the disease’

Alexandria was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer in 2014, while she was at university studying to become a scientist.

Her experience fuelled a passion to study ovarian cancer research, and improve diagnosis and treatment for other women. It’s been eight years since Alexandria finished her treatment, and she’s now proudly working at our Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre. Alexandria passed her thesis defence is 2023 and is now has a PHD in cancer studies. 

Here she shares her story.

Olivia – ‘Mum was not only a parent but, as an only child, she was my best friend, and Dad’s best friend too.’

Ellen Javed passed away from ovarian cancer in May 2020, in the midst of the Covid pandemic and weeks after her daughter Olivia had turned 21. In this heartfelt tribute, Olivia tells her story and how her mum’s strength and resilience shone through, even at the hardest of times.

New research reveals Orkney BRCA gene link

Read our comment on a new study, published in the European Journal of Human Genetics, that has found that one in 100 people who have grandparents from Orkney, Scotland have the BRCA1 gene fault. This gene fault increases the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. 

Gemma - 'Why we need better testing for ovarian cancer'

Gemma was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, aged 34. Here she shares her story, including how her ovarian cancer was discovered while she had womb cancer, and why improved testing is vital to early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Gemma talks about her experience of testing and how, bizarrely, she was ‘lucky’ her cancer was found relatively early - because she had another cancer.

Retired farmer's mission to support Ovarian Cancer Action as tribute to his late wife

When Evelyn Wigley passed away 2015 from ovarian cancer, her husband Emyr decided to combat the "evil disease" in her memory.

He created The Old Stackyard British Blues, a closed breeding herd of pedigree British Blue cattle. Due to a recent injury, Mr Wigley has decided to sell his herd of 33 cattle in March, hoping to raise £100,000 for Ovarian Cancer Action and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI). 

Hollie: “We must do more to save the lives of women like my mum”

Helen Clarke was diagnosed ovarian cancer in 2015, aged 57. Helen was misdiagnosed time and time again, even when her cancer returned. Sadly, she passed away from ovarian cancer in March 2018.

Five years on, Helen’s daughter, Hollie, highlights why we need to educate others about the disease and why early and accurate diagnosis is vital.

Could regular aspirin use reduce ovarian cancer risk?

There have been a series of reports recently claiming that taking aspirin can play a major role in both preventing ovarian cancer and increasing survival rates in women who already have the disease.

In Margaret's Name - her story, told by her husband

Margaret Anne Scougal was born in 1952. At the age of 16, she became a cadet nurse at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle. Upon retirement, she had been a business manager, ward sister and matron of orthopaedics. She helped to train scores of nurses starting out. Years later some of those very same nurses treated her for ovarian cancer. Margaret died in June 2021 aged 69. This is her story, as told by her husband, Tony.