Every scar tells a story. Every story has the power to change the conversation.

The Reach For The Scars campaign, launched for World Ovarian Cancer Day 2026, invited anyone impacted by the disease to share their scars and stories. It sparked a global conversation about ovarian cancer, generating more than 58 million impressions worldwide.

In this episode of Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story, Host Hannah Vaughan Jones is joined by Joselyn Pang from Ovarian Cancer Society Malaysia, Dr Shabnam Gujadhur - an ovarian cancer survivor and physician in Australia and Christel Paganoni-Bruijns, CEO of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Together, they reflect on the stories behind the scars shared by women around the world and how those voices helped bring ovarian cancer into the spotlight.

Joselyn shares how her diagnosis arrived during a time of profound personal loss, and how sharing her scar became an opportunity to transform vulnerability into strength, hope, and connection. Shabnam discusses her experience as both a survivor and a clinician, and how her own journey has changed the way she listens to and supports her patients.

The conversation explores the visible and invisible scars of ovarian cancer - from surgery and treatment to mental health, identity, relationships, and the challenges of survivorship. Christel explains why personal stories, combined with research and evidence, are essential to driving awareness, influencing policy and creating meaningful change.

This episode celebrates the courage of women who shared their experiences as part of the Reach For The Scars campaign and shows how storytelling can change perceptions, challenge stigma, and ensure ovarian cancer is no longer invisible and impossible to ignore.

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During the conversation, Shabnam and Christel highlighted the ongoing need for greater support throughout the ovarian cancer journey, including mental health support. Findings from the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Every Woman Studies revealed that just 28% of women had been offered support by a healthcare professional for their mental health.

Dr Shabnam Gujadhur also discussed the importance of understanding the wider impact of ovarian cancer beyond treatment and survival. The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Socioeconomic Burden Study examined the health, economic, and social impact of ovarian cancer and provides evidence to support action and policy change.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

World Ovarian Cancer Coalition – Every Woman StudiesThe Every Woman Studies explores the experiences, needs, and challenges faced by women living with ovarian cancer, including diagnosis, treatment, support, and quality of life.

World Ovarian Cancer Coalition – Socioeconomic Burden StudyThis study highlights the wider impact of ovarian cancer on women, families, healthcare systems, and economies, helping to inform advocacy and policy change.

If anything in this podcast episode has affected you and you would like to speak with someone, please contact your local ovarian cancer patient group. You can find ovarian cancer organisations by country through the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

Is ovarian cancer in your family history?

In the opening episode of Season 2 of Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story, we explore how knowing the answer to that question - and taking action - could save your life. While many people associate ovarian cancer with symptoms alone, this episode shines a light on what may be hidden in our family history. Around 1 in 5 ovarian cancers are linked to inherited genetic mutations. Host Hannah Vaughan Jones is joined by patient advocate Tamara Hussong Milagre, Professor Adam Rosenthal, and MEP Stine Bosse to unpack what genetic mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2 really mean, how they impact cancer risk and what you should do if ovarian cancer runs in your family. Through a powerful and deeply personal story, Tamara shares her experience of discovering her own genetic risk - and the life-changing decisions she made about preventative surgery. The conversation also explores what the future could look like, including the work of DISARM, an EU initiative aiming to advance risk assessment and early detection.

Together, the panel explores:

• The link between inherited genetic risk and ovarian cancer

• The importance of genetic testing and counselling

• Advances in early detection, screening, and personalised risk assessment

• The emotional and psychological impact of hereditary cancer risk

• How policy and innovation are shaping the future of prevention
  

When it comes to ovarian cancer, knowledge isn’t just power - it’s potentially life-saving.

Show Notes

To find out more about DISARM go to https://disarm-project.eu/

To find out more about the work of EVITA https://evitacancro.org/en/

To access the EVITA platform https://evitacancro.org/en/evita-platform/

In this groundbreaking episode of Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story titled "22 Countries, 2,446 Stories”, we explore the realities faced by women with ovarian cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Featuring insights from Frances Reid, Study Lead of the landmark Every Woman Study™: LMIC Edition, Sonia Muliyil, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health, and Dr. Aisha Mustapha, obstetrician, consultant and clinical lead in Nigeria, we uncover the challenges, disparities, and financial impacts women face worldwide.

Discover how high-quality data from 2,446 women across 22 LMICs is driving policy change, improving awareness, and inspiring hope. This episode also highlights the Nigeria Pilot project, a direct outcome of the study, showing how research can lead to real-world action and better ovarian cancer care.

Join us to hear the voices of women who are changing the ovarian cancer story - and learn how awareness, advocacy, and evidence are shaping a brighter future.

Read the Global Report here: https://worldovariancancercoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WOCC_Every-Woman-Study-Report-DIGITAL.pdf

Read The Lancet Publication here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanogw/article/PIIS3050-5038%2825%2900047-0/fulltext