Being diagnosed with ovarian cancer under 45 can bring specific needs and concerns.
This might include the effects of your illness on your family, future fertility and relationships; worries about your return to work or education, and the impacts of early menopause from surgery. Younger people can also be more likely to be diagnosed with less common forms of ovarian cancer, which brings its own pressures.
This has inspired the launch of our new online hub for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer under the age of 45. The hub aims to help reduce the feeling of isolation felt by many diagnosed at a younger age; and provide trusted information that helps them to understand their diagnosis and treatment and make informed decisions about important aspects of their lives. It brings together a collection of accredited information booklets and expert-led webinars into a dedicated space on the Ovacome website - providing a singular and easy access point for information and resources that address the specific questions, challenges and worries of younger people facing a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
The hub includes information about the rarer types of ovarian cancer that are more commonly seen in those diagnosed under the age of 45, including two new booklets written with the help of Ovacome members on Granulosa cell tumours, and Germ cell tumours.
There’s also information on treatment, relationships, and living your life with an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Some of the specific booklet topics featured on the hub include returning to work, fertility, travel abroad, and managing side effects like anxiety, fatigue and surgical menopause.
It also features personal stories from members of the Ovacome community who share their experiences of being diagnosed under the age of 45, and signposts to support networks to help people connect with others who share a similar experience to their own.
Ella, who is from Herefordshire and works in the NHS, was diagnosed with a rare type of ovarian cancer at the age of 30. She decided to share her story with Ovacome to raise awareness of the disease and to also highlight the fact that younger people can be diagnosed.
“I think one of the hardest things about my diagnosis was my age. It was hard in the sense that a lot of people [who] had ovarian cancer were a bit older, so I couldn’t relate quite as much, and also in the sense that I had a rare type of ovarian cancer. You do feel a bit isolated at first, but Ovacome were great in supporting me.”
Speaking about her diagnosis and the launch of Ovacome’s new hub, Ella said:
“Younger people with ovarian cancer face very different challenges, and the Under 45 hub recognises that. It can connect people who might otherwise feel isolated and provide support that truly reflects our age and stage of life. Most importantly, it shows that younger women aren’t alone in this.”
Ella has had successful treatment for her cancer that included both surgery and chemotherapy and cites Ovacome as an invaluable resource.
“I think the most impactful thing about Ovacome for me was the information booklets and particularly the stuff on my specific type of rare ovarian cancer. To be able to easily access a resource that’s accurate and written in layman’s terms was so important for me, and it meant I could just direct friends and family to the resources and help them to understand what was happening to me as well, which was really important to me.”
While ovarian cancer is a disease that most commonly affects those over the age of 50, it can affect anyone with ovaries. Over 7,500 people are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in the UK, and one in 50 women can expect a diagnosis in their lifetime. Known as an ‘uncommon cancer’ because of these statistics, many diagnosed with the disease can feel isolated, which is a feeling that can be further amplified in people diagnosed at younger ages.
You can visit the new hub here.
