First episode “Be a Drama Queen” releases on World Gynecologic Oncology Day – World GO Day, September 20th
TORONTO – September 20, 2025 – The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition is proud to announce the launch of its new podcast, Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story, hosted by journalist and broadcaster Hannah Vaughan Jones. The series will shine a light on the most lethal of female cancers and will explore the challenges, disparities, and urgent need for change, while also highlighting progress, hope, and the power of advocacy.
Throughout the series, listeners will hear from survivors, advocates, clinicians, and global health leaders as they share lived experiences, insights, and strategies to improve outcomes for women around the world. The podcast is aimed not only at women and families affected by ovarian cancer but also at policymakers and the wider public, to drive greater awareness and improve investment in women’s health.
The first episode, “Be A Drama Queen”, sets the stage by looking at the bigger picture. Vaughan Jones speaks to Clara MacKay, CEO of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and Sbba Siddique, a British broadcaster, ovarian cancer thriver and campaigner. Together, they tackle the lack of awareness around ovarian cancer, the delays in diagnosis, and the stigma that far too often silences women’s voices.
“Ovarian cancer has suffered the same neglect as many less common and harder-to-treat cancers. It has been chronically under-resourced and overlooked”, says Clara MacKay. “We must be far more ambitious for women with ovarian cancer”.
For Sbba Siddique, the story is deeply personal. After months of being dismissed by her General Practitioner doctor, she was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer in 2023: “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.” By the time Sbba was diagnosed, she said, “I looked like I was six months pregnant.”
Sbba now uses her experience to advocate for others, urging women not to downplay their symptoms: “You know your body better than absolutely anybody else… Trust your gut, know your normal, and seek help. And yes, be insistent, be firm. You’re not asking for anything that’s out of your bounds or out of your rights.”
MacKay also stresses the need to break taboos and challenge policymakers: “This is the result of a low level of health literacy around women’s health and societal norms and systems that prioritise male health over female health. As a global community, we need to push back.”
“This podcast is about amplifying voices, breaking down stigma, and inspiring action,” added host Hannah Vaughan Jones. “By sharing these stories, we hope to change not just the narrative but also the future of ovarian cancer.”
Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story is available now on all major podcast platforms.
World Gynecologic Oncology Day is a worldwide awareness campaign, dedicated to raising awareness about prevention and lifting the burden of stigma in gynecologic cancers.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Annabel Deegan – annabel@worldovariancancercoalition.org or Jesica Martinez de Hoz – jesica@worldovariancancercoalition.org
About the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition
The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, the only global not-for-profit organization focused solely on ovarian cancer, was established in 2016 and works with 230 patient advocacy group members in 37 countries. We work globally to ensure that everyone living with, or at risk of, ovarian cancer has the best chance of survival and the best quality of life, no matter where they live. To learn more, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.