You Need to Know: Raising awareness of ovarian cancer in north east London 

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer for women in the UK. It can develop when abnormal cells in and around the ovary and fallopian tubes grow and divide uncontrollably, forming a tumour. If left untreated, these cancerous cells can spread to other parts of the body. 

Many women miss the early signs, leading to late diagnosis when the cancer is harder to treat and more likely to have spread. Half of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at a late stage where survival rates are lower. 

Data showed us there had been a 20% increase in ovarian cancer cases among women in north east London between 2018 and 2022. We knew we needed to help women understand signs and symptoms so we can detect ovarian cancer early, when outcomes are likely to be better. The data also told us we needed to focus more on white British and European women who had a higher percentage of late diagnoses. 

The North East London Cancer Alliance ran the successful You Need to Know (YNTK) womb cancer awareness campaign in 2023 and wanted to build on the learnings from this for ovarian cancer.  

To make sure the campaign would resonate with local women, we organised a focus group made up of women from white British and European backgrounds. These women helped shape the look of our campaign and the messages we delivered.  

Our posters and leaflets featured the women from our focus group, each representing a different target demographic (white British, Lithuanian and Turkish). They also featured in a video highlighting the importance of speaking to your GP if you notice any symptoms of ovarian cancer. All of the materials were translated into relevant community languages.  

We launched the You Need to Know campaign in January 2025 at Tila Nails, a nail salon in Hackney, and later in February, a second nail salon in Romford at Aurae London marked the end of the campaign. We wanted to take essential information about ovarian cancer into the community, to a place where women go, where they could decompress in an environment built around self-care and feel free to talk. 

We worked in collaboration with gynaecological cancers charity, The Eve Appeal, to have compassionate yet candid conversations with women at the nail salons. Talking about the symptoms of ovarian cancer that women shouldn’t ignore: 

• Persistent bloating 

• Persistent pelvic and abdominal pain 

• Unexplained changes in bowl habits 

• Needing to urinate more regularly 

• Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly or feeling nauseous 

The advice if you have these symptoms? Book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible. It could be lifesaving. 

Caroline Cook, Early Diagnosis Programme Lead for the North East London Cancer Alliance says: “Rates of ovarian cancer are rising in north east London. A key priority for us as a Cancer Alliance is to help local people understand the signs of ovarian cancer, so they can act without delay when they notice something unusual. This will help them to receive an earlier diagnosis, resulting in better outcomes.” 

Over 30 women attended the nail salon events, which generated wide media coverage including on BBC London news and on BBC Radio, with articles in the Romford Recorder and Hackney Gazette. It also launched on social media with influencers amplifying our message to a broader audience.  

The next phase of the campaign will see an Eve Appeal Advocacy Consultant delivering 12 awareness sessions across north east London focusing on ovarian and womb cancer, and other gynae cancers. In working together, we can raise more awareness and save lives. 

North East London Cancer Alliance are looking for women who live in north east London to spread the word and do some community research for the ‘You Need to Know’ campaign.  

Want to find out more about this paid opportunity? Send an email titled ‘Community Research Opportunity’ to sabinad@shortwork.org.uk. 

Sherrice Weekes, Project Manager, North East London Cancer Alliance