A guide to the books, movies, and podcasts to check out when you’ve been diagnosed with the disease (Published on September 23, 2022).

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest form of gynecological cancer, and it’s the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2022 about 19,880 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer and 12,810 women will die from the disease. 

But ovarian cancer doesn’t get much attention in the mainstream media, and many people know little, if anything, about it. I didn’t — until I was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer in October 2018.

Anyone with ovaries can be diagnosed with the disease, like I was, and many others will be affected by it — as the friends, families, and loved ones of those facing a diagnosis and undergoing treatment. For others, knowing more about ovarian cancer, including its signs, symptoms, and risk factors, could help prevent a diagnosis, or at least aid in early discovery, when the prognosis is significantly better. 

Bottom line: We should be paying attention. Here’s what to read, watch, and listen to to learn more.