Information guides laid out on a table

Our guides and information materials

Find guides for your individual situation, advice and support for practical concerns, and information leaflets about ovarian cancer symptoms and diagnosis.

Read our publications and information, offering expert advice, practical information and emotional support. You can also order copies.

We recommend using Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDFs.

By signing the Patient Information Forum’s Health and Digital Literacy Charter, we've shown our commitment to ensuring our resources are useful, reliable and accessible to anyone who needs them.

Guides

What happens next? A guide for women with a recent diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Our expert guide answers your questions following an ovarian cancer diagnosis, providing information on everything from treatment to taking care of yourself, and advice on where to find support in the months ahead.

Read 'What happens next?' [PDF]

This guide covers information and advice on:

  • after your diagnosis

  • making decisions about your treatment

  • treatment options

  • family history, genetic testing and hereditary ovarian cancer

  • getting back to everyday life after treatment

  • taking care of yourself

  • fertility and early menopause

  • how you might be feeling

  • getting support

Back here again: A guide for women with a recurrence of ovarian cancer

Our expert guide offers practical advice and information to help you cope with an ovarian cancer recurrence.

Read 'Back here again' [PDF]

This guide covers information and advice on:

  • dealing with the news

  • managing day to day life

  • your emotions

  • dealing with fear

  • your treatment options

  • clinical trials

  • keeping active and eating well

  • further sources of support

My care, my future: A guide for women who are living with incurable ovarian cancer 

Our expert guide aims to help you get the most from every day, while living with incurable ovarian cancer. It offers insights into looking after yourself, understanding symptoms you may have, your relationships with others, and more.

Read 'My care, my future' [PDF]

This guide covers information and advice on:

  • understanding the terminology used

  • dealing with the news

  • relationships

  • support for you

  • symptom control and living with your condition

  • looking after your wellbeing

  • thinking about the future – advance care planning, making a will, thinking about a funeral

  • families, children and creating precious memories

  • further sources of support

Genetic testing and hereditary ovarian cancer: A guide for women with ovarian cancer and their families

Our expert guide answers your questions about whether your ovarian cancer could be hereditary, what a genetic test involves, and the potential implications of the results for you and your family.

Read 'Genetic testing and hereditary ovarian cancer' [PDF]

This guide covers information and advice on:

  • what hereditary ovarian cancer is

  • which genes are most likely to have a variant that increases the risk of ovarian cancer

  • what happens in a genetic test

  • what the impact is of the different results for you and your family

  • further sources of support

A younger woman's guide to ovarian cancer

Our expert guide, jointly produced with Ovacome, Ovarian Cancer Action and The Eve Appeal, provides crucial information, advice and signposting to help younger women through the emotional, physical and psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis.

Read 'A younger woman's guide to ovarian cancer' [PDF]

This guide covers information and advice on:

  • dealing with the news

  • treatment and what to expect from an early menopause

  • your body image and sexuality

  • fertility

  • relationships

  • coping if you have children

  • practical and financial support

  • other sources of support 

This guide won Runner-up and Highly commended awards at the British Medical Association (BMA) Patient information awards.

Ovarian cancer and stomas

Our expert guide is for you if you have a stoma or may get one after ovarian cancer surgery. Based on the latest evidence and full of insights from people who understand what you're going through, this guide explores what a stoma is and does and offers practical tips for overcoming common concerns.

We're proud to have teamed up with Colostomy UK to produce this guide to offer you the best possible information and support.

Read 'Ovarian cancer and stomas' [PDF]

This guide covers information, support and answers to questions such as:

  • When will I find out if I need a stoma?

  • What does a stoma look and feel like?

  • Is there just one type of stoma?

  • How does it actually work?

  • How do I learn to cope with a stoma?

  • How do I look after my stoma?

  • What if I'm having problems with my stoma?

  • I'm worried it will smell. What can I do?

  • How can I be sure the stoma bag is watertight? What if it leaks?

  • Is there anything I shouldn't eat or drink?

  • Do I have to wear different clothes?

  • Is a stoma permanent?

  • Where can I find out more?

Information sheets

Ovarian cancer and your finances

Our expert information sheet answers your questions about the impact of an ovarian cancer diagnosis on your finances. It also provides information on insurance, benefits and pensions, and advice on where to find support and specialist guidance. 

Read 'Ovarian cancer and your finances' [PDF]

This guide covers information and advice on:

  • benefits

  • your pension

  • prescription charges

  • health insurance

  • life insurance

  • travel insurance

  • financial complaints

  • getting support

Ovarian cancer and complementary therapies

Our expert information sheet answers your questions about the use of complementary therapies after an ovarian cancer diagnosis. This includes what complementary therapies are, the difference between complementary and alternative therapies, and how and where you can find out more. 

Read 'Ovarian cancer and complementary therapies' [PDF]

This guide covers information and advice on:

  • what complementary therapies are

  • the difference between complementary and alternative therapies

  • types of complementary therapies

  • where to access complementary therapies

  • getting support

Ovarian cancer, sex and intimacy

Our expert information sheet answers your questions about the impact of an ovarian cancer diagnosis on your sexuality, sex life and relationships. It includes what physical and emotional issues you may face and how you can seek help and support. 

Read 'Ovarian cancer, sex and intimacy' [PDF]

This guide covers information and advice on:

  • what impact an ovarian cancer diagnosis can have

  • how you might feel

  • pain and other difficulties with being sexual

  • masturbation

  • sexual desire

  • talking to your partner

  • starting new relationships

  • getting support

Ovarian cancer, diet and nutrition

Our expert information sheet answers your questions about what to eat and drink when you have ovarian cancer. It looks at the evidence for different diet and nutrition advice and offers practical suggestions for getting all of the nourishment you need, even when eating is hard. We also do a bit of myth-busting by asking, do superfoods really exist?

Read 'Ovarian cancer, diet and nutrition' [PDF]

This guide covers information, support and answers to questions such as:

  • What should I be eating?

  • What can I do if I feel full after a few mouthfuls?

  • Should I avoid sugar?

  • What are superfoods and should I be eating them?

  • Is organic food better?

  • Where can I find out more?

Information and support leaflets

Symptoms leaflet

Our symptoms leaflet covers the symptoms of ovarian cancer, what to do if you think you might have symptoms, what tests GPs use to diagnose ovarian cancer and how we can support you.

Read our symptoms leaflet [PDF]

Symptoms leaflet in different languages

Our symptoms leaflet comes in 11 different languages. Each leaflet covers the symptoms of ovarian cancer, what to do if you think you might have symptoms, what tests GPs use to diagnose ovarian cancer and how we can support you.

Arabic [PDF]

Bengali [PDF]

Cantonese [PDF]

English [PDF]

Gujarati [PDF]

Hindi [PDF]

Polish [PDF]

Punjabi [PDF]

Somali [PDF]

Urdu [PDF]

Welsh [PDF]

CA125 blood test fact sheet

This fact sheet will give you information about the use of a CA125 blood test as a diagnostic test for ovarian cancer.

Read our CA125 blood test fact sheet [PDF]

Ultrasound scan fact sheet

This fact sheet will give you information about abdominal and pelvic ultrasound scans of your ovaries as a diagnostic test for ovarian cancer.

Read our ultrasound scan fact sheet [PDF]

Information checklist

This checklist has been designed to help you find out more about your ovarian cancer. It identifies the key areas where you may want more information, so that you can request resources and support from your medical team.

Read our information checklist [PDF]

Top tips for speaking to your GP

Our step-by-step guide is designed to help you talk to your GP about the symptoms you're experiencing and what information you might like to gather before booking an appointment.

Read our top tips for speaking to your GP (English) [PDF]

Read our top tips for speaking to your GP (Welsh) [PDF]

Symptoms diary

Use our symptoms diary [PDF] to keep track of recurring symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Symptoms poster

Display our symptoms poster [PDF] to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Support leaflet

Read our support leaflet to find out what support services you can access from us.