At DediKate we talk a lot about strength — physical strength, mental strength, and the strength that comes from supporting one another as women.
I’ve known Laura for about 20 years, and she recently reached out and asked if I would share her story with our community to help raise awareness of ovarian cancer and the symptoms women shouldn’t ignore.
Ovarian cancer is often called the “silent cancer,” but as Laura explains so powerfully, it isn’t silent — it whispers.
If sharing her journey encourages even one woman to listen to their body and seek answers sooner, then it is a conversation worth having.
Kate x
My Story
I met Kate Ivey at Otago University playing netball together for years and I have watched her incredible business grow. I have been an active Dedikate member for six years, working out consistently 4–5 times a week. Exercise has always been part of who I am — a space of strength, mental clarity, and routine for some me time.
I live in a small rural community called Galatea in the Bay of Plenty NZ, with my husband and three beautiful children aged 9, 7, 4. We have a 30ha block of land and a fencing business called Specialist Rural Services Ltd.
When my symptoms began, something shifted. I experienced pelvic discomfort, bloating, and discharge. I initially thought it was a urinary tract infection.
I went to the doctor. I had urine tests, negative. I had swabs taken, negative. I had a smear test, normal.
Everything was coming back clear. But my body was telling me something else.
Over six weeks, I found myself in and out of doctor appointments. At one point, I was told it could be a prolapse. Meanwhile, I had stopped working out, something I hadn’t done in years, because the discomfort and fatigue were increasing.
I asked for a second opinion. That decision changed everything.
Blood tests revealed my CA125 — a tumour marker that can be elevated in ovarian cancer, was significantly raised.
Scans followed. An ultrasound. A CT scan. An MRI.
The results confirmed tumours consistent with Stage 4 high-grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma
.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is often called the “silent cancer”. But the truth is, it isn’t silent — it whispers. The danger lies in how easily those whispers are explained away.
In New Zealand, according to Ovarian Cancer Foundation NZ, approximately 300 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year.
Tragically, the majority are diagnosed at an advanced stage because there is currently no reliable screening test for ovarian cancer.
That means awareness of symptoms is critical.
Understanding Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is a group of cancers that arise from the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity).
The most common type is high-grade serous carcinoma, which is also the most aggressive form.
Ovarian cancer typically spreads within the abdominal cavity. It can affect: → The ovaries and fallopian tubes → The uterus → The omentum (a fatty apron inside the abdomen) → The bowel surfaces → The diaphragm → Lymph nodes → In advanced stages, fluid may collect around the lungs
Because it grows in the abdominal space, symptoms often relate to pressure, inflammation, or fluid build-up rather than a single obvious lump.
The Symptoms to Watch For
Ovarian Cancer Foundation NZ highlights the following symptoms: → Persistent bloating or increased abdominal size → Pelvic or abdominal pain → Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly → Urinary urgency or frequency → Changes in bowel habits → Fatigue → Unusual vaginal discharge
The key word is persistent
.If you experience these symptoms for two weeks, you need to visit your GP.
A cervical smear does not detect ovarian cancer. This is an important and often misunderstood fact.
What I’ve Learned
Ovarian cancer does not discriminate.
I was active.
I worked out consistently.
I ate well.
I was strong.
And yet...
There is currently no screening test. There is no routine blood test offered to healthy women. There is no smear test that detects it.
Diagnosis relies on: → Symptom awareness → Clinical examination → Blood tests (such as CA125) → Imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI)
Many women are diagnosed at Stage 3 or 4 because early symptoms are subtle and easily mistaken for digestive issues, hormonal changes, or urinary infections.
Why Awareness Matters
If ovarian cancer is caught at Stage 1, survival rates are significantly higher.
The challenge is that most women are diagnosed once it has already spread within the abdomen.
That is why conversations matter. That is why knowing the symptoms matters. That is why trusting your instincts matters.
Ovarian Cancer Foundation NZ provides education, support, advocacy, and research funding to improve outcomes for women across Aotearoa.
Their work is vital in a space where early detection tools are limited.
A Message to Our DediKate Community
If there is one thing I would say to this community — a group of strong, driven, health-conscious women — it is this:
→ If your body changes in a way that doesn’t feel normal for you, investigate it. → If you are reassured but still uneasy, ask again. → If you need a second opinion, take it. → You know your body.
I never imagined I would be writing this. But if sharing my journey encourages even one woman to listen to her body sooner, then it is worth it.
Ovarian cancer may be called the silent cancer — but together, we can make sure it is no longer unheard.
→ Let’s keep talking.
→ Let’s keep learning.
→ Let’s keep advocating.
