Ovarian Cancer Awareness: Kayla Itsines Joins Witchery White Shirt Campaign

Sweat co-founder and Head Trainer Kayla Itsines is joining the fight against ovarian cancer as an ambassador for this year's Witchery White Shirt Campaign.

Ahead of Witchery White Shirt Day and World Ovarian Cancer Day in May, we wanted to raise awareness about this silent killer while highlighting the critical work Witchery and the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) are doing to save lives. Since the campaign began 15 years ago, Witchery has raised over $15 million, making the retailer the single largest funder of ovarian cancer research in Australia.

The annual White Shirt Campaign aims to make a statement bigger than fashion and change the future for women fighting ovarian cancer by raising awareness and critical funding for the OCRF, Australia’s leading independent body dedicated to ovarian cancer research.

As someone who has built her career championing women’s health, Kayla says it’s a privilege to be able to support such an important cause.

“I’ve been blown away by the vital work Witchery and the OCRF are doing to change the face of ovarian cancer in Australia,” Kayla says. “Together, we can help realise the OCRF’s vision for every woman to be free of the threat of ovarian cancer.”

Supporting the OCRF

Research and funding are critical as the OCRF endeavours to develop an early detection test and uncover more effective treatments for women battling this insidious disease. According to the OCRF, each year 1,800 Australian women are diagnosed while one woman dies every eight hours, making it the most lethal form of gynaecological cancer.

Developing an early detection test continues to be a focus of the OCRF, whose mission is to fund innovative research to save lives through early detection and personalised treatment options. Their ultimate aim is to see every woman, everywhere free from the threat of ovarian cancer.

Learn more about ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the growth of a malignant tumour in one or both ovaries. There are a few types, but the most common types are the common epithelial (which makes up 90% of cases), the germ cell type and the rare stromal type. The OCRF highlights that in most cases, the causes are unknown and as the symptoms can be quite vague or misdiagnosed as bloating or cramps, diagnosis often comes at the advanced stages of the disease.

Symptoms to look out for include:

• A feeling of abdominal fullness, gas, nausea or indigestion that presents differently to normal sensations

• Sudden or unexplained weight gain, bloating or abdominal swelling

• A feeling of vague abdominal pain or pressure

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding

• Experiencing pain during sexual intercourse

• Aches in the lower back

• Cramping

• Persistent changes in bowel or bladder movements

The OCRF highlights that in most cases, the causes are unknown and as the symptoms can be quite vague or misdiagnosed as bloating or cramps, diagnosis often comes at the advanced stages of the disease. Sadly, only 29% of women with ovarian cancer survive beyond five years. Take a look at the OCRF's website to learn more about the vital work they're doing. 

How you can support this year's White Shirt Campaign

This year's white shirt has been designed in collaboration with P.E Nation founder Pip Edwards and is available to shop in-store and online across Australia and New Zealand. When you buy a white shirt from Witchery they donate 100% of the gross profits to the OCRF. Funds raised by the campaign continue to fund essential research, innovative projects and research scientists.