When Medical Registrar Dr Shabnam Gujadhur received her ovarian cancer diagnosis, it was a life-changing moment in more ways than one.
She was working as an intern at Gold Coast University Hospital’s (GCUH) Emergency Department, aged just 30, when she started experiencing vague symptoms in 2022.
“I was at the very start of a dream career and wanted to ignore it, but I’m glad I did go to my GP to get things checked out,” she said.
“I was one of the lucky ones who picked it up early and had a choice of treatments, rather than chemotherapy being my only option.”
But the journey to diagnosis wasn’t straightforward.
“It took a few months to get the actual diagnosis, which just highlights how little we know about ovarian cancer and how much more research is needed.”
From that moment, Dr Gujadhur chose to channel her experience into something positive, however unexpected it may have been.
“I knew I had a choice to either succumb to the diagnosis or harness it for a better purpose.
Since then, she has made it her mission to build the profile of ovarian cancer, raising awareness and driving funding for more research.
Now, in what she describes as a humbling and deeply personal moment, Dr Gujadhur has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Impact Award for sharing her story and tireless health advocacy across the globe.
“It reinforces my whole purpose and the good things that can be achieved through sharing your own personal struggles,” she said.
Today, she is pursuing specialty training to become an oncologist, driven by a passion to empower women and reduce stigma around ovarian cancer.
Her personal experience has transformed the way she approaches patient care.
“Having that lived experience really helps me relate to my patients in a unique way.
“Oncology is a very scientific and evolving field, but providing medical support and care shouldn’t just be about the science.
“It’s about allowing the patient to be heard and understood and I want to bridge those two worlds together.”
As an ambassador for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and now Impact Award recipient, Dr Gujadhur’s advocacy focuses on three key areas: empowerment, reducing stigma, and increasing funding for research.
Furthermore, she stresses the importance of cultural sensitivity in healthcare conversations.
“It’s important to be aware of different cultural backgrounds and understand that within certain communities there are stigmas that prevent women from openly talking about certain aspects of their health.
“Having cultural sensitivity is so important because at the end of the day your words as a clinician shape the experience of your patient.
“Slowly we are bridging the stigma gap, but there is still a lot to be done.”
Those final words highlight exactly why the world needs people like Dr Gujadhur to champion improved awareness and health outcomes.
