February is awareness month for ovarian cancer. The information that follows has been sent by the Australian Osteopathic Association. Sorry it's long but important. Ovarian cancer is often a silent killer and there are no tests for it so it is crucial that women are aware of the symptoms and seek help early.
About Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
* Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is an international campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. In 2010 in Australia Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is held in February. Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is also a time when Ovarian Cancer Australia, their volunteers and friends, raise funds for their programs and resources to support women with ovarian cancer and to ensure every woman in Australia knows the symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Who is Ovarian Cancer Australia?
Ovarian Cancer Australia is a national not-for-profit organisation providing support and advocacy for people affected by ovarian cancer, and is the peak body for ovarian cancer awareness and prevention. Our programs are focused in these important areas:
* Promoting awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms in the community – giving Australian women and their healthcare providers a better understanding of the early signs of ovarian cancer
* Providing support networks and resources to women and their families and friends affected by ovarian cancer
* Advocating with medical professionals, government and the media for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer
* We are the only organisation that works with Australian women, their families and friends who have been affected by ovarian cancer
Ovarian Cancer Australia Exists To:
* Save women’s lives by raising awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer
* Support those touched by ovarian cancer
* Be the voice of ovarian cancer awareness and prevention in Australia
How Many Women In Australia Have Ovarian Cancer?
* 1 in 70 Australian women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime. Each year, more than 850 Australian women will lose their battle with ovarian cancer – that’s one woman every 11 hours.
What Is The Life Expectancy For A Woman Diagnosed With Ovarian Cancer?
* 75% of women are diagnosed in the advanced stages and will not live beyond 5 years. If diagnosed early, the majority of those women will survive. This is why awareness and early detection is so important.
Who Is At Risk Of Developing Ovarian Cancer?
Factors that are considered to increase the risk of ovarian cancer are:
* Age – women over the age of 45 are at greater risk of developing ovarian cancer. However, it affects women of all ages - ovarian cancer has been diagnosed in girls as young as 7.
* Never having taken the contraceptive pill
* Having few or no pregnancies
* A high-fat diet, being overweight and smoking
* A history of cancer in the family, especially ovarian, breast or some bowel cancers (approximately 10% of all ovarian cancer cases are due to an inherited gene fault and these are found in 1 in 500 people in Australia)
* Being of Ashkenazi Jewish descent
Facts About Ovarian Cancer In Australia
* This year, 1500 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer; more than 850 will die from the disease
* There is no reliable early detection test for ovarian cancer
* The majority of Australian women do not know the symptoms of ovarian cancer
* Ovarian cancer is the 6th most common cause of death in Australian women
What Are The Symptoms Of Ovarian Cancer?
The four most frequently reported symptoms from women diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer are:
* Persistent abdominal pain or pelvic (lower abdominal) pain
* A noticeable increase in abdominal size or abdominal bloating
* Needing to rush to the toilet to urinate often or urgently
* Feeling full quickly of finding it difficult to eat
Other symptoms that have been commonly reported by women with ovarian cancer include:
* Vague but persistent stomach upsets such as wind, nausea, heart burn or ingestion
* Vaginal bleeding
* Change in bowel habits
* Weight loss or weight gain
* Excessive fatigue
If these symptoms persist even after prescribed treatment for other more common conditions (for example irritable bowel syndrome), women should ask their GP to consider the possibility of ovarian cancer. Ovarian Cancer Australia provides free symptom diaries to download from their website so that women can track what they are experiencing and be able to better communicate with their GP.
Is There A Test For Ovarian Cancer?
* No! There is NO early detection screening test for ovarian cancer. A Pap smear does NOT detect Ovarian cancer. This is why awareness of the symptoms is critical to Australian women
How Is Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed?
* Ovarian cancer can only be confirmed at the point of surgery. If ovarian cancer is suspected, a GP will recommend tests which can suggest if ovarian cancer is a possibility, these include the CA125 test, and a trans-vaginal ultrasound, but these tests cannot be used to screen for or diagnose ovarian cancer.
How Is It Treated?
* When ovarian cancer is confirmed during surgery, a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries on both sides), omentectomy (removal of the fatty tissue that covers the bowels), lymphadenectomy (removal of one or more lymph nodes) may be performed.
Awareness Is The Key To Saving Lives - We Raise Awareness By Promoting:
* Australia’s annual awareness month is February
* 2010 Teal Ribbon Day is Wednesday 24 February
* Teal is the international colour representing ovarian cancer
