Ovarian Cancer - You Can Help The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation OCRF was founded in 2000.
Its aim is to foster research into ovarian cancer a disease which claims the life of one Australian woman every 10 hours and often remains undetected until in its advanced stages.
The OCRF has three main objectives To develop and implement an early detection program for ovarian cancer To improve the mortality rate, management and long term survival of women with ovarian cancer To raise community awareness of the importance of early detection The OCRF research team is a collaboration between the Monash Medical Centre and Prince Henry s Institute for Medical Research.
The Foundation was co-founded by Associate Professor Thomas Jobling and OCRF CEO Liz Heliotis.
While it is well known that the ovaries are part of the female reproductive system and their role is to produce ova or eggs, as well as the hormones that are involved in the menstrual cycle and fertility, it is lesser know that every year approximately 400 women in Victoria alone are diagnosed, most of them with the advanced stage of the disease.
This means that one in 90 women have a chance of developing ovarian cancer in their lifetime.
9 out of 10 cases occur in women over 40.
Although ovarian cancer is less common than breast cancer which affects one in 13 women , more women die from ovarian cancer because it is usually diagnosed well into the advanced stage.
While advances have been made in survival rates for breast cancer, there have been no recent breakthroughs in ovarian cancer, and survival rates have barely improved.
The cause of ovarian cancer is not known but some women are at greater risk.
The most common risks include Age most women develop ovarian cancer after menopause making 50 of those diagnosed, older than 65 Having fewer or no children Family history of ovarian cancer It is important to note however, that 95 of all ovarian cancer occurs in women without these risk factors and that many women with these factors, do not develop ovarian cancer.
Of the women diagnosed, there is a marked difference in the survival rates if the ovarian cancer is detected early.
Early stage ovarian cancer may not have obvious symptoms but any of the following may occur Vague abdominal pain or pressure A different feeling of abdominal fullness, gas, nausea and indigestion Sudden abdominal swelling, weight gain or bloating Persistent changes in bowel or bladder patterns Low backache or cramps Abnormal vaginal bleeding Pain during intercourse Unexplained weight loss The majority of women who experience one or two of these early symptoms do not have cancer.
However, it is important that you seek medical advice if the symptoms are unusual or persist.
There are many types of ovarian cancer and if you are diagnosed, the treatment and likely outcome for a particular type of ovarian cancer will vary with each individual case and needs to be discussed with a gynaecological oncologist, who specializes in treating cancers relating to gyneacology.
The cancer can be classified into four stages , depending on the extent of the spread of the disease and is treated in a variety of different ways including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Every woman with ovarian cancer is treated as an individual case, depending on the stage of disease and other personal factors, so it is difficult for anyone other than a gynaecological oncologist to give a general prognosis.
If the cancer is diagnosed and treated early, between 80 -100 of patients will survive for more than five years while approximately 20 of women diagnosed at later stages, will survive for more than five years.
This figure, however, is improving all the time with better treatment.
Ovarian cancer is an insidious disease that is indiscriminate and in every case unfair.
While ovarian cancer can only physically occur in women, its repercussions affect everyone.
This disease is about wives, partners, sisters, mothers, girlfriends and friends.
HOW YOU CAN HELP The OCRF relies on the financial support of its partners and the community to give hope to those suffering from ovarian cancer.
Making a donation will help fund research to enable early detection and save lives.
Visit www.ocrf.com.au to make a donation or for more information.
Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation Level 1, 459 Toorak Road, Toorak.
1300 OVARIAN www.ocrf.com.au DETECT EXPOSE EMPOWER there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer - a disease which claims one women every ten hours we can change this statistic with your help OCR6996 Support the OCRF by donating at any NAB branch or online at www.nab.com.au ocrf Silver Ribbons and Limited Edition Silver Gifts are also available from Witchery stores nationally PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY THE GOODLIFE CHARITY LUNCH 114 good life - june, july, august 2011