Tag: Ovarian Cancer

Each year, in Australia, approximately 1000 women will die from Ovarian Cancer.  It’s important that you #KnowAskAct

Know – There is no screening test for Ovarian Cancer so it is important to know the symptoms and know your family history. The four most commonly symptoms associated with Ovarian Cancer are

• abdominal or pelvic pain
• increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating
• the need to urinate often or urgently
• feeling full after eating a small amount

Ask – Ask family members if there is a family history, on both your mother and father’s sides, of ovarian or breast cancer. “Almost 20 per cent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer carry one or both of the BRCA mutations. Women carrying the BRCA1 gene mutation have up to a 59 per cent increased risk of developing the disease and those carrying the BRCA2 mutation up to an 18 per cent increase. Find out more about the genetic risks of ovarian cancer here.”*

Act – If you find out there is a family history of ovarian cancer  talk to your GP about assessing your risk. “It’s important to note that women who test positive for the BRCA gene mutation will not necessarily develop ovarian cancer, but  will have an increased risk of developing the disease later in life.”*

Of the 1,480 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Australia every year only 43% will survive five years post-diagnosis. Ovarian Cancer Australia works to raise awareness, provide support, advocate on behalf of women living with the disease, facilitate high-impact research and empower women to #KnowAskAct.

This year marks Mum’s 5 years. As part of our annual fundraising efforts, Mum & I undertook the task of creating a wall of teal ribbons. The goal was to sell teal ribbons for a gold coin donation and people could attach them to our ‘wall’ which was situated at the Hillwood Coffee Shop (if you are in Tassie, and in the Tamar Valley, go check them out. The food is delicious!)

We started the week before our Afternoon Teal event and slowly the ribbons started adding up.

 

It wasn’t long and we had well over 200 ribbons, then 300, then 500. then 1000! Last count was 1055!!

 

A huge thank you to all who donated and are now hopefully more aware of Ovarian Cancer and have shared this awareness with others.

* From Ovarian Cancer Australia

Today is World Ovarian Cancer Day! Along with thousands of individuals around the globe, I have pledged to get the word out today about the most serious woman’s cancer to 5 people I care about. You are one of these!

Here is what I want to be sure you know:

• The symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague – be aware of new changes – digestive issues, bloating, abdominal pain or urinary frequency that last for 3 weeks or more – and talk to your family doctor to get it checked.
• Your family history is important! If you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer on either side of your family, be sure to tell your family doctor about it. You may have a genetic predisposition – your doctor will be able to advise you about genetic testing and risk reduction.
• Remember, there is NO early detection or screening test for ovarian cancer. Knowledge is the best defence!

For more information about ovarian cancer, visit www.ovariancancerday.org or Ovarian Cancer Australia

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. You may notice a change in my profile pictures around social media as I go teal for the month to show my support for those currently battling Ovarian Cancer and for the families who have lost a loved one.

Ovarian Cancer is a disease where some of the cells in one or both ovaries start to grow abnormally and develop into cancer. There currently is no screening test for Ovarian Cancer. If your doctor suspects ovarian cancer, there are a number of tests they can perform to help decide whether your symptoms are due to ovarian cancer or other causes.
 
 Do you know the symptoms?

Women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer report four types of symptoms most frequently:

• Abdominal or pelvic pain.
• Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating.
• Needing to urinate often or urgently.
• Feeling full after eating a small amount.

Most women who experience these symptoms don’t have Ovarian Cancer but if you experience these symptoms regularly over a four week period, please discuss your symptoms with a doctor and if other reasons don’t rule out your symptoms ask to be tested for Ovarian Cancer
 
What’s on?

• If you are in Canberra, check out Old Parliment House as it goes teal.

• Visit your local Chemmart Pharmacy as they are holding fundraising and awareness events and activities in stores throughout the month.
• Speaking of Chemmart Pharmacy, they are launching a new teal nail polish, with proceeds going to OCA. Wear teal nail polish throughout February and post photos to the OCA Facebook page (and check out the male celebrities who have been dared to Teal up on Teal Ribbon Day (26 February) to raise awareness. Challenge your friends to go teal in February

• Wattle Valley WNBL Teal Ribbon round – 7 to 9 February
• Queen of the Lake (9th February).  This annual fun run/walk is hosted by OCA partner Brazilian Butterfly at Albert Park Lake in Melbourne and funds raised through participants’ sponsorship are donated to OCA. For more information and to register for this event visit www.ovariancancer.net.au
• Teal Ribbon Day (26th February). OCA partners Chemmart, Brazilian Butterfly and My Size sell teal
  ribbons for $2 each throughout the month. If you are in Canberra OCA are holding a breakfast event at Parliament House in Canberra on Teal Ribbon Day.

• Afternoon Teal events
  

How can u help?

• Buy a teal ribbon
• Host or attend a Afternoon Teal event
• Buy some Colour for a cause nail polish from your local Chemmart
• Donate to OCA

I’ll be posting more through the month with information and sharing our Afternoon Teal event – Scrap til You Drop 2014.