Raising awareness of ovarian cancer
Tanya Plibersek posted Wednesday, 29 February 2012
This morning in Parliament House two key national cancer organisations, Ovarian Cancer Australia (OCA) and Cancer Australia hosted a breakfast to promote Teal Ribbon Day – a day to raise awareness and provide support to women living with ovarian cancer.
On average, four women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every day in Australia. It remains the leading cause of gynaecological cancer deaths, and while survival rates are improving, an increasing number of women are being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
The key message from OCA and Cancer Australia is that every woman needs to know the symptoms of ovarian cancer because early detection provides the best chance of achieving full recovery.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:
• Abdominal bloating
• Unexplained abdominal or pelvic pain
• Feeling full/difficulty eating
• Increased urgency to pee or a change in bowel habits
When these symptoms are new for you and persist for more than two weeks, women should see their GP.
I met brave women today, including Connie who nursed her own mother for three years then lost her to ovarian cancer. Nineteen years ago Connie developed ovarian cancer herself. She spoke about the struggle to stay positive during treatment, especially as she’d seen her mother die from the same condition.
A manual – Resilience – launched today will help women like Connie. It talks about treatment options, staying positive and how to access the support women need following diagnosis.
The Australian Government is committed to fighting cancer through prevention, early detection and treatment and care.
Since 2007 the Australian Government has committed $2.5 billion to build a world class cancer care system and improve the detection and treatment of cancer.
The Government has established Cancer Australia to coordinate and maximise investment in priority research areas by government and non-government providers.
Through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Government is the largest funder of quality, peer reviewed cancer research in Australia. With almost $180M invested in 2011, Cancer Research is the single largest investment by the NHMRC.
In the 2011-12 Budget the Government committed $6.1M over four years to continue the work of the National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers. This will support better outcomes for women through improved care and support.
Our regional cancer centres will help Australians living in country areas achieve better care too.
For more information on ovarian cancer, go to: http://canceraustralia.nbocc.org.au/ovarian-cancer/about/about-ovarian-cancer
Tags: Cancer,
Health,
Hospitals,
Ovarian Cancer,
Women,
Women's Health