What do you know about ovarian cancer?
Do you know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer?
Do you think a pap smear detects ovarian cancer?
Simple questions but, how many women would not know the correct answers to these questions? I was one of those women and I am sure I am not alone!
Having a greater awareness of this type of gynaecological cancer can really help women around the world feel more comfortable to reach out and speak with their doctor.
In Australian February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month and later in the year on May 8th we not only acknowledge 'Mothers Day' but we also mark this day in our calendar as 'World Ovarian Cancer Day'.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund, "ovarian cancer is the 18th most common cancer worldwide. There were nearly 300,000 new cases of ovarian cancer in 2018''.
Sadly, in Australia approximately 1600 women will be diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer each year. And every day in Australia, four women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and three will die from the disease.
Ovarian cancer generally describes a malignant tumour that starts in one or both ovaries. The signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer can be quite common signs and symptoms of other health conditions such as; excessive fatigue, persistant bloating and stomach pain.
For this reason, it is paramount as women we become more aware of ovarian cancer to empower ourselves with knowledge and feel okay to start a discussion with our doctor about ovarian cancer if we are concerned.
Increasing our knowledge and awareness of ovarian cancer at this stage is the best way currently we have to reduce our risk of suffering from this disease.
To learn more about ovarian cancer I was honored to speak with a courageous woman called Kristin who is living with ovarian cancer which is currently in remission and Kristin continues to fight the statistics. Through her individual ovarian cancer journey we all can take away some key messages to increase our knowledge of this type of gynaecological cancer.
In the interview we discuss the common signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, ways ovarian cancer is diagnosed, the BRCA gene link to ovarian cancer, treatment and current research being conducted in ovarian cancer.
If you have a mum, sister, best-girlfriend, aunt or nan share Kristin's journey with them so together as women around the world we become more health empowered through increasing our awareness of ovarian cancer.
A big thank you to Kristin Young for kindly sharing her story with us all and to Ovarian Cancer Australia for all the wonderful support they co-ordinate and provide to Australian women.
www.ovariancancer.net.au
Let's paint the world with Teal to increase Ovarian Cancer Awareness!
Ovarian Cancer charities around the world do a great job lobbying for greater research and treatment of Ovarian Cancer and for this we are thankful!
USA - www.ovarian.org
UK - www.ovarian.org.uk
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