Ignorance puts Australian women at risk of dying from ovarian cancer

Experts say women in Australia are at risk of dying from ovarian cancer because they are ignorant with regard to the symptoms.

According to Dr. Helen Zorbas, the director of the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, a survey of 2,000 women has revealed that 60% believed an abnormal Pap test was a sign of ovarian cancer even though the test is for cervical cancer.

Ovarian cancer is commonly called the 'silent killer' because symptoms are hard to diagnose but it is the sixth most common cause of cancer death of women in Australia.

The cancer is particularly insidious in that diagnosing it is no easy matter and many of the symptoms are common to other conditions which are often less sinister.

The symptoms include abdominal or back pain, abdominal bloating, loss of appetite or feeling full, changes in toilet habits, unexplained weight change, fatigue and indigestion or heartburn.

Tests are usually a complex battery involving internal pelvic examinations, blood tests, ultra sound scans and CAT and MRI scans.

Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves surgery and chemotherapy; radiotherapy may also be used.

Survivors often tell of experiencing many of the signs for years and being incorrectly diagnosed and Dr. Zorbas says as no single screening test exists for ovarian cancer, women should be alert to the symptoms.

Each year in Australia about 1,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

The National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre have released the survey results to mark the start of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week from February 24th - March 2nd which aims to alert all Australians to the symptoms of ovarian cancer along with prevention strategies and appropriate detection tests.

For more information go to www.ovca.org.au