Bid to raise awareness of risks and symptoms of ovarian cancer: The 2012 Teal Ribbon Day

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDFeb 22 2012

A latest survey shows that most women don't know the symptoms or risk factors of ovarian cancer, which kills eight hundred women a year.

Ovarian Cancer Australia has found less than one per cent of women know they're at risk if there's a family history of ovarian cancer on their father's side. And only 42 per cent know a history on their mother's side puts them at increased risk.

Ovarian Cancer Australia is the country’s leading organization for ovarian cancer awareness, support, advocacy and research. It is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 2011 by people directly affected by ovarian cancer.

The awareness group's chairwoman Paula Benson says there's no test to detect the disease, so it's vital that women know the risk factors and symptoms. She says the most common risk factors are age and a family history of ovarian cancer.

Other risk factors are having no full-term pregnancies, never having taken oral contraceptives, smoking cigarettes, eating a high fat diet or being overweight or obese. The most common symptoms are abdominal or pelvic pain, increased abdominal size, persistent bloating, a need to urinate often or urgently, and difficulty eating she explained.

South Eastern Metropolitan Region Liberal MP Inga Peulich said it was important woman had a good understanding of ovarian cancer and its symptoms. “More than 1200 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year in Australia - that’s three women every day,’’ Ms Peulich said.

“Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cause of death in Australian women. There is no detection test for ovarian cancer as the pap smear does not detect the disease and the outcomes for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are generally poor, as 70 per cent of ovarian cancers are advanced at time of diagnosis,” Ms Peulich said.

Ms Peulich encouraged residents to participate in the 2012 Teal Ribbon Day on Wednesday. “By purchasing and wearing a teal ribbon, residents will help raise awareness of ovarian cancer and funds for Ovarian Cancer Australia’s support and research programs,’’ Ms Peulich said.