frocktober

Last October I participated in raising funds and awareness (through dressing up and photography) for ovarian cancer research and OCRF - leading non-government funder of ovarian cancer research in Australia, and the largest funder nationwide for early detection research.

If an early detection test can be developed, survival rates for ovarian cancer could rise to 90% and above, saving the lives of thousands.

Ovarian cancer is Australia's most lethal gynaecological cancer and the five-year survival rate for it in Australia is just 46%, meaning those diagnosed get less than half a chance of surviving five years from their diagnosis.

Portraits for ovarian cancer awareness

Donate to OCRF via www.ocrf.com.au/donations

BE INFORMED, HERE ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT OVARIAN CANCER:

Every 8 hours, an Australian woman dies from ovarian cancer.
The average 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is just 46%.
If caught before the cancer has spread, survival rates for ovarian cancer patients are as high as 92%. However, only 19% of cases are diagnosed early due to vagueness of symptoms and lack of an early detection screening test.
There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer.
The only way to confirm an ovarian cancer diagnosis is through invasive surgery and biopsy.64% of the community incorrectly believes that a Pap smear will detect ovarian cancer - it won’t.
More than 80% of women experience a recurrence after initial surgery and treatment, at which point their cancer is likely to become chemo-resistant.
Chemoresistance is responsible for treatment failure and mortality for more than 90% of patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague, and may not even present significantly until the cancer has advanced. Symptoms can include persistent or sudden onset of: bloating and abdominal swelling, appetite loss or feeling full quickly, tiredness, unexplained changes in weight, change in frequency of urination and lower back pain.

With an early detection test, it is estimated that over a ten year period, the lives of 8,000 Australian women and girls and 1.3 million women and girls globally could be saved.

Donate to OCRF via www.ocrf.com.au/donations

frocktober

Every 8 hours, an Australian woman dies from ovarian cancer.

The average 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is just 46%.

If caught before the cancer has spread, survival rates for ovarian cancer patients are as high as 92%. However, only 19% of cases are diagnosed early due to vagueness of symptoms and lack of an early detection screening test.

There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer.

The only way to confirm an ovarian cancer diagnosis is through invasive surgery and biopsy.64% of the community incorrectly believes that a Pap smear will detect ovarian cancer - it won’t.

More than 80% of women experience a recurrence after initial surgery and treatment, at which point their cancer is likely to become chemo-resistant.

Chemoresistance is responsible for treatment failure and mortality for more than 90% of patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer.

With an early detection test, it is estimated that over a ten year period, the lives of 8,000 Australian women and girls and 1.3 million women and girls globally could be saved.

Seeking Solitude

Martha Chess Phelps