Turn it teal for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

The team at Echuca store I Want I Need is spreading awareness about the disease through the sale of teal ribbons throughout February.

Owner Lisa Cox was inspired by the recent diagnosis of her close friend, Wendy, discovering the jarring statistics of ovarian cancer.

“Sixty per cent of cases are stage three by the time they’re diagnosed ... that’s the most concerning thing,” Ms Cox said.

Unlike other cancers, it is difficult to detect ovarian cancer early on with no screening process and only five to 10 per cent of cases linked to family history.

This means that by the time symptoms show, such as abdominal pain and bloating, the cancer may have advanced to later stages, spreading to other parts of the body.

For Wendy, waking up one morning with back pain was the only real indicator that something was awry.

“On this particular morning we were going out for lunch and I thought ‘oh I’ll just take a couple of Nurofen ... oh no, I better not’, so I cancelled lunch,” she said.

“My husband went down and picked up the groceries. By the time he got home, I couldn’t walk.

“If I’d have taken that Nurofen, that never would’ve happened, so I probably still wouldn’t know. I’ve never had that particular pain again.”

Wendy was taken to hospital, where a CT scan showed a mass on her ovaries, and another showed a mass in her abdomen.

Soon after, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Due to its vague symptoms, the disease is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’, especially as the main group to be diagnosed is women over 50, with ovarian cancer symptoms aligning with menopause symptoms or simply attributed to ageing.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer include increased abdominal size or bloating, fullness or loss of appetite, pelvic pain, unexplained weight fluctuations, bleeding after menopause or in-between periods, fatigue, changed bowel habits, indigestion or nausea, frequent urination and pain during or bleeding after sex.

Research to support early detection is critical to improve survival rates, particularly as ovarian cancer is the deadliest female cancer.

Strides have been made in the space, where blood tests are being developed at the University of Queensland and UNSW to detect the disease in its early stages.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month helps fund this research through donations to organisations like WomenCan.

Along with fundraising, the month also provides opportunities for conversations about ovarian cancer and for people like Wendy to share their stories.

“Based on their statistics and the studies, I’ve potentially got five more years,” she said.

“But I plan on being in the higher category and kicking its ass.

“The way I’m responding to the treatment has been really, really well. I’ve had four lots of chemo to shrink the tumour, because they only have one shot to go in there for the surgery.”

Amid the daunting conversations and the unknown, Wendy has prioritised keeping her life as normal as possible.

“My sister said to me a couple weeks ago, ‘you are never home’,” she said.

“I’m living.

“I’ve continued to work, we go out. You have to, because otherwise that is what your world becomes, then, once you’re well, it still consumes you.”

The women reminded people to listen to their bodies, even if an issue felt small or if the first doctor said no.

“You know your body better than anyone,” Ms Cox said.

“Always listen to what your body is saying and trust your instincts.

“Get a second opinion if you’re not happy with the first one ... it’s just understanding yourself.”

I Want I Need has teal ribbons for sale to spark conversations about ovarian cancer and to fund much-needed research into the conditions.

The sale of each ribbon is also an entry into a raffle for a hamper full of goodies from the store.

Ribbons can be purchased for the rest of February from I Want I Need at 572 High St, Echuca.

Donations can also be made directly to WomenCan via womencan.org.au as well as Ovarian Cancer Australia through ovariancancer.net.au