‘Women who look at a list of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer for the first time can become alarmed because they may have experienced several or all of the symptoms at some point in their lives,’ said Dr. Lesa Dawson, a gynecologic oncologist at the Newfoundland Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation.
‘What we need women to understand is that if they have one or more of these symptoms that persist for longer than three weeks, they need to see their doctor for a pelvic exam.’
Another survivor, Irene Worrell of Richmond Hill, Ont., has also worked to raise awareness and educate others. She was diagnosed and treated for Stage III ovarian cancer in 1997. Now over 80, she no longer has the stamina to do educational presentations in her community. But she does appear in the video and has found another way to contribute to the cause: offering support by phone and e-mail to women living with ovarian cancer.
She has formed bonds with women as far away as Texas, England and China.
‘The women I connect with are clever, intelligent, courageous women with so much to offer – and for many, life won’t give them the opportunity,’ she said.
Still, Worrell values hope as one of the most important gifts she has to give. ‘I’ve been lucky – blessed. A lot of women with Stage III ovarian cancer do not do as well as I have. I think the fact that I’ve survived so long is, in itself, a ray of hope for these women.’
There is something profound and lasting about the ovarian cancer experience that moves people to action. Bruce Galloway of Oakville, Ont., is chair of the board of OCC. His wife Sheila died of ovarian cancer in 2002, and he is committed to raising awareness about the disease and promoting research.
‘The more I learned about ovarian cancer, the more I realized how little people know about this disease and how limited the progress has been in the past 30 to 40 years toward finding a cure,’ he said.
‘I want to be sure that nobody else I know is impacted by ovarian cancer in the future. I don’t want to live with it again, and I hate the thought of other people having to do it as well.’
Hope lies in research
‘Research is really the only way we are going to change the fate of women who develop ovarian cancer,’ said Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden, who is the Corinne Boyer Chair in Ovarian Cancer Research at the University of Ottawa.
‘In the past few years, momentum has gathered on the research front. Large studies on risk factors, prevention, screening and novel treatments are taking place on a scale like never before.’
Substantial progress has been made over the past three years in the area of early detection, Vanderhyden said.
‘The ideal screening test must be both highly sensitive and highly specific, meaning it should detect virtually all ovarian cancers and nothing but ovarian cancers. Most scientists believe that a combination of tests will be necessary, and it is likely that any new test will be made available first for the screening of high-risk women,’ she said.
‘The recent advances in technology have ensured that the development of a good screening test for ovarian cancer is one giant step closer.’
In the meantime, vigilance is the best defence women have against ovarian cancer. As Irene Worrell wisely said: ‘Any symptoms that persist – no matter how subtle – need to be checked out. Ask the questions. Get the answers.’
Facts you should know:
- A Pap test is used to detect cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer.
- If you have one or more of the following symptoms of ovarian cancer and they last longer than three weeks, see your family doctor:
- Abdominal swelling or bloating
- Pelvic discomfort or heaviness
- Back or abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Gas, nausea, indigestion
- Change in bowel habits
- Frequent need to empty your bladder
- Menstrual irregularities
- Weight loss or gain
