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Let's BEAT Ovarian Cancer - Ovarian Cancer Awareness month

Tuesday 1 February 2022

Let's BEAT Ovarian Cancer - Ovarian Cancer Awareness month

Ovarian Cancer

It is one of the deadliest cancers affecting women in Australia. There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer, and due to its vague symptoms Ovarian Cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Each day in Australia, five women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and three will die from the disease.

In Australia the overall five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer is 48%. (In comparison, the overall five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer is 92%).

It is estimated that 1,720 Australian women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, and 1,042 women will die from the disease – that’s one woman every eight hours.

Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer

There is no early detection test or effective screening program for ovarian cancer, so it is important to be aware of the symptoms. 

Ovarian signs and symptoms include:

  • Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating
  • Abdominal or pelvic (lower tummy) pain
  • Feeling full after eating a small amount
  • Needing to urinate often or urgently
  • Changes in bowel habits
  • Unexplained weight gain or loss
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Lower back pain
  • Indigestion or nausea
  • Bleeding after menopause or in-between periods
  • Pain during sex or bleeding after.

Risk factors
Some factors that can increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer include:

  • Age (risk increases for women over 50) 
  • Family history of ovarian cancer
  • Family history of breast or colon cancer
  • Changes in the genes BRCA1 or BRCA2
  • Being of Ashkenazi Jewish descent
  • Early onset of periods (before 12 years) and late menopause
  • Women who have not had children or had their first child after the age of 35
  • Using oestrogen only hormone replacement therapy or fertility treatment.

Referral, diagnosis and management

At Mater, we have an experienced and highly skilled team of health professionals to support women through diagnosis, treatment and management of ovarian cancer, with options for both public and private patients.

Private patients: Refer direct to one of Mater’s Gynaecological Oncologists  for the next available appointment through their private practice.

Public patients: Referral to the Gynaecological Oncology clinic is via the Mater Adult Outpatient referral form or through Smart Referrals.

  • Please refer to Gynaecological Oncology referral guidelines for minimum referral requirements.
  • Patient referrals will be triaged, and appointments offered based on clinical urgency and categorisation criteria (Category referrals 1, 2 or 3).

Surveillance of Ovarian Cancers following treatment

Mater’s Gynaecological Oncology team, led by Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist Dr Nimithri Cabraal, have developed guidelines to clarify the follow up of gynaecological malignancies – including Ovarian Cancer – once a patient has completed their primary treatment.

Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer accounts for <30% of gynaecological malignancies but is disproportionately represented in deaths. The risk of recurrence in patients with epitethelial ovarian cancer is high; occurring in 25% of women with early stage disease, and >80% of those with advanced stage. Median 5-year survival is 40-50%. Patients do have options for further surgery and/or chemotherapy depending on the timing and nature of the recurrence. Surveillance does have an important role because salvage treatments can have a significant impact on ongoing survival.

Germ Cell and Sex cord Stromal Tumours

Malignant germ cell tumours account for <3% of all ovarian cancers. These tumours are often unilateral and occur in younger women where fertility sparing surgery has been performed. Recurrence is relatively rare after primary treatment, but can be successfully treated. It usually occurs in the first two years after the end of primary treatment, so surveillance is most intensive at this time.

Surveillance of Ovarian Cancers is shared between Medical Oncology and Gynae Oncology. If at any time between these reviews you or your patient are concerned regarding new or persisting concerns, please contact the department of Gynae Oncology. 

View complete guidelines for Ovarian cancers, along with other gynaecological cancers following primary treatment in the Guidelines for Surveillance of Gynaecological Malignancies,

Comprehensive holistic care for women with Ovarian Cancer

Women receiving treatment and care for Ovarian Cancer at Mater have access to a wide range of allied health services and supports. These include:

  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Speech Pathology
  • Psychology

These services are available to publicly funded and privately insured patients, with home and community allied health available through Mater at Home.

Let's BEAT Ovarian Cancer

 

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