Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (15:18): I rise today on Teal Ribbon Day to speak to the house about ovarian cancer awareness. Teal Ribbon Day and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month take place in February each year. The teal ribbons worn are meant to start a conversation and increase awareness about this deadly and often silent disease. I would hazard a guess that many people know very little about ovarian cancer nor do they know how to identify the signs and symptoms of the cancer.

Ovarian cancer refers to cancerous tumours that start in one or both of the ovaries. The ovaries are made up of three main kinds of cells: epithelial cells, stromal cells and germ cells. Each of these cells can develop into a different type of tumour. The chance of surviving five years post-diagnosis is less than 50 per cent, and by the time the majority of women are diagnosed the cancer has already spread. Historically, at the time of diagnosis 70 per cent of women are diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer, and previously the number was only 25 per cent of women who survived beyond five years.

Last year, I lost a dear friend to ovarian cancer. She battled the disease for less than four years. She was an artist, an activist, a musician, fiercely independent, wise, quirky and only 27 years old when she lost her life to ovarian cancer. My friends, my family and I mourn her every day.

There is no screening test for ovarian cancer—none. Symptoms are quite general and often present as abdominal pain or fatigue. The symptoms can be vague and similar to other conditions, particularly those that, as women, we experience quite often. Many women are not aware of any symptoms until it is simply too late.

The only way of detecting and diagnosing ovarian cancer is through invasive exploratory surgery. Many women enter hospital for exploration surgery and wake to a full tumour resection and hysterectomy. Within days of diagnosis in her early 20s, my friend had both her tumour and her ovaries removed, rendering her infertile. She spoke of how alone she felt in that period, not being able to find any examples of women our age battling the cancer in the way that she had.

Research and awareness is vital, and that starts with conversations. Each year, a number of organisations spread awareness about ovarian cancer and raise money for vital research. Today, I would specifically like to mention the work of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF), as well as Ovarian Cancer Australia.

Each year the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation partners with Witchery for their White Shirt Campaign. Over 15 years, the White Shirt Campaign has contributed more than $14.3 million to research tackling early detection. I do very much encourage the purchase of white shirts in the lead-up to White Shirt Day (or World Ovarian Cancer Day) on 8 May, with proceeds from white shirts bought at Witchery going towards vital research. Today I wear both a white shirt and a teal ribbon in support of those causes.

The OCRF also hosts the Walk With Women—Walk With Women for our Wonder Women—every February, with a physical 30-kilometre walk along the Mornington Peninsula as well as a virtual walk from home. This is to raise awareness, honour the lives of those lost to ovarian cancer, and fundraise. Ovarian Cancer Australia promotes Teal Ribbon Day as well as fundraising events such as teal morning teas. During that period, pens and pins can be purchased from local Terry White chemists. I purchased mine and some for my colleagues from my local Terry White Paragon, and I thank them for their support, too, of such a worthy cause by hosting a teal morning tea in a few weeks' time.

Today is also Ovarian Cancer Australia's Giving Day, where each dollar donated is doubled. Giving Day raises funds to give more women access to their own ovarian cancer nurse, providing them with essential advice around their treatments and surgery, supporting them through chemotherapy, and addressing the possible side-effects from their treatments. I will be making my own donation this afternoon. I do remind everyone that it is doubling those donations from their partners. I hope to continue to advocate for ovarian cancer awareness, and also to speak of the lives lost to such a disease, in this place for years to come.