Most Australians know little about ovarian cancer, and there are no tests that detect it in its early stages.
Around 1,815 Australians are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and approximately 1000 lives are lost.
As well as a lack of early detection tests, the symptoms are vague and often don’t present until the disease is more advanced.
Acting Chief Bridget Bradhurst from the National Ovarian Cancer Advocacy & Support Services told The Briefing why ovarian cancer is overlooked.
“For a lot of people in our community, when they receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, they’re shocked,” Bradhurst said.
“They have to go on to Google. They know nothing about it. And I think that’s partly because it’s a rarer cancer,” she said.
Bradhurst said that without an early detection method, one way to understand our risk is to be aware of our family’s history with cancer.
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