Today is Teal Ribbon Day – Australia’s first ovarian cancer awareness day!
Almost 250 women under 50 years of age are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Australia each year and will receive treatment that can result in early menopause and loss of fertility.
Today, National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC)* is launching a new online resource to help these young women cope with the physical and emotional impact of treatment-induced early menopause.
“Treatment for ovarian cancer will almost inevitably lead to menopause and it is often a hard reality for women to come to terms with,” said Professor Martha Hickey from University of Western Australia, Chair of the multidisciplinary working group that oversaw the development of the NBOCC* resource.
“It is incredibly important that these women have the information they need about what to expect and where to go for help if they require it,” said Professor Hickey.
The online resource Ovarian cancer and early menopause – information for younger women, provides information about premature menopause and its symptoms, the emotional impact of menopause in younger women and offers some practical suggestions for managing symptoms.
“This resource is the first in Australia to deal with ovarian cancer and menopause in younger women and fills an important gap in available resources for these women,” said Dr Helen Zorbas, CEO of National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre*.
The symptoms of menopause and their severity vary considerably and include hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness.
“As well as dealing with the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, these symptoms can have a major impact on a woman’s psychological and physical wellbeing,” said Dr Zorbas.
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre* is funded by the Australian Government and works with consumers, health professionals, cancer organisations, researchers and governments to improve care and cancer control in breast and ovarian cancer.
Queensland Institute of Medical Research coordinates the Epidemiology core of the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study. The Australian Ovarian Cancer Study is a collaborative research program between clinicians, scientists, patients and advocacy groups aimed at improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ovarian cancer.