February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is type of gynaecological cancer that develops when abnormal cells multiply forming malignant tumour/s in one or both ovaries. It is the eight most common cancer among Australian women. For an overview of what ovarian cancer is from symptoms to diagnosis and treatment visit this overview from Cancer Council. For further stats on how women in Australia are affected by ovarian cancer visit Ovarian cancer statistics in Australia | Cancer Australia.

Information source: Cancer Australia – ovarian cancer symptoms.

The image above shows the most common symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Other symptoms can include:

• Lower back pain
• Bleeding after menopause or in-between periods
• Pain during sex or bleeding after

Further resources relating to causes and risks, detection and treatment can be found on the following websites:

Ovarian Cancer Australia                                                 The Royal Women’s Hospital

Cancer council – care guides                                           Cancer Australia

Have you been diagnosed? Contact us for support.

If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer Counterpart Peer Support Volunteers are here to help. Our highly trained and professional Peer Support Volunteers are women who have experienced breast or a gynaecological cancer diagnosis and provide emotional support, understanding, hope and comfort. Contact us to access this support.

In this short video below, Counterpart Peer Support Volunteer, May, a woman with experience of ovarian cancer explains why volunteering at Counterpart is so important to her.

Looking for up-to-date information on ovarian cancer after your diagnosis?

Receiving a diagnosis can be a confusing and daunting time. If you are affected by ovarian cancer you may like to consult the Counterpart Navigator for up-to-date information on diagnosis, what to expect when having treatment, life after treatment and if cancer won’t go away. The Counterpart Navigator is regularly reviewed by health professionals and is available online or via the free app.

For more information see the web version here Counterpart Navigators – ovarian cancer.

Or download the App: