Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness about ovarian cancer and help women recognise the signs and symptoms of the disease;

(b) Thursday 24 February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day and encourages everyone to wear a teal ribbon to show their support for women living with ovarian cancer; and

(c) about 1,500 Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and only 43 per cent of these will survive;

(2) notes with concern that ovarian cancer is diagnosed late as the symptoms are often similar to other common health problems;

(3) acknowledges:

(a) that there is no early reliable detection test for ovarian cancer and that the Pap smear does not detect the disease; and

(b) the good work being done by Ovarian Cancer Australia to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of the disease;

(4) recognises that the four most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are:

(a) abdominal or pelvic pain;

(b) increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating;

(c) needing to urinate often or urgently; and

(d) difficulty eating or feeling full quickly;

(5) understands that every Australian woman needs to know the symptoms of ovarian cancer; and

(6) notes the need for more research funding to help Australian scientists find early detection markers and more effective treatments for this disease.

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The purpose of this month is to raise awareness around ovarian cancer and also help women recognise the signs and symptoms of this insidious disease. Unlike other forms of cancer, ovarian cancer is very difficult to detect. There is no single test that can be undertaken that will immediately indicate that a person has ovarian cancer. When ovarian cancer is diagnosed, it is invariably too late. There are various forms of treatment and a series of different diagnostic tests. But the diagnosis quite often comes down to finding the right doctor—one who has previously been involved with the diagnosis of a woman with this insidious disease.

This morning I went to a morning 'teal' here in Parliament House. There will be a number of morning and afternoon 'teals' this month and next month. I have two in my electorate next month. At these afternoon or morning 'teals', I will be presenting bracelets which have been made by Carolyn Bear, a constituent in my electorate whose daughter, Kylie, was 34 when she died from ovarian cancer. She went through all the challenges that came with the diagnosis. I am wearing a necklace today.

About 1,500 Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and only 43 per cent will survive. There are many women who survive the survival period of five years but do not go on to reach the average age at which other women in this country die. Ovarian cancer is not just one disease but a range of diseases. These diseases have different cellular appearances, different molecular characteristics and different trajectories. As I mentioned, it is the late diagnosis that is quite often the problem. There is a blood test, the CA-125, and there is a CT scan, but the only absolute diagnosis comes through surgery, where tissue is removed as well as abdominal fluid. It is a really difficult disease to diagnose. Because there is no early detection for the disease, there needs to be more research into how this disease can be diagnosed earlier. It is interesting that Ovarian Cancer Australia have a national action plan for urgent priority of ovarian cancer research. It is a well designed plan and it has all the inbuilt requirements to ensure transparency and accountability. Ovarian Cancer Australia announced $1 million in funding and they are doing that in partnership with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. That is a very important step forward. We must raise the need for more research.

I mentioned Carolyn and her daughter. The other constituent I have worked very closely with in my electorate is Rose Molloy. Rose is living with ovarian cancer and she is an ambassador for ovarian cancer. She will be speaking at my morning 'teals'. She goes out of her way to make people understand. She tells the story that it was only because she was persistent and went to a variety of doctors that she was finally diagnosed. That should not be the way. There needs to be a way for ovarian cancer to be detected early. Carolyn and Rose received the Shortland award for outstanding work in this area.

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