Knowledge & Awareness

    

Ovarian cancer is the most serious of all gynecological cancers. Over 2600 Canadian women are diagnosed every year; and every year 1750 women succumb to this disease. Symptoms are varied, vague and easily missed.

There is no screening test to detect it. But when found early  – and treated – ovarian cancer survival rate is 90%.

    

Knowledge for healthcare professionals

One of our priorities is to ensure that all health care professionals keep ovarian cancer top of mind. We have designed knowledge programs that especially meet the unique needs of this audience.
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knowledge for individuals

When it comes to ovarian cancer – we know that Knowledge is Power. Transferring knowledge and empowering individuals - until there is an early detection test - is the best tool we have.
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This Is What Every Woman Needs To Know

 
  • There is a lifetime risk of 1 in 70 that you will develop ovarian cancer
  • Many doctors are unfamiliar with the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and fail to consider it as a possible diagnosis
  • Failure to find the disease in its early stages is partly due to (i) lack of sensitive detection tests and (ii) health care providers and even women themselves may ignore warning symptoms
  • A Pap smear does not detect ovarian cancer
  • HPV vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer
  • Recent research has found that a large proportion of ovarian cancers actually start in the fallopian tubes rather than the ovaries. If you are having gynecologic surgery, ask your doctor whether or not removal of the fallopian tubes would be beneficial to you. For more information, visit ovcare.ca
  • Pain in the abdomen is not necessarily a symptom of ovarian cancer – even if you have no pain, your doctor cannot rule out ovarian cancer
  • Even though ovarian cancer is known as the "disease that whispers" the majority of women with ovarian cancer report symptoms, including women diagnosed at an early stage
  • Ovarian cancer rates rise after menopause, peaking from age 60-75, although it can occur at any age
  • The hereditary form, found in families where many close relatives have had breast and/or ovarian cancer, tends to occur at an earlier age