Sunday, 30 January 2011, 9:20 pm Press Release: Rachel Brown

Teal Toes tell a life saving tale this February!

Carol Nelson, a wonderfully chic and very determinedGisborne woman, has launched the world wide ‘Teal Toes’movement here this February. Carol has ovarian cancer, andher ‘Turn Your Toes Teal registered charity is to raiseawareness of this cruel and deadly disease which kills 1woman every 48 hours in new Zealand. Teal Toe polishis being sold all over NZ in preparation for glamorous feetthis February! Carol herself will be selling the polish atSt Lukes, Pakuranga and Takapuna malls, with the help of herbirthday present, ‘Cathy’ the mannequin whose job itwill be to model her very own fabulous teal toes. In truekiwi style, Carol has just got stuck in, determined to doher bit to increase early detection and save lives.

Ovarian Cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancerdeath in new Zealand women – and no screening test yetexists. Carol says “Yes, that’s right, it’s down tothe woman to notice changes in her body, and to see herdoctor as soon as she can, so women have to learn and bereminded over and over, what symptoms to take noticeof!”Carol’s fledgling charity can be found onFacebook “Ovarian Cancer Awareness new Zealand’.

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Australia.In that country, celebrities and politicians alike, jointogether to get the public to take notice of this hard todiagnose and very deadly disease.

In new Zealand, we are lagging behind in our education, with women scarilylacking knowledge of ovarian cancer, with many assuming an‘all clear’ from a cervical smear test meaning ovariestoo have been checked. Not so says Carol “the smear testhas nothing to do with a woman’s ovaries! to catch ovariancancer, a woman has to notice changes primarily in herabdomen, specifically persistent bloating, tummy pain anddifficulty eating, including feeling full quickly”.

Carol begs women to see their GP if they experiencethese symptoms persistently (i.e. on most days, for twoweeks or more). “Research shows women visit their doctorsseveral times before they are diagnosed and these delays indiagnosis lead to psychological distress and can impact onsurvival. Its early detection that helps save lives withovarian cancer”.

Shockingly, 80% of women withovarian cancer die within 5 years, because the cancer is notdiagnosed until it’s at an advanced stage. Women arestrongly encouraged to seek a second opinion from a doctorif their symptoms persist.

NOTES

1. In a womanwith any unexplained, non-specific abdominal symptoms alone(bloating, constipation, abdominal or back pain, urinarysymptoms), Ovarian cancer should be considered, abdominalpalpation undertaken and a pelvic examination considered*(Ministry of Health – Suspected Cancer in Primary CareGuidelines)

2. a CA 125 blood test and pelvicultrasound followed by a biopsy is required to diagnoseovarian cancer.

3. Carol featured in the Silver RibbonFoundation ‘Sharing the Journey’ book on gynaecologicalcancer and spoke at the book launch, with award winningauthor Kate de Goldi.

IncidenceOvarian cancer is the 4thbiggest killer of new Zealand women – with one woman dyingevery 48 hours from ovarian cancer.

There areapproximately 310 new cases per year, and 188 deaths

85%of ovarian cancer cases occur in women aged 45 andover.

The following factors may raise a woman’s risk ofdeveloping ovarian cancer:

Risk of developing ovariancancer increases with age. Women of all ages have a risk ofovarian cancer, but women over 45 are more likely to developovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer risk increases for womenwho have a first-degree relative (mother, daughter, sister)who has had ovarian cancer. The risk increases when two ormore first-degree relatives have had the disease.

About 1in 10 ovarian cancers are caused by an inherited faultygene. a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene is associatedwith increased risk of ovarian cancer. Women of NorthAmerican, Northern European, or Ashkenazi Jewish heritagehave an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Women who havenever had children, and have not taken the contraceptivepill (it is thought that having children, and/or taking thecontraceptive pill gives the ovaries a ‘rest’)

Womenwho have taken estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy(HRT) after menopause have a higher risk of ovariancancer.

Recent studies have shown that postmenopausalwomen who are obese are also more likely to die from thedisease.

ends