Wauchope's Carol Begley pushing ovarian cancer into the spotlight

It is even more startling when compared with the 91 per cent survival rate for breast cancer.

According to survivor and ovarian cancer flag bearer Carol Begley the answer is simple.

"Boobs get all the attention," she says.

And that's not to downplay breast cancer or, for that matter, any form of cancer.

Carol points to the enormous impact the Jane McGrath Foundation has had on the public consciousness as a success story.

She wants ovarian cancer to be given the same level of exposure; to change the perception and to create more understanding and awareness.

February is ovarian cancer awareness month.

The most commonly reported symptoms for ovarian cancer include, abdominal or pelvic pain, increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating, the need to urinate often or urgently and, feeling full after eating a small amount.

Carol regularly speaks to university medical students at a critical time in their training in an effort to put a human face on ovarian cancer.

Her journey started just two years ago when she was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer.

At 68 years of age and married to Kevin, the couple have an extended family that includes six grandchildren.

A self-described "stress head", Carol's general health had been good with arthritis and three bouts a year of diverticulitis her only concern.

"I had regular health checks, mammograms, pap smears and colonoscopies," she said.

"Two weeks before I was diagnosed, I went to the urgent care centre at Wauchope hospital complaining of stomach discomfort, nausea and back pain.

"A back x-ray showed only the usual arthritis; we all just assumed it was diverticulitis and a sore back," she said.

"But I continued to feel unwell and my GP suggested a chest x-ray. I also thought that my stomach appeared to be protruding a little more than usual. But I didn't mention it."

An abdominal CT showed there were masses on both ovaries and peritoneal nodules.

Carol says she was "absolutely stunned" at the diagnosis. A subsequent visit to an oncologist painted a much bleaker picture.

"He told me I had high grade serous papillary ovarian cancer. Without treatment I would maybe have seven weeks (to live)," she said.

Just five days after her diagnosis, Carol's treatment began, which included three lots of chemotherapy on a three week cycle, followed by surgery and then three more cycles of chemotherapy and then a maintenance drug.

While Carol says she found the chemotherapy extremely difficult and debilitating, she said this was offset by the expertise and compassion of the Cancer Institute staff.

"I found losing my hair very difficult but we tried to make a bit of a joke of it when my son shaved my head as my young grandsons stood chuckling,” she said.

"However, through the months of treatment I found it very confronting to look at my bald self in the mirror and was self-conscious going out in my headgear."

After three rounds of chemotherapy, Carol went to John Hunter Hospital for de-bulking surgery with a total hysterectomy and removal of the omentum.

Her surgeon reported that the tumours had shrunk dramatically and was able to remove all visible signs of cancer.

This was followed by further rounds of chemotherapy and five months after diagnosis, Carol was declared to be in remission.

She spent the next seven months on three weekly visit to the Cancer Institute to have the target specific drug Avastin.

Since her treatment was completed in September 2017, Carol says she has gradually gotten stronger with improved energy levels.

"I now try to live as normally as possible and exercise more and try to stress less than I did in the past.

"Setting goals gives me something good to look forward to.

"I no longer take life for granted," she said.

Plunketts Terry White Chemmart’s Jo Martin says each year the business supports Ovarian Cancer Australia through fundraising and awareness campaigns.

She says it is important for women to not overlook the symptoms association with ovarian cancer.

“We want to help raise awareness of ovarian cancer and also to encourage women to act if they report early symptoms,” she said.

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