Spreading awareness of ovarian cancer

Kate Russell

It was World Ovarian Cancer Day on Monday and Nelson Soroptimists were out spreading awareness about the disease.

Spokesperson Megan Riddell says their current national focus is on increasing education, advocacy, and funding to decrease the impact of ovarian cancer on women in New

Zealand. She and other local members were out and about around Nelson, Stoke, and Richmond on Monday, distributing posters, information cards, and pamphlets to medical centres and women-focused organisations. Out of the five gynaecological cancers, ovarian cancer has the highest death rate and early detection is vital for survival.

The latest national statistics show that one person dies every 48 hours of ovarian cancer in New Zealand, and 85 per cent of people who are diagnosed with the disease are diagnosed in the later stages when treatment options are limited.

For more information such as symptoms and support, or to donate, go to www.cureouro variancancer.org/nz