Mt Kilimanjaro for Ovarian Cancer Cure

2 years ago my mum passed away from an ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed just 9 months before this. It’s very hard to watch a person you love dying and not to be able to help. But across Australia one women dies every 10 hours from an ovarian cancer! It is one of most common & lethal cancers. There is no test to diagnose it. Its symptoms are very mild & can be just a part of everyday life. It is usually found on later stages when cancer has spread to the other organs and survival chances are very low.

We decided to help getting a test & a cure quicker!

In Feb2010 I & Oleksandra will climb Mt Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. At 5,896m (19,344ft), “Kili” is the highest pick in Africa & one of the world largest free-standing mountains. We promise to work our guts out, fight all weather, altitude sickness & anything else on our way on the top. WE PAY THE COST OF THE EXPEDITION OURSELVES.

But we ask for your donation to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation!

Please sponsor us!
Donations over $2 are tax deductible.


P.S.
* Click on “View All Posts” below for an important information about Ovarian Cancer. It is something every woman should read.

* We also raise money by selling Silver Ribbon budges through a number of shops & offices that support us and through “Wear Jeans to Work” events. If you want to help email us on info@ol-painting.com.au

Updates

Updates on our Kili climb preparation & fundraising are on our blog:

http://ol-painting.blogspot.com/search/label/Charity

Stats

• Across Australia one woman dies every 10 hours from an ovarian cancer.

• One in 70 women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime, equal to a lifetime risk of 1.4%

• Only 42% of woman will survive 5 years after first diagnosed.

• If the ovarian cancer is diagnosed and treated early, between 80-100% of patients will survive for more than five years.

• The medium age for first diagnosis is 64 years of age.

• 64% of woman incorrectly thinks that a pap smear detects ovarian cancer.

• There is no effective test for ovarian cancer yet.


Ovarian cancer is so deadly because it is extremely difficult to diagnose and often found when disease is well advanced. But if the cancer is diagnosed and treated early, between 80-100% of patients will survive for more than five years. A development of an early diagnostic test would safe thousands of lives.

You donation will sponson a much needed research and will help to get this test faster!

Why is ovarian cancer so deadly?

Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal cancers because it is extremely difficult to detect.

There is no effective early detection test. Many women still incorrectly believing that a pap smear will detect the ovarian cancer. Diagnosis requites a biopsy or more usually surgery. Early stages of ovarian cancer may not have obvious symptoms. Even in later stages symptoms may be so mild, that they can just be a part of everyday life. Ovarian Cancer is usually detected when it is already in its advanced stages, reducing the chance of long-term survival. It is truly a silent killer

Unfortunately, an early diagnostic is what makes the largest difference in survival rates. If ovarian cancer is diagnosed and treated early, between 80-100% of patients will survive for more than five years.

So finding an early detection test will make a valuable difference and will save thousand of woman.

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is very difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are ones that many women will have from time to time, and they are often signs of less serious and more common health problems. But when these symptoms are new for you, have persisted for two weeks or more, and you have them on all or most days, then it's definitely time to see your doctor:

• Fatigue,
• Nausea,
• Back, pelvic or abdominal pain,
• Increased abdominal size or bloating,
• Needing to wee often or urgently,
• Feeling full or having difficulty eating.

There is however no reason to panic. Most women with these symptoms will not have ovarian cancer. However, it is important that you seek medical advice if the symptoms persist.

Until the effective screening test is developed, the main advice to all women is – trust you instincts!

No one knows your body as you do. If you feel something is wrong with you – consult with your doctor. Ask to see a gynaecologist. Insist on running tests. If you are not comfortable with your doctor diagnosis – seek a second opinion.

Risk Factors

The actual cause of ovarian cancer is not known. Some factors seem to put women at a higher risk. However, 95% of all ovarian cancer occurs in women without these risk factors and many women who have risk factors do not develop ovarian cancer.

• Ovarian cancer is more common in Caucasian (white) women who live in westernized countries with a high standard of living.
• Women who have had no or few full term pregnancies appear to be more at risk.
• Women who have never been on the contraceptive pill also seem to be more at risk. The exact reason is uncertain. It could be because the ovaries have never had a 'rest' from ovulation during women's lifetime.
• Some types of ovarian cancer may be linked with a family history of cancers of the ovary, bowel, breast and lining of the uterus.
• A high fat diet and being overweight

If you are at increased risk, ensure your doctor knows of the relevant medical or family history.

Some Really Good News

Researches are probably just few years away from developing an effective vaccine. Some very promising clinical trials are already undergoing in Australia and US. This vaccine is not a preventative one, it actually cure the ovarian cancer.

But without the early detection test a vaccine alone may be too late for many women whose cancer has already spread to other organs. Developing an early diagnostic test is still very important.

The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation in Collaboration with Prince Henry’s Institute of Medical Research is researching the use of on ovarian hormone, “Inhibin” as a marker for ovarian cancer as a screening test for ovarian cancer.

There is no doubt that eventually and early diagnistic test and will be developed. But it can not arrive too soon. Some funding may help to get results quicker.

So, over next months we will work hard to help raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and to train for our Mt Kilimanjaro claim.

Help us in our fundraiser

If you want to join us in our fundraiser and a claim, you will be very welcome. Mt Kilimanjaro claim itself is 5-8 days. It is possible to “walk” to the top of this mount without a claiming equipment or experience. But it is a very serious and demanding claim. The climate changes from equatorial to arctic. Only about 50% of claimers reach the summit. But with good training, acclimatisation and experienced guides we will have better then overage chances to reach the top.

We also will really appreciate your donation. If you have ideas on how we can better promote our fundraiser – we want to hear from you.

Email us on info@ol-painting.co.au for more details.