UK media: Charity calls for ovarian cancer awareness campaign (one percent aware of ovarian cancer symptoms)

"ONLY one per cent of women in the East of England are very confident in noticing symptoms of ovarian cancer, and a leading charity says symptom awareness could prevent needless deaths.....".

"The Target Ovarian Cancer Pathfinder Study 2012 did find the number of women who recognised bloating as a major sympton has nearly doubled from nine per cent to 17 per cent, but in the East of England this was 13 per cent.

The charity said this still compares poorly to other cancers with 76 per cent of women knowing a breast lump is a sign of breast cancer.
Ms Jones said: “The evidence is piling up. Women are being let down by the failure to act in the UK. We need a national awareness campaign now to end needless deaths from this disease......"

Australian author: increasing public awareness about ovarian CA can have downside - Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog

Can a Facebook status do anything to fight cancer? - The Globe and Mail (plus commentaries)

Australian women's awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms, risk and protective factors and estimates of own risk - abstract

Blogger's Note: similar studies and public polls over the past few years, irrespective of country, have noted the same results. As in the past, the conclusion/s beg many questions regarding not only funding/donations but the reality of existing campaigns.

 

Australian women's awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms, risk and protective factors, and estimates of own risk.

Jones SC, Magee CA, Francis J, Luxford K, Gregory P, Zorbas H, Iverson DC.

Centre for Health Initiatives, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, 2522, Australia, sandraj@uow.edu.au.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine Australian women's perceived risk of ovarian cancer, reasons for perceived risk levels, and knowledge of ovarian cancer symptoms at two timepoints (2003 and 2007).
METHODS: A computer-assisted telephone (CATI) survey of 2,954 Australian women with no history of ovarian cancer was conducted.
RESULTS: Approximately 60% of women perceived their risk of ovarian cancer was similar to other women of their age; 10% indicated an increased risk, and 30% indicated a lower risk. These figures were similar in 2003 and 2007. Logistic regression found that lower income, increased age, being born overseas, and being retired were significantly associated with lower perceived risk (accounted for only 7.5% of the variance). Common reasons for higher perceived risk included family history of ovarian/other cancers, increasing age, and having had other types of cancer or health problems. Reasons for lower than average risk included absence of family history, having a hysterectomy, and having regular Pap smears (indicating confusion between ovarian and cervical cancer). There appeared to be substantial confusion in women's understanding of ovarian cancer symptoms; this was similar in 2003 and 2007.
CONCLUSION: The observed misperceptions and confusion regarding ovarian cancer symptoms and risk factors suggest ongoing public education campaigns are needed to improve knowledge and awareness.

(U.S.) Carolyn Benivegna - (ongoing petition) Ovarian Cancer Awareness USPS Postage Stamp

Carolyn's Ovarian Cancer Awareness Stamp petition

In memory of Carolyn Benivegna, survivors, family and friends of those touched by ovarian cancer, please click on the updated link and help us send our message through the U. S. Postal Service. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ovcastamp

Together we can make an OvCa stamp a reality. Since 2001, Carolyn Benivegna had led the national effort to petition for the creation of an Ovarian Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp. The hope is that a postage stamp will increase awareness of the disease to improve the chances of early detection. If you would like to support our goals, please sign (or re-sign) our online petition; we will continue each year to submit a request to the U.S. Postal Service along with the signatures that share in our quest to make this a reality.

Don't forget to send this link to your family and friends, too!

Thank you.
Kim
Ovacome
www.ovacome.us
ovcasurvivor@verizon.net
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ovcastamp/

Access : Awareness of ovarian cancer risk factors, beliefs and attitudes towards screening -baseline survey of 21,715 women participating in the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening : British Journal of Cancer

Note: this study shows awareness levels in women who were wishing to enroll in a clinical trial program as opposed to the numerous surveys which have been done in the general population eg. the results would differ

Background:
Women's awareness of ovarian cancer (OC) risks, their attitudes towards and beliefs about screening, together with misunderstandings or gaps in knowledge, may influence screening uptake.

Methods:
In total, 21 715 post-menopausal women completed questionnaires before randomisation into the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening.

Familial Risk of Cancer and Knowledge and Use of Genetic Testing

MAIN MEASURES: Familial cancer risk was estimated based on the number of first-degree relatives with a breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (BRCA)- or a Lynch-associated cancer, age of onset (<50 or >/=50 years), and personal history of any cancer.
CONCLUSIONS: These nationally representative data provide estimates of the prevalence of familial cancer risk in the US and suggest that information about genetic testing is not reaching many at higher risk of inherited cancer.

Abstract Public and provider awareness and use of a CA-125 test for ovarian cancer -- - Cancer Prevention Research