Ovarian Cancer Australia

Your fundraising for Dry July has enabled Ovarian Cancer Australia to implement a raft of support services which encompass psychological, practical and emotional support to people with ovarian cancer.

The psychosocial approach looks at the combined influence that psychological factors and the surrounding social environment have on an individuals physical and mental wellness and their ability to function.

An OCA research collaboration found that psychological and social issues such as fear around the future and feeling isolated rank highly on lists of concerns for people impacted by ovarian cancer.

With your fundraising support Ovarian Cancer Australia can now:

• Add four new roles to our psychosocial support team: a Psychologist, Genetic Counsellor, Bereavement Social Worker, and an Allied Health Assistant to combine with our existing Counsellor and Social Worker

• Continue our Male Partners Program

• Implement a new Exercise and Nutrition Program

These new support services are filling gaps in our existing psychosocial services, enabling us to address areas of need which we know exist but until now have not had the capacity to deliver.

"Every year I have always wanted to do it and I have always found reasons not to - traveling, parties, etc. But this year, the reasons TO do it far outweighed the reasons NOT to. My mum has always been strong and resilient, but this year she has really been put to the test. My Aunty and my uncle are also doing dry July for OCA, so it’s become a bit of a family affair!"

Read Michelle's story: https://www.ovariancancer.net.au/news/86/michelles-story 

Susan, 68, enjoyed travelling to destinations steeped in vibrant colours and cultures. With the trip of a lifetime, Susan spent Christmas of 2018 in Sri Lanka with her beloved husband, Gerhard.

After returning to Queensland in January 2019, Susan started experiencing chronic diarrhoea and a severe cough that she could not shake. The ex-public service union delegate dismissed her initial concerns as just having too much rich food. The cough became so severe that she experienced a bowel prolapse. Susan had been on several courses of antibiotics, but nothing was helping. After five months of specialist appointments, she finally went into surgery to repair the prolapsed bowel, only for the surgeon to discover something more sinister.

When Susan woke up from surgery, the doctor told her they could not operate because they discovered she had stage four ovarian cancer with tumours on her ovaries, lymph nodes, and the lining of her lungs. With a rush to have chemotherapy, it was not until another five months that Susan had surgical debulking to remove cancer and finally treat the bowel prolapse.

Other than the diarrhoea, Susan did not experience any other symptoms. After the initial surgery, she never thought she would wake to the news that she had ovarian cancer.

Knowing the poor outcomes of ovarian cancer can result in women's mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression. Susan now waits anxiously for each blood test and hopes her CA 125 markers remain low.

In the meantime, Susan has been able to seek help for her anxiety through Ovarian Cancer Australia's Support team. "Diane Kenneally from Ovarian Cancer Australia is absolutely amazing. She has been a calming voice, and nothing is too much for her.

"I was so scared and devastated with the diagnosis that it took me months before I could even say out loud that I had cancer. I knew if I said it, then I'd have to believe it," said Susan.

The funds raised during Dry July will help Susan and other women with ovarian cancer, including their families. The wraparound support provides assistance from diagnosis through to mental health and well-being. This support includes a counsellor and social worker, with expansion into three additional support roles: a psychologist, genetic counsellor, and an allied health assistant.

The funding from Dry July will go directly to expand our support services in allied health. Along with our counsellor and social worker, we will also add three new roles in this area, including a psychologist, genetic counsellor and an allied health assistant. These five roles combined will offer women and their families a comprehensive and holistic approach. This will allow OCA to provide support not only on the disease and on treatment but also support women and their families on their mental and social well-being. 

Josie Davoren, 51, initially thought the early signs of her ovarian cancer was menopause. The mother of two increased her exercise regime and reduced her calorie intake but still could not reduce the bloating. Josie then put the bloating down to irritable bowel syndrome. Soon after, she discovered a hard large mass on the right side of her pelvic area.

After having scans followed by investigative surgery, surgeons found she had stage two ovarian cancer and an ovary the size of a rockmelon. In July 2018, Josie had surgery to remove the tumours; this included a full hysterectomy (removal of her ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus) and also her appendix.

Having six rounds of chemotherapy, Josie felt confident she was over the worst. Follow up scans were clear for some time. However, 15 months after her first surgery, doctors discovered an anomaly. Cancer had spread to her bowel and diaphragm. 

During Josie’s ordeal, she has turned to not only her physical support around treatment, but she has also reached out to Ovarian Cancer Australia for her emotional well-being. Josie has found great benefit in speaking to OCA’s psychologist and social worker.

“Seeking emotional support in the public health system can often feel rushed, due to high demands, but I feel I can take my time when I call OCA and have comfort in knowing that I’m not on a timer. It’s great to speak to someone who is readily available and can provide personal support" 

Read Josie's full story here: https://www.dryjuly.com/2021/josies-story 

Ovarian Cancer Australia's Younger Women's Network is one of the many programs that have been made possible thanks to Dry July fundraising.

By cultivating connections through shared experiences, the program aims to ease feelings of isolation and disconnection amongst young women affected by ovarian cancer.

The online facilitated support and Information group is delivered monthly by health professionals like Fiona Mitchell (pictured), for 1.5 hours, and typically has 5-8 women in each session. 💙

If you or someone you know is interested in the Younger Women's Network, you can find more information here: www.ovariancancer.net.au/page/127/younger-women