Jean Kittson Unites With 11th Hour Ambassadors For Australia Day Message

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25th January 2010, 10:14pm - Views: 624






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Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month – February 2010 


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MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2010


MEDIA RELEASE 


An Important Australia Day Health Message for All Australian Women


Jean Kittson & 11 Australian Women from Many Walks Of Life Join Forces with 

Ovarian Cancer Australia to Deliver an Important Health Message to 

Help Save the Lives of Australian Women!


Every 11 hours an Australian woman will die from ovarian cancer. In the lead-up to Ovarian Cancer

Awareness Month in February (an initiative of Ovarian Cancer Australia), there is no better day to do

something that will help to save the lives of Australian women than on Australia Day.  


For Australia Day, Jean Kittson and 11 women from many walks of life have teamed up with Ovarian Cancer

Australia to communicate an important community health announcement that aims to educate Australian

women about the risks and symptoms of this life-threatening disease. 


Jean Kittson who has been announced as the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Campaign Ambassador for

2010 said, “I’m delighted to be part of such an important health initiative for Australian women so together we

can all learn the symptoms of ovarian cancer.  


“By coming together to deliver this Australia Day message, we hope to inform women about a disease that is

the 6th most common cause of cancer death among Australian women, and help them to learn to recognise

the symptoms of ovarian cancer so they can seek early treatment which could save their lives.


“Most women think they are protected through a Pap smear. However this test does not detect ovarian

cancer. There is no test to detect ovarian cancer. Only knowing the symptoms will save your life. Our

Australia Day message to every Australian woman is make sure you know the symptoms of ovarian cancer

because it might save your life. Don’t leave it until the 11th hour,” Ms. Kittson said.


Simon Lee, Chairman of Ovarian Cancer Australia said, “We really value the support that Jean Kittson is

giving us in taking on the role of Campaign Ambassador for 2010.  With Jean’s help and the help of these

wonderful 11th Hour Ambassadors who are helping us deliver a vital health message to the community for

Australia Day, we have the opportunity to educate women and hopefully help to save lives.”


The most common four symptoms which women with ovarian cancer experience frequently and persistently

are: pelvic and abdominal pain, increased abdominal size or persistent bloating, increased urinary frequency,

and difficulty eating and/or feeling full quickly.  


“Ovarian Cancer Australia provides vital support to women affected by the disease and their families. We

created Awareness Month to help save lives through educating women throughout our community, ensuring

every woman knows the symptoms of ovarian cancer.


“Ovarian cancer is often considered a silent killer; however scientific evidence shows that many women do

experience symptoms that if acted on, could result in an earlier diagnosis and a better chance of beating the

disease. We greatly value the support of Jean Kittson and the 11th Hour Ambassadors in helping to deliver

these vital messages about ovarian cancer to Australian women for Australia Day,” he said.



leave it until the eleventh hour!


For more information on ovarian cancer, or to make a tax deductible donation or purchase teal ribbons

(minimum quantity of 5 at $2 each) please contact Ovarian Cancer Australia.  


Phone:    1300 660 334 


Email:      admin@ovariancancer.net.au 


Website:  ovariancancer.net.au


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To download hi resolution photos from the event go to


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Please contact us if you require photographs of Ms Kittson and the 11th Hour Ambassadors


We are able to offer you a number of photographs and interview opportunities including:



Jean Kittson – Ambassador – Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 2010


Jean Kittson and the 11th Hour Ambassadors from many walks of life


Survivors of ovarian cancer in every state


Medical experts on ovarian cancer, current treatments and research


Nicole Livingstone OAM - Patron - Ovarian Cancer Australia


Simon Lee - Chairman - Ovarian Cancer Australia 


Journalist Notes


JEAN KITTSON - Ambassador - Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 2010


Jean Kittson is one of Australia’s best known and most popular comedians. 


She is a performer and writer whose television shows include the Big Gig, Kittson Fahey, Let The Blood Run

Free, Good News Week, Flat Chat, Glasshouse, The Great Debates and The Einstein Factor. 


She is a regular guest on Richard Glover’s Thank God It’s Friday Show On 702 Sydney (2BL). Her most

recent film role was with Delta Goodrem in Hating Alison Ashley.


She is a magazine columnist who has written for New Weekly, The Sunday Telegraph, and The Sydney

Morning Herald’s Sydney Magazine and is currently a columnist with Readers Digest Health Smart

Magazine.  She is the author of the Penguin best seller, Tongue Lashing. She is also a firm favourite on the

corporate speaker’s circuit.



11th HOUR Ambassadors


11 women from all walks of life have joined Jean Kittson to deliver an Australia Day message to help educate

all Australian Women about the risks and symptoms of ovarian cancer.


Deborah Brown 

(31) 

Dancer - Bangarra Dancer Theatre Australia

Patricia Brown 

(56) 

Teacher - High School


Sgt Danielle Cameron  

(30) 

Police Woman - NSW Police

Sharon Clark 

(56) 

State Manager (NSW) ) - Chemmart 

Debra Gooley 

(52) 

Restaurant Manager & Chef - Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant 


Ann Henderson 

(67) 

Grandmother to Marley & business woman - Scanpix

Deborah Kuleff 

(28) 

Film maker - Glocal Pictures 

Kavita Narayanan 

(29) 

Nurse - Nursing Australia 

Lynda Pereira 

(38) 

Business Women - Senior Brand Manager - Marketing - MLC

Tracy and Indie 

(32) 

Young mother with baby 


TBA 

(TBA)  Makeup Artist - Napoleon Perdis 


Please see information on ovarian cancer, Ovarian Cancer Australia, Awareness Month and Teal Ribbon

Day on pages 3-5 of this media kit.


Please contact Insight Communications for more information, photographs or to arrange interviews.

Clare Collins - Insight Communications 

Alice Collins – Insight Communications

P: 02 9319 3844  

P: 02 9319 3844

M: 0414 821 957

M: 0414 686 091

E: clare@insightcommunications.net.au

E: alice@insightcommunications.net.au


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Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - February 2010

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Is an Initiative of Ovarian Cancer Australia


On February 1, Ovarian Cancer Australia is launching Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 2010 to help save

lives by raising awareness about the symptoms of ovarian cancer and provide support for those touched by

ovarian cancer.



In 2010, more than 1500 Australia women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer


More than 850 will die from the disease – that’s 1 woman every 11 hours


75% of women are diagnosed in the advanced stages and will not live beyond 5 years


Ovarian cancer is the 6th most common cause of cancer death in Australian women


Ovarian cancer can affect women of all ages – girls as young as 7 have been diagnosed. But the risk

of getting ovarian cancer increases with age. The average age for an ovarian cancer diagnosis is 64


There is no detection test – a Pap smear does NOT detect ovarian cancer


The majority of Australian women DON’T know the symptoms of ovarian cancer but almost all women

with ovarian cancer suffer symptoms


To ensure a good chance of survival it is essential that ovarian cancer is caught in the early stages


If found in the early stages, the majority of women will be alive and well after five years


Awareness of symptoms is the principal means of early diagnosis to save lives!


With the help of the media, we aim to save lives by educating women about the symptoms of ovarian

cancer.  We aim to inform them about what to do if they have symptoms, empowering them to

manage their health


Who is Ovarian Cancer Australia?


Ovarian Cancer Australia is a national not-for-profit organisation providing support and advocacy for people

affected by ovarian cancer, and is the peak body for ovarian cancer awareness and prevention.  Our

programs are focused in these important areas:



Promoting awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms in the community – giving Australian

women and their healthcare providers a better understanding of the early signs of ovarian cancer


Providing support networks and resources to women and their families and friends affected by

ovarian cancer  


Advocating with medical professionals, government and the media for women diagnosed with ovarian

cancer


We are the only organisation that works with Australian women, their families and friends who have

been affected by ovarian cancer


Ovarian Cancer Australia Exists To:



Save women’s lives by raising awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer


Support those touched by ovarian cancer


Be the voice of ovarian cancer awareness and prevention in Australia


How Many Women In Australia Have Ovarian Cancer?



1 in 70 Australian women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime. Each year, more than 850

Australian women will lose their battle with ovarian cancer – that’s one woman every 11 hours.


What Is The Life Expectancy For A Woman Diagnosed With Ovarian Cancer?



75% of women are diagnosed in the advanced stages and will not live beyond 5 years. If diagnosed

early, the majority of those women will survive. This is why awareness and early detection is so

important.


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Who Is At Risk Of Developing Ovarian Cancer?


Factors that are considered to increase the risk of ovarian cancer are:



Age – women over the age of 45 are at greater risk of developing ovarian cancer. However, it affects

women of all ages - ovarian cancer has been diagnosed in girls as young as 7


Never having taken the contraceptive pill


Having few or no pregnancies


A high-fat diet, being overweight and smoking


A history of cancer in the family, especially ovarian, breast or some bowel cancers (approximately

10% of all ovarian cancer cases are due to an inherited gene fault and these are found in 1 in 500

people in Australia)


Being of Ashkenazi Jewish descent


Facts About Ovarian Cancer In Australia



This year, 1500 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer; more than 850 will die from the

disease


There is no reliable early detection test for ovarian cancer


The majority of Australian women do not know the symptoms of ovarian cancer


Ovarian cancer is the 6th most common cause of cancer death in Australian women


What Are The Symptoms Of Ovarian Cancer?


The four most frequently reported symptoms from women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are:



Persistent abdominal pain or pelvic (lower abdominal) pain 


A noticeable increase in abdominal size or abdominal bloating


Needing to rush to the toilet to urinate often or urgently


Feeling full quickly or finding it difficult to eat


Other symptoms that have been commonly reported by women with ovarian cancer include:



Vague but persistent stomach upsets such as wind, nausea, heart burn or indigestion


Vaginal bleeding


Change in bowel habits


Weight loss or weight gain


Excessive fatigue


If these symptoms persist even after prescribed treatment for other more common conditions (for example

irritable bowel syndrome), women should ask their GP to consider the possibility of ovarian cancer. Ovarian

Cancer Australia provides free symptom diaries to download from their website so that women can track

what they are experiencing and be able to better communicate with their GP. 

Is There A Test For Ovarian Cancer?



No! There is NO early detection screening test for ovarian cancer. A Pap smear does NOT detect

Ovarian cancer.  This is why awareness of the symptoms is critical to Australian women


How Is Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed?



Ovarian cancer can only be confirmed at the point of surgery. If ovarian cancer is suspected, a GP

will recommend tests which can suggest if ovarian cancer is a possibility, these include the CA125

test, and a trans-vaginal ultrasound, but these tests cannot be used to screen for or diagnose

ovarian cancer.



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Insight Communications Pty Ltd

ABN: 87 129 637 038

The Hordern Warehouses

Suite 110, 59 Great Buckingham Street, Redfern NSW 2016

PO Box 944, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012

Phone: +61 2 9319 3844  Fax: +61 2 9319 3244






How Is It Treated?



When ovarian cancer is confirmed during surgery, a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus),

bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries on both sides),

omentectomy (removal of the fatty tissue that covers the bowels), lymphadenectomy (removal of

one or more lymph nodes) may be performed.


Awareness Is The Key To Saving Lives - We Raise Awareness By Promoting:



Australia’s annual awareness month is February 


Teal Ribbon Day is Wednesday 24 February 2010


Teal is the international colour representing ovarian cancer 


About Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month



Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is an international campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms

of ovarian cancer.  In 2010 in Australia Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is held in February.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is also a time when Ovarian Cancer Australia, their volunteers

and friends, raise funds for their programs and resources to support women with ovarian cancer and

to ensure every woman in Australia knows the symptoms of ovarian cancer.


For more information on ovarian cancer, or to make a tax deductible donation or purchase teal ribbons

(minimum quantity of 5 at $2 each) please contact Ovarian Cancer Australia.  



Phone:    1300 660 334


Email:      admin@ovariancancer.net.au 


Website:  ovariancancer.net.au




Prepared For Ovarian Cancer Australia By








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