Ballina residents urged to help cancer fight
Ballina Shire residents have been urged to support the Ovarian Cancer Silver Ribbon campaign to help find an early detection test to save lives.
One Australian woman dies of ovarian cancer every 10 hours. The disease affects women — mothers, sisters, daughters — of all ages and has a higher mortality rate among women diagnosed than those diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) is undertaking groundbreaking work to discover an early detection test to improve the survival rate of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
During Ovarian Cancer Research Week (3-9 September) and throughout September, Ballina residents can be a part of the journey to achieve this goal by purchasing a silver ribbon lapel pin or pen from the local Ballina NAB branch and contributing to the world-leading research being carried out by the OCRF.
The OCRF says that while awareness of the disease has increased among Australians, four in nine women still believe that a pap smear will detect ovarian cancer. “Unfortunately the reality is there is no simple early detection test. Ovarian cancer remains a silent killer, with two thirds of women diagnosed in the advanced stage of the disease; unfortunately few will survive beyond five years,” the organisation said.
Olympic champion and ovarian cancer survivor Raelene Boyle, pictured, has encouraged all Ballina locals to support the Ovarian Cancer Silver Ribbon campaign this September.
“This is a shared community initiative to help fund research to uncover an early detection test for ovarian cancer,” said Boyle.
“The work being undertaken by the OCRF, with the support of NAB and the Ballina community, provides hope for women of the future who may be diagnosed. This research puts us in the position where we can find an early diagnosis and save lives.”
As founding partners of the OCRF, NAB has helped raise more than $2 million since 2001 to purchase essential research equipment and support vital study into an early detection test.
Ballina residents can purchase a silver ribbon lapel pin or pen from Ballina NAB branch throughout September or donate at the local branch or online at ocrf.com.au
