Ovarian cancer remains one of the most difficult cancers to detect early, and WA clinicians and advocates say awareness is critical for timely diagnosis.

February was Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Australia, with national campaigns focused on improving public education. Symptoms are often vague and can be mistaken for common health issues contributing to late diagnoses among WA women.  

Gynaecologist and researcher Dr Adeline Tan says public understanding is limited compared with cancers that have established screening pathways.

“Although ovarian cancer is the deadliest women’s cancer, it is not the most common, and we don’t have that same level of awareness.”

Dr Adeline Tan

Dr Tan says researchers are still working to identify a reliable screening target.

“Unfortunately, we still haven’t found anything substantial that is predictive or dependable,” she says.

She says the non-specific nature of symptoms and normal hormonal changes, including weight gain, bloating and fatigue can make it difficult to determine when investigation is needed.

Katie Connell, who grew up in Karratha, lost her mother to ovarian cancer after her symptoms were attributed to routine female health issues.

Ms Connell says her mother developed sudden severe abdominal bloating without warning. She says women should feel confident seeking further medical advice when needed.

“It’s not doctor shopping to seek a second or third opinion when you feel something isn’t right,” she says.

Perth survivor Megan Joy initially thought her symptoms were digestive issues before being diagnosed with Stage 2 ovarian cancer following emergency surgery.  

“I went in thinking it was a burst appendix, and suddenly I was being told I had ovarian cancer,” she says.

Joy says knowing what’s normal for your own body can help guide conversations with GPs. At the time, she was going through perimenopause, which made her symptoms easy to overlook.

Dr Tan says persistence is the key warning sign.

“Recognise symptoms, if something has been going on for a while, get it checked, don’t delay.”

Dr Adeline Tan

She says public campaigns are essential because awareness remains the primary pathway to earlier diagnosis.

“People can only look out for something if they know about it,” she says.

Community events across Australia are using teal-themed campaigns to promote education and fundraising, with ovarian cancer initiatives continuing throughout the year.