This was published 8 years ago
Ovarian cancer sufferer's family shares story in #10Hours awareness campaign
Lisa Robey fondly remembers family friend Sue Gane cutting it up on the dance floor at her sister's wedding.
Four months later, she was buried in the same dress she'd been dancing in.
Canberra ambassador for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation Lisa Robey is taking part in the Australian Women's Weekly High Tea Tour.Credit: Melissa Adams
"Aunty Sue", as Ms Robey affectionately calls her, died within two months of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Five years on, the Canberra ambassador for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation was one of many women who helped to combat the crippling form of cancer with cucumber sandwiches during Tuesday's Australian Women's Weekly's National High Tea Tour in Canberra.
Part of the foundation's #10Hours campaign, the high tea raised funds that will enable researchers to understand the causes of ovarian cancer.
According to the foundation, one Australian woman dies from the disease every 10 hours.
A lack of symptoms in the early stages of the disease leads to a late-stage diagnosis for many women, after the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Ms Robey said while it's not the most common form of cancer, ovarian cancer has a lower survival rate than both breast and cervical cancers.
"Sue was typical of many women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The symptoms can be incredibly vague so she just soldiered on," Ms Robey said.
"It was easy for her to [believe] all of those symptoms were just a part of life so she didn't get them checked out. By the time she did, the cancer had spread massively and she went straight to palliative care, there was no other choice available."
The foundation's goals are to develop an early detection program and improve the long-term survival rates of women living with the cancer.
Ms Robey said it's a common misconception that a pap smear can catch ovarian cancer – pap smears are used to check for cervical cancer.
She said when the cancer is caught early, the five-year survival rate is between 80 and 100 per cent.
"The problem is most women are found in the really late stages and then the five-year survival rate is only about 20 per cent," she said.
"To have that early detection test will enable so many wonderful women like my aunty Sue to still be those vibrant members of our community."
A number of high-profile ambassadors, including Megan Gale, Elyse Perry and Australian Women's Weekly editor Helen McCabe have also put their names to the campaign.
McCabe, who was in Canberra for the high tea, has worked on raising funds for ovarian cancer research through the magazine for a number of years.
One of her colleagues working on the campaign was herself diagnosed with ovarian cancer last year.
"It's one of those cancers that needs a lot more attention," McCabe said.
"It has touched my life and it really does bring it home.
"Women are now busier than they've ever been so finding ways to contribute, whether it's at the school tuckshop or refereeing the netball is harder than it's ever been with our busy lives, so this is a welcome opportunity for women to support ovarian cancer research."
If you'd like to help the foundation but missed the high tea, don't worry, Ms Robey will also be hosting a Frocktober – like Movember, but for the ladies – high tea later in the year.