Ovarian cancer is a “silent killer”. Do you know the symptoms?

Here’s a not-so-merry stat: ovarian cancer claims the life of one Australian woman every eight  hours. That’s three women a day. And more than 1,000 each year. It’s a tricky cancer to catch, with vague, non-specific symptoms and no routine test (it’s not picked up in a pap test or cervical screening test). And, of course, it’s even harder for women in rural communities where there are fewer GPs and specialists.

So, the symptoms. According to research cited by the Rural Doctors Foundation, women should look out for the following (and consider seeing a GP for any “new, persistent, troublesome or unusual symptoms”):

• Increased abdominal size or bloating

• Abdominal or back pain

• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain

• Unexplained fatigue and reduced appetite

• Changes in menstruation

• Changes in bowel habits

• Early satiety (feeling full quickly)

• Indigestion

• Frequent urination

Symptoms are often attributed to other conditions, which is why about 70 per cent of cases are caught at an advanced stage — by the time most women are diagnosed, the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body, according to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. The five-year survival rate is 49 per cent.

In contrast, the five-year survival rate for those diagnosed with breast cancer is 92 per cent. This is largely thanks to research; three decades ago, it was 76 per cent.

To raise funds for this much-needed research, Merry People has launched a special collection in collaboration with the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation. In 2024, the collection raised $86,500.

Funds are directed to the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation, an organisation best known for the fun runs it hosts around the country every Mother’s Day. The foundation has been a major contributor to breast cancer research funding since 1998. But in 2024, it set its sights on ovarian cancer, and it now champions both causes.

Please make sure you take a look at this year’s collection. Merry People has gone with a coral-pink-and-teal design (teal is the colour for ovarian cancer) and will donate 20 per cent from every purchase to the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation. They’ve also expanded the range, which includes the brand’s beloved Bobbi Boot, plus a matching style for kids and socks. The collection is available until 11 May 2025 (unless sold out prior).