I'm participating in Frocktober to raise funds and awareness for NZ Gynaecological Cancer Foundation.
Auckland
Throughout October, the Frocktober campaign invites women to band together and wear their favourite dresses while raising funds for the NZ Gynaecological Cancer Foundation.
For a day, a week or the whole month, something as simple as the clothes we put on our back has the potential to start important conversations, raising awareness of the lack of early detection method, of women’s experiences, and of how we as a community can do more to support gynaecological cancer research.
Endometrial (Uterine) cancer is the most common of the gynae cancers; however, ovarian cancer has the lowest survival rates and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in New Zealand women, behind only lung, breast, and colorectal cancers. In comparison, in 2012 there were 3,025 women diagnosed with breast cancer and of those 617 died.
In 2011 New Zealand’s five-year relative survival rates were:
Breast Cancer 87%
Uterine Cancer 78.5%
Cervical Cancer 72%
Ovarian Cancer 39%
These abysmal statistics are largely due to the fact that ovarian cancer can be difficult to detect and is therefore often diagnosed at a late stage. The symptoms of a gynae cancer can often initially be mistaken for less serious health matters and by the time a woman gets to her doctor, it is often too late.
Early detection significantly increases the likelihood of surviving any of the gynae cancers and this is just one of the many reasons why it is our mission to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms – with not just women but the medial fraternity also, especially GPs to ensure that issues are picked up as early as possible.
I'll wear a dress every single day in October to raise awareness and funds for the NZ Gynaecological Cancer Foundation. I've created this page because I want to make a difference in the lives of those women who are affected by cervical, ovarian and other gynaecological cancers. I have previously had two grade 2 abnormalities which are considered pre-cancerous cells. So I want to encourage awareness, discussion and support.
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