THE international symbol for ovarian cancer might be the colour silver, but for one inspirational Griffith woman, gold is the colour she is fighting for.
Jane Kohlwes, 56, was diagnosed with severe ovarian cancer in late 2007 and is now fighting to cross the finish line and rid her body of the horrendous disease.
Ovarian cancer is one of the most serious forms of cancer affecting women, with a staggering 75 per cent of women being diagnosed at an advanced stage and most not surviving the five-year cancer benchmark.
This year, the whole month of February has been set aside to place ovarian cancer in the spotlight in an effort to raise awareness, funds and support for women who have or have had the disease.
Since 2003, Ovarian Cancer Australia has been holding a special Ovarian Cancer Week in the month of February.
However, this year, in acknowledgement of the growing recognition of the important event on the health calendar, Ovarian Cancer Australia has extended the week to create National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
With 1500 Australian women being diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, the extension will help boost society ’s knowledge of the disease, something that Jane says is desperately needed.
"In the last 15 months, since I began my journey, it has been absolutely astounding the amount of ignorance that is out there about it (ovarian cancer)," Jane said.
"Women need to know that it is totally different to cervical cancer it can ’t be detected with a pap smear." For Jane, her diagnosis came just six days after having an initial blood test. Although her health had been deteriorating prior to her doctors appointment, being told she had cancer was the last thing Jane thought could be wrong with her.
"I had had an obvious deterioration in my health and suffered a huge weight loss ... but I had just put it all down to menopause," she said.
"I told myself a thousand different reasons why I wasn ’t well." Looking back on it now, Jane said it is too easy for women to misdiagnose the symptoms of ovarian cancer, especially when they are of menopause age.
"Women only ever experience menopause once in their life and can not truly be alert to the symptoms early in the piece," she said.
"I know with my own mum, she had a difficult time during menopause.
"It is just so easy for women to put the symptoms down to menopause." Continued Page 16
From Page 15 However Jane warned that ovarian cancer can also affect females of any age.
"A good friend of mine, her cousin ’s daughter had ovarian cancer at the age of 13," Jane said.
"You don ’t have to have a history of ovarian cancer in your family, I didn ’t (but) it has to start somewhere." Through her journey Jane has been in and out of hospitals, undergone a radical hysterectomy, gone through three bouts of treatment and is currently on her fourth round of chemotherapy Jane ’s primary cancer was on her right ovary and she had a second cancer in her uterus.
She has been fortunate enough to have had most of her treatment completed at Griffith Base Hospital by what she describes as some of the most wonderful medical staff she has met.
"The staff have been nothing but helpful.
They are just so dedicated and giving of their time," she said.
"I was born and bred in Griffith so some of the oncology nurses I have known for years It would be extremely difficult for them to detach emotionally, but they are always there for you." Along with incredible care from the medical side, Jane has also had her family and friends stand by her every step of the way Jane, a wife to Brian, a mother to Nichole and Tanya and a grandmother to four surviving grandchildren, has been strong and prepared to fight her battle since the day her world was turned upside down.
"My first thought was that friends and family would react very strongly to the news.
I was strongly aware that I had to accept it and hang in there and be as strong as I could," she said.
Jane said she draws her strength from three things in her life.
"People keep telling me how brave I am and I keep telling them that I have incredible, wonderful family and friends, access to the most amazing medical care and the power of prayer," she said.
Jane is also a member of Griffith ’s CanAssist committee, helping out with fundraisers and raising awareness of the great work the organisation does for cancer sufferers in the local community CanAssist even played an integral part in Jane ’s journey, paying for accommodation and travel for Brian when Jane was in Sydney for medical care and helped her purchase a wig after she lost her hair through chemo.
Jane said CanAssist has also helped her connect with others in her local area who are going through experiences similar to hers.
"It is comforting just knowing that people are on the same page as you and knowing what you are going through," she said.
Through it all, Jane is extremely positive, remaining eternally hopefully of a successful remission, and continually looks to the future.
"My future at the moment is pretty much minute by minute I am extremely hopeful.
With the proper attention to detail with my diet and lifestyle then maybe I can earn a remission, and a long lasting one," she said.
Anyone who is going through a similar experience to Jane or has a family member who has been touched by cancer and is looking for support can contact Jane at any time for a chat. She can be reached via email at jane.kohlwes@gmall.com THE FACTS Ovarian Cancer Awareness month runs throughout the month of February. Designed to inform and educate women about the signs, symptoms, risks and preventions of ovarian cancer, the month will be officially launched by Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon on Sunday, February 8 at BMW Edge in Melbourne at 9.3Oam.
Some signs of ovarian cancer EVERY woman should look out for include: Bloating, swelling and a feeling of fullness in your stomach Unexplained abdominal or back pain Feeling full/difficulty eating Increased urinary urgency Change in bowel habits Weight loss or weight gain Excessive fatigue Pain or discomfort in stomach or pelvic area For more information on ovarian cancer or to get in touch with Australia ’s Ovarian Cancer Foundation, visit www.ovariancancer.net.au or call 1300 660 334.
Stacy Post,
Daily Advertiser,News South Wales,Australia
Raising awareness is Jane’s priority
