When she was 60 years old, Kay Bourne came back from a holiday feeling bloated and worrying she’d overindulged, but after having a doctor check what felt like a lump in her abdomen, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
“They thought it might just be an infection but they did a scan, and the tumors were already nine centimeters by six centimeters by seven centimeters through, and they were wrapped around a lot of organs,” Ms Bourne said.
Around four Australian women are diagnosed with the cancer every day, but very few spot it early enough to stop its spread.
“There’s a lot of awareness for all the other cancers, but with ovarian cancer, once we’ve been diagnosed we’ve only got a 45 per cent chance of making five years, which is not very high,” Ms Bourne said.
She has been lucky to live another seven years, most likely due to surgeries and chemotherapy treatment, but at 67 years old, Ms Bourne has decided she’s going to let it be.
However, she hasn’t given up hope for other women, and recently helped organise a two-day camp out in Pinjarra, along with her sisters and friends, to raise money for Ovarian Cancer Australia, which fund research and awareness campaigns.
Their weekend, which brought over 200 friends and family together to Jill and Ron Moody’s property, raised a total of $15,248 for the organisation.
“I’m enjoying doing things while I can, I did get a bad infection a couple of days before the event but I was still able to help with the fundraiser and enjoy everybody travelling for so far,” Ms Bourne said.
“If all the women are aware of what the symptoms are, and know what to look for early, then they’ve got a chance of beating it.”
Many of the symptoms – fatigue, indigestion, bloating, weight fluctuations, pressure or pain in the abdominal or pelvic area, and changed bathroom needs – are part and parcel of a wide number of health issues women face.
Family history, hormonal replacement therapy, endometriosis, smoking, obesity, other cancers and not having children are all risk factors associated with ovarian cancer.
Ms Bourne said many women also assume that ovarian cancer would be picked up by a pap smear, though they can only detect cervical cancer.
“I’ve even met nurses who thought a pap smear picks it up,” she said.
“It goes to show, the information is not there, the understanding… but it’s just a blood test and an ultrasound.”
Ms Bourne hopes that by raising awareness of her condition, other women can get checked sooner and have a better chance of remission.
“My daughter’s got to be super careful, my sisters, all my nieces… I’ve had family with different cancers that passed away,” she said.
The support of her family and the wider community in organising the camp out has been essential to keeping Ms Bourne’s spirits up, who said their efforts were phenomenal for a country community.
“The response from the community just blew us away, the generosity,” she said.
“I think they’re keeping me here, I really do. The support, it keeps you going, it keeps you mentally sound, the attitude."
For more information on ovarian cancer, visit ovariancancer.net.au or call 1300 660 334.
