People in Manitoba are Raising Awareness about Ovarian Cancer

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The last 14 years have been very hard for Jennifer Graham.

Graham said, "I am a person who has had some cancer experiences."

Graham was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. She was treated and then got endometrial cancer in 2025.

Graham said, "The treatment for that is to have a total hysterectomy. At the time, I had a total hysterectomy. They removed my ovaries and uterine tubes."

But she says that cancer and hysterectomy turned out to be a good thing.

Graham said, "After the pathology results came back, it showed that I also had ovarian cancer. That was a big surprise."

Ovarian cancer affects about 3,000 Canadian women a year and is hard to diagnose.

Dr. Lesley Roberts said, "The early stages of ovarian cancers are undetectable. We have no screening tools, and they don’t usually cause symptoms. We usually don’t identify and detect ovary cancer until later."

Dr. Roberts said, "That means that the five year overall survival for ovarian cancer is about 45 per cent."

Ovarian cancer can impact women of all ages but is most common in women after menopause. Doctors say early symptoms are very vague. Ovarian cancer can happen to any woman.

Dr. Roberts said, "Symptoms can include a change in appetite, a little nausea, some bloating, constipation. These are mild things that people tend to ignore, but they continue."

Ovarian Cancer Canada says the 44 per cent survival rate hasn’t improved much in over 50 years.

Tania Vrionis said, "There’s been a lack of investment in ovarian cancer research, but we are starting to see that improve."

Dr. Roberts wants to see more research and innovation in ovarian cancer.

Dr. Roberts said, "We need the government to speed up the process of approving new medications that are available but not in Canada yet."

Until then, doctors and survivors encourage people to advocate for themselves.

Graham said, "As women, we sometimes minimize our symptoms. If you hear my story, take that step and make an appointment. If you have symptoms for more than two weeks, check with your doctor."

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