Giving voice to a silent killer

Helen Hatzis, ambassador for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF), has endured more than her fair share of serious health issues and come out resilient and resolved.

Rather than allow her adversity to get the better of her, she has directed her energy into generating awareness with her new book, More Than Luck. From the shock of the initial diagnosis through to her immediate surgery, relapse and subsequent chemotherapy, she shares her personal account of a difficult journey.

And as a way of giving back to the people who helped her and thousands of others, every dollar from book sales will go to the OCRF for research.

Helen Hatzis, a speech pathologist, courageously decided to write the book on the day she was first referred to an oncologist. "Whilst I was lying there feeling devastated, I had a vision of myself speaking to a huge group of people about this book that I had written about my experience," she says.

Her vision became reality at the book's launch last week. It was an opportunity to celebrate the book with friends and family who were "integral to my recovery," she says.

MC for the evening was Helen Kapalos, Channel Ten news presenter and OCRF ambassador. She described More Than Luck as a "labour of love" and Helen Hatzis as possessing the "candour and courage" to write such an "honest and informative account".

Liz Heliotis, OCRF founder and CEO, also spoke to honour the night's "heroine" as "a brilliant writer and natural spokesperson". Associate Professor Thomas Jobling, OCRF founder and Helen Hatzis' surgeon, commended her for braving her journey with "great dignity" and writing a book with an "aim that is very noble and going to be useful for a lot of people".

"Because I knew how bad the prognosis was for ovarian cancer, I thought that I needed to start writing things down to leave something behind for my children," Helen shares.

The statistics for ovarian cancer are sobering. Every year, 1200 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Australia. With no early detection test, most are diagnosed in late stages, more than 70 per cent not surviving more than five years.

The imperative for the OCRF is to create awareness and to find an early detection test that could increase the survival rate to nearly 90 per cent.

A stumbling block to detection is that its symptoms - fatigue, bloating, abdominal pain and pain with sexual intercourse - are vague and easily confused with other commonly occurring ailments, leading ovarian cancer dubbed the "silent killer".

For nearly 12 months, Helen consulted with doctors about her symptoms. They suggested irritable bowel syndrome, early menopause, and even psychological reasons. Only when the symptoms worsened was an ultrasound ordered - detecting a tumor on each ovary the size of an orange.

A radical hysterectomy was recommended, which resulted in sudden onset of menopause. "I experienced grief and loss from the hysterectomy itself, that identity as a woman," she recollects

But her trials weren't over yet. Although it was thought the cancer had been removed, 18 months later the abdominal pain returned and tests showed that there were tumors in her abdomen wall. Helen describes it as "absolutely devastating". Chemotherapy followed.

Her positive nature and extraordinary support network helped her push on - her book group organised a meal roster, her mother and mother-in-law prepared meals, and friends organised an iPod with a personalised song playlists.

Natural therapies, such as meditation, yoga, and a naturopath also helped. "It's important for people to have something that makes them feel stronger, that they're doing something positive."

She credits her husband, John, and her children for giving her strength. "He [John] was sensational to me", she says, apologising for the tears in her eyes. "From the beginning, he supported me with the book and he said 'just work on it, and we'll do whatever needs to be done'."

Between the silver ribbon and the silent card campaigns for ovarian cancer, and partnerships with major companies Helen hopes the message is gaining traction.

"It's important for people to remember that with ovarian cancer, whilst it affects women, it really impacts everyone. Because if a woman does not have at least one healthy ovary, a child can't be born, so therefore it has ramifications on so many people."

With such a low survival rate, few women live to speak out about ovarian cancer. Luckily, Helen can give these women a voice.

To purchase 'More Than Luck', email kate@ocrf.com.au or louisa@ocrf.com.au. Cost: $50, with all proceeds go to the OCRF.