Dawn Sulley has been on an incredible journey with the Royal Women’s Hospital following her diagnosis of stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2019. Almost three years on, the 62-year-old is sharing her story to encourage other women to look out for early, and easily mistaken, symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Life before her diagnosis was typical for Dawn, working as a diversional therapist and trainer in aged care, going on scenic drives, and spending time with loved ones.
Back in 2019, however, things changed. Dawn was experiencing persistent sharp pain in her right side, that wouldn’t go away. Her GP, who knew Dawn’s background with irritable bowel syndrome, diagnosed her with diverticulitis – an inflammatory condition of the digestive track.
Symptoms persisted and Dawn decided to seek a second opinion, which resulted in immediate scans and a diagnosis of stage 4 ovarian cancer.
There are around 1,400 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed in Australia each year, with the average five-year survival rate around 48 per cent.
“After you receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, everything happens at once,” said Dawn.
“I was put in touch with the surgical team at the Royal Women’s Hospital. Some surgeons specialised in gynaecological procedures while others did lower abdominal surgery. I went through debulking cytoreductive surgery, where they take out everything they can, followed by chemotherapy.”
The whole process with Dawn’s treatment was swift, with major surgery occuring within the month of her diagnosis.
“The quality of care at the Women’s has been exceptional, I can’t fault it. The staff are amazing people, they make you feel at home, and like family. It makes a huge difference,” she said.
“The Women’s follow up, they make sure you’re okay, they send you surveys, everything.”
Dawn also contributed to research at the Women’s, donating tissue to a special project that looked at genetic links to ovarian cancer. It was discovered that Dawn had a mutation in the BRCA2 gene, which is often seen in women with ovarian, breast and pancreatic cancer.
Associate Professor Orla McNally, Director of Gynaecology and Cancer Services at the Women’s, was one of the experts that treated Dawn and remains part of her care team.
“Women like Dawn are given the best possible treatment at the Women’s. Not only do we have some of the best gynaecological surgeons and oncologists in Australia, but we are a multidisciplinary team that works across the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital,” she said.
“Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynaecological cancers, so we are working extremely hard in both a treatment and research capacity to improve the prognosis and and quality of life for women diagnosed.”
Since her diagnosis, Dawn sees things a little differently, saying she is “definitely more patient” and notices small things she didn’t before. However, she would like all women to know one thing.
“My message to all women is to not disregard symptoms, no matter how slight. Know your body and ask for a second opinion. It was the willingness of a second GP to look beyond the obvious that saved my life.”
As part of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, women are encouraged to learn the signs of ovarian cancer:
- Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating
- Abdominal or pelvic (lower tummy) pain
- Feeling full after eating a small amount
- Needing to urinate often or urgently
Additional symptoms:
- Changes in bowel habits
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
- Excessive fatigue
- Lower back pain
- Indigestion or nausea
- Bleeding after menopause or in-between periods
For more information, visit our webpage or go to Ovarian Cancer Australia.