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February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and for this year’s campaign, Ovarian Cancer Australia have roped in some high profile Aussie blokes to have their nails painted to show their support for women affected by ovarian cancer. Actor Gary Sweet and rugby league player Cameron Smith are leading the campaign, calling on all Australians and particularly men, to paint their nails teal – the international colour for ovarian cancer.
Four women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every day and three women will die from the disease. Ovarian cancer has the lowest survival rate of any women’s cancer with a five year survival rate of 43 per cent. By comparison, the overall five year survival rate for breast cancer is 89 per cent.
With no early detection test for the disease, the best way of detecting ovarian cancer is to know and recognise the symptoms which most commonly include: abdominal or pelvic pain, increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating, the need to urinate often or urgently, or feeling full after eating a small amount. If symptoms persist over a four week period, women should consult their GP.
The Chemmart MANicure campaign encourages men to take a stand against ovarian cancer through the purchase of a limited edition teal ‘Colour for a Cause’ nail polish pack from Chemmart Pharmacies and painting their nails teal throughout the month of February. They are then asked to challenge their mates to do the same.
All funds raised from the purchase of the ‘Colour for a Cause’ pack go towards Ovarian Cancer Australia to assist in their efforts of awareness, support, advocacy and research.
Star of TV’s House Husbands, Gary Sweet, does not see ovarian cancer as a “women’s only” disease. “The women are the ones who are most impacted but we are all affected by ovarian cancer and we should all do whatever we can to reduce the occurrence of it for the future,” said Sweet.
“I would love to see teal nail polish on all men and women during the month of February so I am calling on all my mates to take up the challenge and get real for teal with a teal manicure like I have done.”
Chemmart Pharmacies nationally will stock a limited edition ‘Colour for a Cause’ teal nail polish pack for $6.99 during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month with all proceeds going directly to Ovarian Cancer Australia.
Chemmart pharmacies will also be offering in-store manicures in return for a gold coin donation which will be passed directly onto Ovarian Cancer Australia.
Ovarian Cancer Australia Founding Board Director Simon Lee said that 2015 is the year for taking action and the organisation is already seeing a groundswell of people wanting to get involved in Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
“The Chemmart MANicure initiative is a fantastic way to raise awareness and funds for the organisation but also to engage men in the campaign and enable them to contribute to a cause often focused very much on the females,” said Lee.
Cameron Smith
Gary Sweet
Simon Lee