What she found shocked and angered her. Eighty per cent of those diagnosed with ovarian cancer die within five years. There's one death in Australia every 10 hours. Survival hasn't improved in the past 50 years. Ovarian cancer is more common and more deadly than cervical cancer, but there's no screening test to pick it up early.
Most women have advanced cancer when it's detected.
The network has been valuable in lessening her sense of isolation. Lee says women in chemotherapy, like prisoners, don't ask what you're in for. But she wanted to do more to raise awareness, to urge women to listen to the whispering symptoms of the so-called silent killer, and to raise money for research. I've no idea how to have a rally, but I'll find out'. Some have criticised her for scaring women by drawing attention to the common subtle symptoms that can, but usually turn out not to, indicate ovarian cancer.