Two-part series on ovarian cancer to air in May & June
April 20, 2009A special new two-part Rural Health Education Foundation television series which covers the patient journey of women with ovarian cancer will air on May 12 and June 16 using a “hypothetical” presentation style.
Caring for Women with Ovarian Cancer, Part 1: Diagnosis and Initial Treatment, an hour-long program airing on Tuesday 12th May, explores the diagnosis and initial treatment of ovarian cancer through the use of clinical vignettes and expert panel discussions.
Caring for Women with Ovarian Cancer, Part 2: Living with Ovarian Cancer, Palliative and End of Life Care, an hour-long program airing on Tuesday 16th June, covers the challenges of living with gynaecological cancer, and the unique and very specific palliative care needs of women with advanced gynaecological cancer.
New program format challenges experts
Dr Norman Swan, the Foundation’s long-time program facilitator and presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National, will take an unusual approach with these two programs, running them both in a “hypothetical” style.
The hypothetical format takes the viewer, and an expert panel, on a journey with three women, all played by a single actor. Not all of the fictional women have ovarian cancer, which is part of the challenge for the panel of health experts, who engage in role play with each of the “patients” through their entire journey from presentation and diagnosis through treatment and, potentially, to palliative care.
The panel features rural and metropolitan GPs, gynaecologists, gynaecological oncologists, specialist nurses, a psychologist, a cancer geneticist and an epidemiologist who has done pioneering work identifying the symptoms which might indicate a woman has ovarian cancer.
Hypothetical approach to an all-too-real issue
“Only 42 per cent of women with ovarian cancer survive beyond five years, because the cancer has usually spread by the time they’re diagnosed,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut. “So early detection is crucial, but just as important is ongoing care for the 1,500 Australian women diagnosed with the disease very year.”
“The new Caring for Women with Ovarian Cancer series uses a hypothetical format to mirror the challenges that GPs and other frontline health professionals face in relation to this important women’s health and oncology issue,” Mr Perlgut says. “The two programs provide a number of important learning outcomes, including the ability to identify risk factors and symptoms of ovarian cancer and to develop a multidisciplinary treatment plan.”
Program funding
Both programs in the Caring for Women with Ovarian Cancer series are produced by GSB Productions with funding support from the Greater Metropolitan Clinical Taskforce and The Cancer Institute of NSW.
Broadcast details
Caring for Women with Ovarian Cancer, Part 1: Diagnosis and Initial Treatment will be broadcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday 12th May at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday 15th May.
Caring for Women with Ovarian Cancer, Part 2: Living with Ovarian Cancer, Palliative and End of Life Care will air on Tuesday 16th June at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday 19th June.
Available on DVD and the web
Both programs will be available to view free on the Internet for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.
About ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is one of the most serious forms of cancers affecting women. This is because, for the majority of women, the cancer has already spread by the time they are diagnosed. Despite significant advances in diagnosing and managing gynaecological cancer in recent times, 850 women die from the disease every year in Australia.
However, the earlier the diagnosis, the greater the chance of survival from ovarian cancer. Eighty-six per cent of women who are diagnosed before the cancer has spread will be alive five years after diagnosis.
More information
For more information about this ovarian cancer program series - including presenter details, access instructions and associated educational resources - refer to the online program summaries for Part 1 and Part 2, or contact the Foundation.