DETERMINATION, willpower and good old fashion grit…the hallmarks of a champion.
They are also qualities required by women battling ovarian cancer according to harness racing’s ‘face’ of the debilitating ailment, Cheryl Quinlan.
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2011, Quinlan is a rare survivor of the horrible condition, which has a heartbreakingly high mortality rate.
It is estimated almost 1600 Australian women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, with 66.25 per cent expected to lose their battle.
“Ovarian cancer really is one of the silent killers,” Quinlan said. “The death rate is so high, a lot higher than it should be.
“But it doesn’t have to be a death sentence, especially from the moment you are diagnosed.
“Sadly, how your body responds to treatments ultimately determines your survival, but staying positive, and refusing to give up, are also important.
“If you feel like you can do it, that you can fight on and show that strength inside you, then you can stay positive and give it a real crack.
“Initially I was in shock, but I was determined to keep a positive outlook, that I had a good shot of beating it.
“It’s also important to have a strong foundation of support, which is another area where I was very fortunate.”
While Quinlan was valiantly maintaining a positive composure, her daughter – outstanding reinswoman Jodi Quinlan – was struggling with the dire situation.
“It hit me really hard, a lot harder than her,” Jodi said. “When they said it was quite a significant growth, the size of a 16 to 18 week old pregnancy, I was just in shock and disbelief.
“Mum was the one trying to tell me it will all be okay. She just saw it as something she had to beat…she never complained or felt sorry for herself, she just went on with it.”
Having experienced what she now realises were symptoms of ovarian cancer, but delayed seeking medical advice, Quinlan urges all woman “feeling off” to be checked as quickly as possible.
While there are no obvious signs of cancer, indications include abdominal bloating, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, frequent or urgent urination, constipation, menstrual irregularities, indigestion, pain during sexual intercourse, abdominal, pelvic or back pain and fatigue.
It was the latter two warning signs which eventually led Quinlan to the doctors.
“I was getting tired, but I didn’t think much of it, then I started getting pains in stomach, but again I just put up with it, thinking it wasn’t anything serious,” Quinlan said.
“Then I started getting pains in the back and said ‘that’s it, I’m ringing the doctor’, which thankfully I did as I got the diagnosis soon after.”
While she admits her own hesitation in seeking medical advice was unacceptable, Quinlan has no doubt awareness and the need for early detection devices are critical in the war against ovarian cancer.
Enter the nation’s leading ladies who are raising valuable funds and much-needed awareness for the Women’s Cancer Foundation – Ovarian Institute via the Teal Pants Campaign.
Beginning on February 1 and concluding on March 11, the scheme has been conducted in Victoria and New South Wales for several years, and thanks to help from Harness Racing Australia, has gone national this season.
Money is raised via each state’s governing bodies, along with corporate sponsors, which are donating a set amount per win.
“If we can assist in fundraising research to find an early detection device it would be a terrific result in improving the survival rate, which is minimal at this point,” Quinlan said. “To have every reinswoman in Australia involved is beyond amazing.
“Everyone involved, from the drivers, trainers, owners to the people behind the scenes doing all the organising, you should all feel proud of the difference you are helping create.”
As of last night’s meetings, the Teal Pants Total is sitting on 226 wins, with eight days remaining in the campaign.
It took the drivers 16 days to register the first century and 12 days to reach the second, with Jodi confident a triple ton can be notched before the last race on March 11.
“To even get to 223 wins is just marvellous,” Jodi said. “We took 12 days for that second century, leaving us 11 days for the third one.
“Three days into the home stretch and we are a quarter of the way there with time and the wins, so we’re on schedule.
“One thing I am sure of, like every woman fighting with every ounce of strength she has against ovarian cancer, every reinswoman in Australia will be battling to get to 300.
“Not only would that be something special, it’s a figure nobody would have imagined a month ago.”
