“In early 2013 my mother ignored all the early symptoms of ovarian cancer,” Matt said.

“It wasn’t until May that year when the symptoms flared up that she saw her doctor and she was diagnosed with Stage 4 of the cancer.”

Stage 4 is a very advanced stage of ovarian cancer.

“It’s very difficult to treat at that stage,” Matt said.

“At the uppermost people at that stage have five years to live.”

Despite being told at one stage to pack up, go home and say goodbye to her family, Matt’s mother is still battling against her cancer.

“She is in and out of hospital but she is still fighting it,” Matt said.

Her son has his own battle now, trying to get the word out to women to get treated early.

“It’s an awareness thing,” Matt said.

“I’ve been absolutely amazed since I’ve started talking about this, how many lives of people’s families and friends are affected by ovarian cancer.”

Matt has purchased 100 teal ribbons and is handing them out in February which is ovarian cancer awareness month.

“I want people to wear them and explain if asked what it is about,” he said.

“And if women have the symptoms, they should go and see their doctor immediately.”

Matt said every year around 1400 Australian women were diagnosed with the cancer and 1000 women died from the disease.

“There’s a misconception that it can be picked up by a pap smear – it can’t,” Matt said.

There is no early detection test so every woman needs to know the symptoms.

The symptoms are:

- Abdominal or pubic pain

- Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating

- The need to urinate often or urgently

- Feeling full after eating a small amount

If these symptoms are new to you and you experience one or more of them persistently over four weeks, consult your GP.