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Camilla & Marc Announces Major Breakthrough In Ovarian Cancer Campaign

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On Monday, Camilla and Marc launched its annual ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them.’ campaign, and along with the University of New South Wales, they announced a major medical breakthrough. 

Each year, Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman enlist friends from the fashion industry to raise awareness for ovarian cancer. It has become one of the most impactful philanthropic initiatives in the Australian fashion industry and highlights the horrifying fact that even in 2024, there is still no early detection test for the life-threatening illness.

Camilla and Marc campaign.
Image: Camilla and Marc.

The powerful campaign sees fashion editors, designers, and high-profile Australian personalities flood our Instagram feeds with photos that show them wearing a t-shirt that says: ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them.’. 

This year, it appeared even more far-reaching than years before, and a reason for this was that the Australian fashion label has promising news to share. 

The Road To An Early Detection Test For Ovarian Cancer

Camilla and Marc, together with the University of New South Wales, announced a major medical breakthrough, achieved through the work of the ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them.’ initiative. Specifically, it announced a ground-breaking global first development of a unique three-target signature using DNA biomarkers that detect all types of early-stage ovarian cancer. 

The significance of this breakthrough cannot be overstated, and it is a critical step towards getting an early detection blood test to clinical trials by 2026. “Today, this test stands as the only DNA-based method globally to have reached this advanced stage in ovarian cancer detection,” said Freeman in a statement on Monday. “This innovation offers optimism for improving the prognosis of this devastating disease via an early detection test.”

Dr Kristina Warton, UNSW GCRG head researcher, seconded this sentiment. “An early detection test has the scope to improve outcomes and save lives for people with ovarian cancer all over the world,” she said. 

“Our goal is to make this test successful through a simple blood draw and a PCR reaction, without a need for specialised imaging equipment or invasive medical procedures. Early diagnosis, before the tumour has spread, is the most accessible and equitable path to health care for people at risk of ovarian cancer and will have life-changing impacts for people diagnosed with this disease.”

The team is already hard at work on the next phase of the research. That means, testing the effectiveness of the detection test on early-stage ovarian tumours and enhancing its sensitivity.

What Is The ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them.’ Campaign?

The ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them.’ campaign isn’t designed only to raise awareness for ovarian cancer and the need for an early detection blood test. It also crucially raises funds for research. 

Each year, Camilla and Marc releases a limited edition capsule collection of hoodies, t-shirts, and caps, with 100 per cent of sales proceeds going towards the life-changing research and medical advancements of Professor Caroline Ford, Dr Kristina Warton and the team at the UNSW Gynaecological Cancer Research Group. 

Camilla and Marc.
Image: Camilla and Marc.

“The breakthroughs that have been made with the early detection test have been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Freeman-Topper in a statement released on Monday. “We feel immense pride towards the team at UNSW for their tireless efforts, as well as everyone who has continually supported our ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them.’ campaign. Without this funding, we would not have reached this significant milestone.”

This year’s t-shirts are available in white and bold red colourways and were designed by Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman. The simple typography was created to look like child-like handwriting, to serve “as a poignant reminder that an early detection test is crucial for our future generations,” they explained.

The pursuit of finding an early detection test is a particularly personal one for the design duo. “None of us would be here without ovaries and this disease has been silenced for too long,” said Freeman-Topper. “Millions continue to be affected every year, yet there is still no test. It is not good enough. My mother deserved better. We all deserve better.”

The limited edition collection is now available to shop on the Camilla and Marc website

The post Camilla & Marc Announces Major Breakthrough In Ovarian Cancer Campaign appeared first on ELLE.

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