A new survey has revealed that 35 percent of women aware of human papillomavirus wrongly believe that HPV vaccine helps preventing ovarian cancer.

However, the truth is that the vaccine is effective against 70 percent of cervical cancers, but it does not offer protection against ovarian cancer, the deadliest of gynecologic cancers. Ovarian cancer has killed estimated four times the number of women as killed by cervical cancer, this year. There is no vaccine or screening test for ovarian cancer.

Survey conducted by Harris/Decima for Ovarian Cancer Canada showed that 24 percent of Canadian women believe that Pap test screens for ovarian cancer – down from 31 percent in a benchmark 2005 survey.

According to Elisabeth Ross and Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden of Ovarian Cancer Canada, an education strategy around HPV vaccine and gynecologic cancers is required in Canada. The Pap test detects cervical abnormalities only.

Most ovarian cancer diagnoses are made in the late stages, when the survival rate is only 20 per cent, so the misinformation could be fatal to some women, said Vanderhyden.

The Harris/Decima study was conducted in July and August with a total sample size of 1,007 and an associated margin of error of +/- 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

U.S. cancer experts issued a consensus on ovarian cancer symptoms common to many women. These symptoms include: abdominal pain, changes in urinary frequency, swelling of the abdomen or bloating, weight loss or gain, and nausea.

Ovarian cancer’s risk increases among women who have a family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancer; are over 50; have never used oral contraceptives; have never had children; or are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

Women, who experience symptoms that last longer than three weeks, should see their doctors.