Ovarian Cancer is personal to me, not just because I’m a woman, but because I have had a cancer scare, early in life at just 25 I had to have a partial hysterectomy to remove cancerous cysts on my ovaries. It was no doubt the hardest time of my life, but when I think that this disease affected 1 in 72 women, I am even more driven to raise awareness about this cause. Ovarian cancer has been called the “silent killer” because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage— and when it has already spread to other parts of the body. As the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women, The American Cancer Society estimates that 21,980 women in the US will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015 alone, and 14,270 women will die. Big numbers.
Considered the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers, ovarian cancer strikes women of all ages. From subtle symptoms to late detection, the disease is difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. The Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation (SROCF), now celebrating its 15th year of operation, is making huge strides in raising awareness about ovarian cancer through its “Get Real With Teal” campaign.
September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and cities across the nation will turn teal, the official color of ovarian cancer. This year, 22,000 women of all ages will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Due to the subtleness of ovarian cancer symptoms, and because there is no reliable test for early detection, ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose and easily confused with other ailments. When ovarian cancer is detected early, more than 90% of women will survive longer than five years. However, only 19% of women are diagnosed in the early stages. When diagnosed in advanced stages, the chance of five-year survival is only 44%.
The “Get Real With Teal” campaign aims to raise awareness and bring attention to the importance of early detection and advanced treatment methods. Since its founding, SROCF has awarded over $2.9 million to ovarian cancer research, recently announcing a $500,000 contribution to the new Stand Up to Cancer “Dream Team” working to find a cure for ovarian cancer.
Here’s what you can do to make sure you are aware of the signs and symptoms and take early action.
Ovarian cancer may cause one or more of these signs and symptoms—
- Vaginal bleeding or discharge from your vagina that is not normal for you.
- Pain in the pelvic or abdominal area (the area below your stomach and between your hip bones).
- Back pain.
- Bloating, which is when the area below your stomach swells or feels full.
- Feeling full quickly while eating.
- A change in your bathroom habits, such as having to pass urine very badly or very often, constipation, or diarrhea.
Pay attention to your body, and know what is normal for you. If you have vaginal bleeding that is not normal for you, see a doctor right away. Also see a doctor if you have any of the other signs for two weeks or longer and they are not normal for you. These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see a doctor. The earlier ovarian cancer is found and treated, the more likely treatment will be effective.
Doctors can check for ovarian cancer through a routine pelvic exam, but early diagnosis at this stage doesn’t happen often. You can get an ultrasound or a blood test that checks the levels of the C25 protein in your blood. But as the National Ovarian Cancer Association points out, 20 percent of women with ovarian cancer never have elevated C25 levels.
Wear Teal and share this story, together we can save lives!
