September Is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Know Your Body, Know the Symptoms

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Article provided by the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA) mission is to reach huge amounts of woman in the United States this September in an effort to educate them about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. With the help of leading businesses like Cartier, Eli Lilly, Merck, Nationwide Insurance and A-list celebrities such as Janet Jackson, Danica Patrick and Kathy Bates, OCNA is off to a good start.

With the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives proclaiming September as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the federal government signaled its commitment to increasing awareness of ovarian cancer. During September, hundreds of grass-roots activities will take place including health fairs, runs, fundraisers and events.

In fact, some localities will literally “Turn the Towns Teal” by draping trees, doors, windows, cars and anything else they can find with colorful teal ribbons. Mayors and Governors from across the United States also will be proclaiming September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

OCNA’s 45 Partner Members nationwide are working diligently in preparation for September. “Our goal is to inform one million women in Arizona about the symptoms of ovarian cancer in 2008. If we can identify the symptoms earlier, more women’s lives would be saved”, says Annette Leal Mattern, President of the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Arizona.“

With the help of the community and local businesses such as KPHO CBS 5, Sonoran Living Live, Clear Channel, WNBA Mercury, MLB Diamondbacks and McGough Construction, Arizona is nearly half way toward reaching our goal.”

Raising awareness about ovarian cancer on a national and local level is essential because the disease is so daunting. The number of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in its early stages is so small, that survival rates continue to be low. In the more than 30 years since the War on Cancer was declared, ovarian cancer mortality rates have not significantly improved. Death rates are virtually stagnant. About 22,000 American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008 and about 15,000 women will die from the disease.

“In addition to awareness, OCNA works to promote policy, legislation, research and programs that increase the understanding of the disease and its many challenges,” explains Karen Orloff Kaplan, chief executive officer of OCNA. “As part of our September efforts, we will be passing out “Did You Know?” awareness cards and teal ribbon lapel pins to all 535 Representative offices educating them about the latest ovarian cancer statistics and symptoms.”

OCNA hopes that the National Ovarian Cancer Awareness month this September will not be ignored and will make a real difference in the lives of women everywhere. No matter how big or small, any awareness efforts have the potential of making a lasting impact. See below for a list of creative ways on how you can play a part in raising awareness about ovarian cancer in your community this September:

• Hang up teal blue Christmas lights in your front yards and encourage friends and family to do the same.
• Pass out ovarian cancer symptom cards and fact sheets to friends and family.
• Have fun and pick teal nail polish for your manicures and pedicures.
• Wear teal awareness bracelets and teal ribbons during September.
• Put a teal ribbon graphic on your Web site, MySpace Page or Facebook with a link to OCNA’s home page to learn more about ovarian cancer and its symptoms.
• Donate a percentage of September sales from your business to OCNA to help fund its ovarian cancer research, patient support services and policy efforts.
• Tie teal ribbons around neighborhood light poles.
• Write an article about ovarian cancer awareness for the local newsletter or paper during the September issue.
• Hold a fundraising event for OCNA to help fund its ovarian cancer research, patient support services and policy efforts.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

• bloating;
• pelvic and abdominal pain;
• difficulty eating or feeling full quickly;
• urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency).

See your doctor, preferably a gynecologist, if you have these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks. Experts suggest a combination pelvic/rectal exam, a transvaginal ultrasound and a CA-125 blood test.

To join OCNA in its fight to conquer ovarian cancer or to learn more about the disease, please call 202.331.1332 or visit the web site at www.ovariancancer.org.