Every October the NFL is FLOODED with pink to raise awareness for breast cancer...and as an Ovarian Cancer awareness advocate AND a huge football fan...I am sick of it! Ovarian Cancer when not detected early has a huge fatality rate! We don't have mammograms to detect this horrible cancer! I lost my mother to ovarian cancer on 7/1/2006...and she also loved to watch football on Sunday with me and my dad. I am sure there have been many NFL players impacted by ovarian cancer...grandmothers, mothers, aunts, sisters, daughters, friends, associates, etc.
It is time the NFL recognized the other "serious" female cancer! PROMOTE TEAL IN SEPTEMBER!
In women age 35-74, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. An estimated one woman in 71 will develop ovarian cancer during her lifetime. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be over 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed this year and that more than 15,000 women will die from ovarian cancer this year. The fatality rate is greater than 50%!
When one is diagnosed and treated in the earliest stages, the 5-year survival rate is over 90%. Due to ovarian cancer's non-specific symptoms and lack of early detection tests, only 19% of all cases are found at this early stage. If caught in stage III or higher, the survival rate can be as low as 30.6%. Due to the nature of the disease, each woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has a different profile and it is impossible to provide a general prognosis.
Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect, especially, in the early stages. This is partly due to the fact that these two small, almond shaped organs are deep within the abdominal cavity, one on each side of the uterus. These are some of the potential signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
- Feeling the need to urinate urgently or often
Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:
- Fatigue
- Upset stomach or heartburn
- Back pain
- Pain during sex
- Constipation or menstrual changes
If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, see your physician.
Risk Factors
While the presence of one or more risk factors may increase a woman's chance of getting ovarian cancer, it does not necessarily mean she will get the disease. A woman with one or more risk factors should be extra vigilant in watching for early symptoms. Risk factors include:
- Genetic predisposition
- Personal or family history of breast, ovarian or colon cancer
- Increasing age
- Undesired infertility
Facts
- All women are at risk
- Symptoms exist - they can be vague, but increase over time
- Early detection increases survival rate
- A Pap test DOES NOT detect ovarian cancer
