September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Ovarian cancer is often called "the disease that whispers" because there are often no symptoms during its early stages and when symptoms appear they are often vague and mistaken for more common illnesses.
Over 2,600 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in Canada and about 1,750 of them die of this disease. Risk factors include: age over 50, family history of women's cancers, long-term hormone replacement therapy, or never have been pregnant.
The sunflower is the symbol of Ovarian Cancer Canada, an organization dedicated to raise awareness of this deadly disease. During the month of September these beautiful flowers can be purchased at participating grocery stores in support of Ovarian Cancer Canada.
For more information on Ovarian Cancer check out the following websites or take out one of these books from the Toronto Public Library:
- You are not alone: a (free) guide for Canadian Women living with Ovarian Cancer (Ovarian Cancer Canada)
- What is Ovarian Cancer? (Canadian Cancer Society)
- Ovarian Cancer (MedlinePlus)
- Ovarian Cancer (Mayo Clinic)
One thought on “September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month”
Exceptions to every rule, I guess. My sis-in-law was mid-40s, no family history of the disease, and had two kids. She also had bloating and abdominal pain, which the doctors couldn’t seem to figure out. She went through many surgeries and rounds of chemo and one of radiation, but finally succumbed to the disease when she was 60. Many women don’t get that many years. Doctors need to clue in to their patients’ symptoms and women need to be more forceful when they’re told it’s “nothing to worry about”.