If you never read another post from this blog... please read this one!!!
This day is dedicated to creating and raising awareness about ovarian cancer, the women’s cancer with the lowest survival rate for which there is little awareness and no cure. On this day, ovarian cancer awareness organizations from across the world will aim to have a singular focus and message for ovarian cancer and its symptoms.
World Ovarian Cancer Day will take place on May 8th each year.
Because I literally received my diagnosis just a few weeks ago, this is a cause that hits very close to home! I am so glad that there is a day to make women aware of the dangers of ovarian cancer, particularly when diagnosed in the late stages. Ovarian cancer has the lowest survival rate of all gynecologic cancers, and is characterized around the world by a lack of awareness of symptoms and late stage diagnosis. This is almost certainly a death sentence.
I am so so so SO blessed to have been diagnosed early! I thank God that I was vigilant about keeping my appointment with my OB/GYN. I came so very close to canceling the appointment, thinking it was really not necessary. How wrong I would have been!!!
Today is the first World Ovarian Cancer Day. Ovarian cancer organizations from around the world will unite to educate their communities about ovarian cancer and its symptoms. For women living with the disease, and their families and friends, World Ovarian Cancer Day will build a sense of solidarity in the fight against the disease.
My message to you today is - Keep your appointment with your OB/GYN. If you do not have one - get one! A total hysterectomy may be a very scary thing to face, but it's sure better than facing ovarian / uterine cancer! I am so very blessed!!!
Ovarian cancer is diagnosed annually in nearly a quarter of a million women globally, and is responsible for 140,000 deaths each year. Statistics show that just 45% of women with ovarian cancer are likely to survive for five years compared to up to 89% of women with breast cancer.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- All women are at risk of ovarian cancer
- Awareness of the early warning signs of the disease could save lives
- Diagnosis at an early stage vastly improves a woman's chance of survival
- Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage.
- The cervical smear test (Pap test) will NOT detect ovarian cancer
- Bloating that seems to be persistent
- Increase in abdominal size
- Feeling full all the time
- Loss of appetite
- Frequent urination
On Easter Sunday this year, I wanted to wear a nice dress that I recently purchased. I tried the dress on before I bought it, and it fit. When I tried to button and zip the skirt, it was too small. Something was messed up about that.
I was eating less, my abdomen was increasing in size and my Easter outfit did not... well - fit.
That's when I made an appointment to see my OB/GYN. I explained how I was feeling and he did an exam. After the exam, he said he needed to do a uterine biopsy.
About a week later the results of the biopsy came back and showed that I have a pre-cancerous condition. He explained that it is not cancer - yet. The cells are becoming cancerous. It was caught in time.
So if this had gone undetected my story may not have had a happy ending! As it is, I will have the hysterectomy and the cancer will be gone and life will go on for a very long time, I hope!
If you notice changes and you have an uneasy feeling about things - a sense that something is not right - make an appointment. I would rather keep the appointment and be told that I'm wrong than to not keep the appointment and find out that I was right. By then it could be too late.
The earlier the diagnosis of ovarian/uterine cancer is made, the better your chances of survival.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!!!
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Great post, Linda! I hope lots of people share this!
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