Every 37 minutes, a woman in this country dies from ovarian cancer
. . . Most could have survived.
Women with ovarian cancer report that symptoms are persistent and represent a change from normal for their bodies. The frequency and/or number of such symptoms are key factors in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Several studies show that even early stage ovarian cancer can produce these symptoms.
Historically, ovarian cancer was called the “silent killer” because symptoms were not thought to develop until the chance of cure was poor. However, recent studies have shown this term is untrue and that the following symptoms are much more likely to occur in women with ovarian cancer than women in the general population.
Symptoms Include:
Bloating
Pelvic and Abdominal Pain
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)
Family History of Breast or Ovarian Cancer
Women who have these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks should see their doctor, preferably a gynecologist. Prompt medical evaluation may lead to detection at the earliest possible stage of the disease. Early stage diagnosis is associated with an improved prognosis.
We believe that every woman deserves to know the symptoms of this disease. This knowledge is her chance for an earlier diagnosis . . . in fact, her right to survive.
Shout It Out!!
Thank you Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Mary-Beth Porter for spreading the word about ovarian cancer.
… You can too! Please share these warning signs with your family, coworkers and friends.
About Jan Coggins
“First of all, everyone is a survivor — a survivor of something! Life may differ in the specific tools we use in handling adversity. As an ovarian cancer survivor, I thought hiking 100 miles after debulking surgery and 18 hard weeks of harsh chemotherapy was crazy — but it was my way of beating cancer right back. That was what I needed to do after my diagnosis.
“You may get pure joy from holding a grandchild. The point is that everyone will treat adversity differently, and more than likely, that is what will keep you going stronger. Life itself is full of joy and full of challenges. We have to find our way of handling both. At the end of the day, I believe in counting blessings — not blisters (so to speak)!”
Read about Jan’s book:
“Ovarian Cancer? You can NOT be serious!”
This book begins with my story of being here as a survivor.
