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Ovarian Cancer Awareness: Facts and Feelings (cross-posted at BlogHer Health & Wellness)

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. Although ovarian cancer is not one the of most common cancers in women, it is one of the most deadly. That’s why awareness of this disease is so important.

In this post we’ll take a look at the latest information and facts about this deadly disease. I’ve also included a blog roundup of women blogging about ovarian cancer, and a bunch of informative links.

You can also read about my personal experience with ovarian cancer here.

From the Ovarian Cancer Awareness website…

Ovarian Cancer is one of the most deadly of women’s cancers. Each year, approximately 21,500 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In 2008, approximately 15,500 women will die in the United States from ovarian cancer. Many women don’t seek help until the disease has begun to spread, but if detected at its earliest stage, the five-year survival rate is more than 93%. Recent research suggests that together the four symptoms of: bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly and urinary urgency or frequency may be associated with ovarian cancer.

From WebMD – 7 Clues to Ovarian Cancer…

Seven symptoms were found associated with ovarian cancer, including:

• Abdominal distension
• Urinary frequency
• Abdominal pain
• Postmenopausal bleeding
• Loss of appetite
• Rectal bleeding
• Abdominal bloating

Ovations for the cure of Ovarian Cancer…

Here’s another reason to be cautious if you’re considering having your ovaries removed to prevent ovarian cancer: A recent study has found that removing both ovaries may nearly double your risk of lung cancer.

This news comes on the heels of another report that removing the ovaries increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

From BBC – Ovarian Cancer is Being Missed…

Women with ovarian cancer may not be diagnosed as early as they could be because their symptoms are not being recognised, a study suggests.

Writing in the BMJ, Bristol researchers said the cancer was not a “silent killer” as it is frequently dubbed, but was associated with specific symptoms.

Here are some posts from women blogging about ovarian cancer.

From Susan – Scarf It Up for Women’s Cancer!

Cancer should not define us! My message to women who have lost their
hair due to medical hair loss is: Just because you have lost your hair
does not mean you have to loose your sense of style.

From MLO Knitting – Chemo #4 Completed – slept for 3 days…

I had my fourth chemotherapy treatment on August 27th and basically slept through until today – August 31st. There are no words for how exhausted I am from this treatment.

From The Shape of a Mother – He Tells Me I’m Sexy (Jenn)…

Following the birth of my daughter 5 years ago by Cesarean section, I was met with this entirely new wall of self-doubt and body image issues. Still, I was so proud of my body for sustaining her life and breastfeeding her, that I still allowed myself to see the light. When she was 20 months old, I found out I had ovarian cancer, and had to have one of my ovaries as well as massive amounts of tumors removed. It was during this time in my life that my husband asked me for a divorce. I successfully fought ovarian cancer on my own while raising our almost 2-year old daughter. I went back to college to get my degree, and my body was starting to look great. Then I got pregnant with my son. I didn’t gain much weight when I was pregnant with him, but I seemed to gain it while I was nursing him! :-O I found out about 10 months into his life that my cancer had returned and I was in for a helluva battle. Once again, I AM BETTER THAN CANCER.

From Hyperactive Lu – Not Such Good News…

Last Tuesday we found out some bad news. My grandmother, father’s mother, has found out that her cancer is back. Her journey fighting cancer has been a long road- one I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Grandma was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2004. I remember it so well, because I was pregnant with Bubbie. I can remember traveling up to Tennessee right before her chemotherapy was about to start. She was so full of life and her regular go-go self. Then, I don’t think we saw her again until Christmas and Bubbie was a few weeks old. She, of course, didn’t have much hair left and she was tired. She had had such a rough year with chemo and had said she wouldn’t do it again. We were all very hopeful that she wouldn’t have to face the choice of whether to do it again. Well, it came back. Again. And again. Its back now for the fourth time and each time, she’s fought it.

From Deb – September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month…

Ovarian Cancer. Until recently, it was ‘just’ a concept out there – scary yes, but not something I thought about on a regular basis. It’s not the most common form of cancer in women (breast cancer is), or even numbers two or three (lung and colorectal cancers). And most of us tend to take our health for granted, I think – not even considering something like cancer as a possibility. Unless, or until, we have to.

Last month, I was diagnosed with a cyst on my left ovary, after over a year of semi-recurring pain on that side. And after being told that my pain was ‘too high’ to be anything involving my ovaries. But after staggering pain sent me to the urgent care clinic, I finally had an answer – of sorts. A cyst – not a ‘simple’, blood-filled one, but a ‘complex’ mass that would require further screening before it could be determined to be benign. Or not.

Have you blogged about ovarian cancer? If so, leave a link to your post in comments.

More information about ovarian cancer…

• The National Cancer Institute – Ovarian Cancer
• Mayo Clinic – Ovarian Cancer
• WebMD – Ovarian Cancer
• John’s Hopkins – Ovarian Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

Check out the American Cancer Society’s More Birthdays campaign…

• You can send an e-card.
• Join the movement on Facebook.
• Download the ACS Birthday Kit.
• and other Cool Stuff.

Ovarian Cancer and US