It's Almost September!

I bet you are thinking, yes, September is right around the corner. It's the start of the school year.  Unless you live in the southern US where school starts in August. There will be school buses making their stops and more cars on the road. It's also the start of Fall so there will be pumpkin flavored coffees and cakes. 

 

 

All those things are awesome but for me, September means Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.  On my way to the store today,  I saw a few "Turn the Towns Teal" ribbons on trees in West Windsor. That put a smile on my face. I'll put out my teal ribbon banner.  I have already painted my toes with teal nail polish! And I'll switch to my teal pocketbook. I'm happy that Teal is the awareness color for ovarian cancer and also one of my favorite colors. Later in the month, I'll be walking to raise awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research. As most of my readers know supporting ovarian cancer research has been my advocacy focus for years.  

After 21 years, we still do not have an early detection test. I'll repeat it again.  There is no screening test for ovarian cancer. The Pap test is for cervical cancer not ovarian cancer. And it is not because researchers are not trying to find a reliable and specific test. They are. It is just difficult to detect. 

We need to be our own advocates .  Do you feel bloated, feel full quickly,  have abdominal pain or have notice a change in your bowel movements or urination? If those symptoms last more than 2 weeks please see your gynecologist. Back in 2008, I heard the late Dr Carmel Cohen say if you have symptoms ask your doctor to tell you why it is NOT ovarian cancer. Excellent advice. 

We know now that most of the more common epithelial ovarian cancers start in the Fallopian tubes. We can reduce the risk for ovarian cancer if women have their fallopian tubes removed if they are having other abdominal or gynecologic surgeries also called an opportunistic salpingectomy). ACOG ( The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists with  and endorsement by SGO ( Society of Gynecologic Oncology)  has written recommendations for Fallopian tube removal. You can read more here. 
 

Check back through the month as I highlight some other facts about ovarian cancer and how to treat it. 

 

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!