2008 Woodie Awards
Victim's son raises awareness for ovarian cancer this month
Robyn Jodlowski
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Unlike the visible and well-known Pink Ribbon Program and Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, many women have never heard of ovarian cancer or its symptoms.
"Ovarian cancer is taking too many lives and deserves attention," said Tim Brown, president of the Central Minnesota Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC).
Ovarian cancer entered the forefront of Brown's life when his mother was diagnosed with the disease, and he has since been advocating patient and caregiver responsibility as well as awareness of the difficulties of recognizing cancer.
Advocacy groups including the NOCC use the slogan, "Ovarian cancer whispers," meaning its symptoms and signs are difficult to spot and are often confused for other conditions.
"The disease is so vague and many of the symptoms are things a woman could have often," he said. "There's lots of pieces involved."
Ovarian.org lists the symptoms of the disease as: pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort; vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea and indigestion; frequency and/or urgency of urination in the absence of an infection; unexplained weight gain or weight loss; pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating and/or feeling of fullness; ongoing unusual fatigue; and unexplained changes in bowel habits.
"What I tell women is that if you have something in your body, if you have a symptom that you've not had before and it lasts for two weeks, you need to get in to see a doctor," he said. "That's the key right there."
Unfortunately, even diagnosing ovarian cancer is difficult.
"There's no screening test; there isn't like a blood test yet that we have. We're trying to get to that point, but as for funding, there's only so much money, and unfortunately we're not to the point of having a test like a prostate test," Brown said. "We keep hoping we'll get to that point because that will help people be diagnosed earlier, and your survival rate is so much higher. Most women are not diagnosed until late stages - that's the unfortunate thing about this disease."
If the cancer is caught in its early stages, survival rates loom in the 90 percent range. Later stages are more difficult to treat, and the cancer can spread very quickly.
That's why it's important for women to pay attention to their bodies.
"If something's different with your body for two weeks, get in to see a doctor," he said.
Unlike the visible and well-known Pink Ribbon Program and Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, many women have never heard of ovarian cancer or its symptoms.
"Ovarian cancer is taking too many lives and deserves attention," said Tim Brown, president of the Central Minnesota Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC).
Ovarian cancer entered the forefront of Brown's life when his mother was diagnosed with the disease, and he has since been advocating patient and caregiver responsibility as well as awareness of the difficulties of recognizing cancer.
Advocacy groups including the NOCC use the slogan, "Ovarian cancer whispers," meaning its symptoms and signs are difficult to spot and are often confused for other conditions.
"The disease is so vague and many of the symptoms are things a woman could have often," he said. "There's lots of pieces involved."
Ovarian.org lists the symptoms of the disease as: pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort; vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea and indigestion; frequency and/or urgency of urination in the absence of an infection; unexplained weight gain or weight loss; pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating and/or feeling of fullness; ongoing unusual fatigue; and unexplained changes in bowel habits.
"What I tell women is that if you have something in your body, if you have a symptom that you've not had before and it lasts for two weeks, you need to get in to see a doctor," he said. "That's the key right there."
Unfortunately, even diagnosing ovarian cancer is difficult.
"There's no screening test; there isn't like a blood test yet that we have. We're trying to get to that point, but as for funding, there's only so much money, and unfortunately we're not to the point of having a test like a prostate test," Brown said. "We keep hoping we'll get to that point because that will help people be diagnosed earlier, and your survival rate is so much higher. Most women are not diagnosed until late stages - that's the unfortunate thing about this disease."
If the cancer is caught in its early stages, survival rates loom in the 90 percent range. Later stages are more difficult to treat, and the cancer can spread very quickly.
That's why it's important for women to pay attention to their bodies.
"If something's different with your body for two weeks, get in to see a doctor," he said.