The Monogrammed Marie: Wednesday Wellness: Ovarian Cancer Awareness

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month and as a daughter of a woman who lost her fight to ovarian cancer, I try my best to spread the word about the disease. The majority of women hear a lot about breast cancer, especially during October. While it is important to know the signs of and spread the word about breast cancer, we should also be learning about the dangers of ovarian. One of the best ways to keep yourself healthy is to know your body. As women, we focus on our weight and skin without actually noticing the small red-flag-flying changes. So, here is some information to teach you about the symptoms of ovarian cancer, statistics about the disease, and ideas for how you can help spread the word to your female loved ones.

What is ovarian cancer?

According to The CDC:

"Ovarian cancer may cause one or more of these signs and symptoms—

Vaginal bleeding or discharge from your vagina that is not normal for you.
Pain in the pelvic or abdominal area (the area below your stomach and between your hip bones).
Back pain.
Bloating, which is when the area below your stomach swells or feels full.
Feeling full quickly while eating.
A change in your bathroom habits, such as having to pass urine very badly or very often, constipation, or diarrhea.

Pay attention to your body, and know what is normal for you. If you have vaginal bleeding that is not normal for you, see a doctor right away. Also see a doctor if you have any of the other signs for two weeks or longer and they are not normal for you. These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see a doctor. The earlier ovarian cancer is found and treated, the more likely treatment will be effective."

Who has ovarian cancer?

"The American Cancer Society estimates for ovarian cancer in the United States for 2013 there are:

About 22,240 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
About 14,230 women will die from ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cancer among women, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers. It ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Ovarian cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in women. A woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 72. Her lifetime chance of dying from ovarian cancer is about 1 in 100. (These statistics don’t count low malignant potential ovarian tumors.)

This cancer mainly develops in older women. About half of the women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 63 years or older. It is more common in white women that African-American women.

The rate at which women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer has been slowly falling over the past 20 years."

How can I help?

Visit The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance or The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition to find helpful tips on how to get involved and help find a cure.

The easiest way to raise awareness for ovarian cancer is to wear teal! Here are some ideas: