AN INTRODUCTION
For those of you who've been directed to this site, here is an introduction to OVARIAN CANCER.
OVARIAN CANCER - What is it? | ||
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AWARENESS for ovarian cancer:
The symptoms are vague and non-specific. Almost every woman will experience symptoms like these at various times in their lives. In most cases the symptoms will not be caused by ovarian cancer.
If you experience these symptoms & they are a change from your normal for you, if they persist for more than a few weeks and there is no other explanation then see your doctor.
The incidence of ovarian cancer increases with age, with most cases occuring after the age of 45.
However, ovarian cancer can affect women of ALL ages, including teenagers ( I have heard of much younger cases)
Family history plays big role as indicator for women who may be at higher risk-one or more close relatives with breast cancer, ovarian cancer ( i was also asked if family history of bowel cancer)
Late menopause, infertility & not having children seems to increase your risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Conversely, having had several children, breast feeding and using the contraceptive pill have all shown to reduce the risk.
If you are concerned talk to your doctor about your risk.
If Ovarian Cancer is suspected:
Talk to your doctor about the possibility of ovarian cancer.
Your doctor should perform a pelvic examination and if no other cause cn be determined for your symptoms, ask your doctor to arrange a Transvaginal ultrasound examination.
This test is very good at showing abnormalities on the ovary!
There is also a simple blood test which the doctors can also order-It is called the CA-125 blood test-it isnt very reliable & shouldnt be the only test, especially if you haven't been through menopause.
If you have ALL the above tests and ovarian cancer points to the possibility of ovarian cancer then seek a referral to a Gynaecological Oncologist asap!
About 75% of women in Australia alone will be diagnosed at an advanced stage, where the cancer has spread and is very difficult to treat successfully.
One woman dies every 10 hours!
Ovarian cancer is the 6th most common cause of cancer death in women. Ovarian cancer is now more common that Cervical cancer and it kills many more women!
For more information go to www.ovca.org or log on to google and ask for your nearest help centre!
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The main reason Promote Your Group got involved with Ovarian Cancer Awareness was because of a young Australian Author by the name of Debbie Stevens. Her writing, related to Ovarian Cancer, will be displayed at the bottom of this page, but below is a little History of how she got involved with http://www.ovca.org OVCA Australia
OVCA Australian-National Ovarian Cancer Network, Australia
I lost my mother 6 years ago to Ovarian Cancer, and after the first published collection of poetry, I joined up as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Co-ordinator with OvCa Australia-National Ovarian Cancer Network, Australia. They are a non-profit organization who simply support patients & their family/friends with medical information, updates, resources and education. We try to spread the awareness message to as many places humanly possible, something I love! OvCa Australia has allowed me to be a part of many events and I've also had the opportunities to co-ordinate a few. I began with a hospital information night at local hospital, held 3 stalls at a local annual community festival, attended Soroptimist Womens Health Forum whereby I accepted donations of $1,000 on behalf of OvCa, had chance to hold stall for Womens Health Forum in Sydney serving over 400 medical practioners and then held the first Awareness Week Ladies Luncheon at our local Leagues Club. My most recent project was the collaboration in co-ordination of the first Ovarian Cancer Tribute Quilt.
Today, although not as actively involved but still a part of, I continue to raise awareness on my own via all my websites and my books. I have found working alone I get a lot more done?
Websites-
Scent of Freesia http://up.to/scentofreesia
Mispoetic's Place www.mispoeticplace.tk or http://debra2760.tripod.com
Debsquest http://debsquest.bravehost.com
OvCa Australia www.ovca.org
My writing has taken the awareness message a lot further, book shops and online! Not to mention a couple of libraries now stock the books here in OZ (Australia).
A Piece of my Mind - Special Edition 2006'A piece of my mind' was Debbie's first published book of poems. Its first release in January 2001 saw a great public interest with all copies sold! Today, its back better than before, with all original poems plus a bonus of Debbie's latest work-The sole purpose to its creation was to raise awareness to Ovarian Cancer, but also Debbie's personal tribute to her mother, Judy. This Special Edition can now be shared by everyone and hopefully help those going through the grieving process following the loss of a loved one.
Follow A Freesia'Follow a Freesia' takes us on a trip through time-through each struggle, each crisis and all the fun bits in between!This incredible journey unfolds with each story having its own poetic introduction...from Debbie's website, Scent of Freesia and the offspring; Buds of Freesia this little book sums it all up under one roof-Bound to entertain and very easy to read. Debbie Stevens continues her quest to use her words as an army...they fight to raise awareness to Ovarian Cancer and remind us of one daughter's devotion to her mother, Judy.
Prescious Cache Poetry in our Lives'Precious Cache' is a collection of poems written as an unveiling of growth- The author's journey is captured here, and through her personal experience of loss & grief, has allowed the reader insight into the many new phases and changes of her life, and that of her poetry-
To order debbie's books, online, just double-click
the thumbnail.
The items you see on the following pages are a large sample of what we can do, here at Promote Your Group to help bring an awareness to the disease of Ovarian Cancer. The pages identified as Australia, are the same identical pages as the USA, but because of shipping costs to the land down under (Australia) the pages are set up for payment through Paypal and are password protected so you don't order the wrong item that has high shipping charges.
If you've been directed here by a friend, feel free to browse our pages. If there's anything you like, just double click the item and it will bring you to the shopping cart. If you like what you see here, please feel free to tell a friend. $1.50 from every sale goes into Ovarian Cancer Research.