Ovarian Cancer: It’s called the “Silent Killer” but the Survivors I’ve Met are Anything But!

We’ve all seen the t-shirts with the blazing words F**k Cancer, and Cancer Sucks, among a throng of other cancer awareness slogans. Everyone hates cancer, especially those with personal connections. But those of us who have had cancer ourselves, or have become the = caregivers for those with cancer, have lived on the front lines and learned the importance of being proactive for our care as well as our cause. Ovarian cancer is a cancer that doesn’t get its due respect; by that I mean it lacks acknowledgement and good old PR. All told, the number of women diagnosed is low by cancer standards, but the real reason ovarian cancer often falls off the radar is due to its high number – the high number of deaths. Ovarian cancer ranks number one in terms of deaths from any cancer of the reproductive system — and those mortality rates have barely improved in 40 years! As survivors drop off, our voices diminish. Approximately 40 years ago, both my mother-in-law and her sister were diagnosed with and ultimately succumbed to ovarian cancer. I witnessed great suffering, and my then-to-be-husband and I planned a quick “living room wedding” so that his mother, Liese, could attend. At that time, her treatment seemed inconceivably challenging, yet in August of 2005, when diagnosed with the same disease, I discovered the incredible fact that in all those years, things had not appreciably advanced in the detection, treatment, and prognosis for ovarian cancer. Eight years out from ...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Tags: Advocacy Cancer Health Reform Policy Women's Health Source Type: blogs