September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
By Jessica Schults
Special to The Reporter
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. It’s known as the cancer that whispers because the symptoms are so vague.
In 2004 my mother, Carla Allison, who was born and raised in Tuscumbia, was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer.
Early in her treatment, we were told that, “the longer you can survive, the longer you WILL survive.”
It took several years to truly understand that statement.
What it really means is with each year of survival, new techniques and treatments become available as new medicines to fight this form of cancer that almost 22,000 women will be diagnosed with and nearly 14,000 will die from this year.
It has the highest mortality rate of all the reproductive cancers in women. My mom survived almost 14 years before her battle ended.
Carla had over 150 rounds of various chemos over the years, both infused and taken orally.
She had numerous surgeries and participated in three research studies throughout her cancer treatment.
She was willing to participate in some of these studies, knowing that she would likely not benefit herself from the research, but that it might help other women fighting ovarian cancer in the future.
With such an extended survival (the average survival rate for her staged diagnosis is less than 20% for five years), she was able to benefit from drugs and surgical techniques that other women had pioneered years before her.
In the end, her doctors had to tell her that there were no more options for treatment.
The final drugs that she used, that briefly showed much promise, were medicines that grew out of one of the research studies in which she had been enrolled, genetic medications.
These drugs are the newly developing defense against all cancers. They are drugs that are specific to particular tumors and allow the body’s own immune system to recognize cancer cells and target and kill only those cells while sparing otherwise healthy cells.
Which is unlike standard chemo infusion medications that tear through the body, killing both healthy cells and cancer cells in its path.
New techniques and treatment methods are being developed due to dedicated doctors and those who financially support research funding.
My mom and dad chose UAB for her treatment path and never looked back. Birmingham is renowned for its state-of-the-art medical facilities, doctors and treatment methods.
My mom was a strong proponent of ovarian cancer research funding and often asked for contributions to the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation in lieu of gifts and specified the same instead of flowers at her funeral services.
So, if you are a woman, or if there is a woman in your life whom you love, know the symptoms.
The primary key to survival is early detection. Sadly, many women present with vague symptoms which are treated but the cause is not diagnosed at the time.
As a result, many women are diagnosed after several months or years of treating the symptoms.
The symptoms are unexplained, prolonged stomach bloating, pelvic/abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, urinary issues such as feeling the need to urinate frequently.
All of these symptoms can be related to other illnesses, but when suffering from them for an ongoing period of time without relief, demand that your doctor find the source of the symptoms or find another doctor who will.
Be proactive in your care. Remember, ovarian cancer whispers, so listen to your body.
Join me and Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation on Sunday, Sept. 8, at Aldridge Garden Pavilion in Birmingham for our “Together In Teal Butterfly Release” as we raise awareness of ovarian cancer’s silent signs and symptoms, remember those who have lost their lives and honor those who are battling or have beaten ovarian cancer.
Visit cureovariancancer.org for more details.
