DI turns teal for ovarian cancer

Each year in the United States, 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed and 14,000 women die from the disease, according to Daniel Island resident and eight-year ovarian cancer survivor Linda Carmain.

“I have had friends who were diagnosed around the same time as I was, two of them, and they are no longer with us,” said Carmain. “I am very lucky.”

Because there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer, having knowledge and awareness of the symptoms associated with the disease are vital.

“Ovarian cancer has no test and the signs are so subtle that most women are not diagnosed until they’re stage three or four,” said Carmain, who is also a representative for the Charleston Branch of the South Carolina Ovarian Cancer Foundation (SCOCF).

In order to help raise awareness, Daniel Island, along with hundreds of communities across the U.S. and Canada, is participating in “Turn the Towns Teal,” a national campaign that promotes awareness of ovarian cancer, its subtle symptoms and risk factors, according to the organization’s website.

SCOCF has partnered with the awareness campaign and has placed ribbons, posters and symptom cards at various sites across Daniel Island.

The group’s mission, like Turn the Towns Teal, is to educate women on the warning signs of ovarian cancer, support those diagnosed with the disease and promote ovarian cancer research, stated a press release.

If interested in learning more, email Carmain at lcarmain@icloud.com. Symptom cards are available for pickup at participating local stores and doctors’ offices.

“Know your body,
know the signs!”

Bloating, difficulty eating, pelvic/abdominal pain and urinary frequency are associated with ovarian cancer. If these symptoms occur for more than two weeks and these symptoms are unusual for you, see a gynecologist and ask about ovarian cancer.

REMEMBER:
“Until there’s a test, awareness is best!”

Source: South Carolina Ovarian Cancer Foundation (SCOCF).