Pass it on. Awareness can save lives.

I am posting this on behalf of a friend, please read and copy/paste to your own blog or Facebook page or wherever someone may read it? Thanks!

"I ask each of you to read the list of symptoms (below) and make yourself aware of ovarian cancer. Many times doctors overlook these symptoms and miss the opportunity for early diagnosis. Ovarian cancer is known as the "silent cancer", but that is not true.

Nearly 89% of all diagnosed women experience symptoms even at early stages, yet we often dismiss them. I've met too many women who were donated after their doctors ignored them for years. Each of us has the power to take control over our own health.

Nearly five years ago, a doctor told me I was too young and it was impossible for my "cyst" to be ovarian cancer. Fortunately for me, I sought out a specialist to perform my surgery anyway. This decision saved my life, twice. Remember this, if ovarian cancer is even slightly suspected, having a gynaecological oncologist perform the surgery can increase 5 year survival by 25%!
Tell every woman you know!

Ovarian cancer symptoms:

*bloating
*pelvic or abdominal pain
*trouble eating or feeling full quickly
*urinary symptoms, such as urgent or frequent feelings of needing to go

When the occurrence of these symptoms is unusual for you, or when they are present almost daily and last for more than a few weeks, they should prompt a woman to see a doctor, preferably a gynaecological oncologist.

Better safe than sorry, statistics suggest, because when ovarian cancer is diagnosed early, the chance for a cure is much better.

Ovarian cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death among women and kills more women than all the other gyn-cancers combined. There is no reliable test for early detection and more effective treatments are needed so we can save the 1000’s of women diagnosed annually.

I've been struggling with ovarian cancer for the past five years. This weekend I'll be participating in my fourth HERA Climb4Life event in Salt Lake City. I'm very lucky to be healthy and strong today and looking forward to climbing and enjoying the beautiful clean mountain air.

The HERA Women's Cancer Foundation raises money for cutting edge ovarian cancer research grants at major institutions. The HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax ID # 71-0879772. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Please consider making a donation --- no amount is too small (or too big). Thank you so much!
Donate Here!
Be aware,
Samantha

Climbing in Big Cottonwood Canyon during the 2007 Climb 4 Life.