Ovarian Cancer Awareness and the #GynCAN Challenge

Welcome to September. I love September. School has started. Weather is beginning to change from summer to fall. My birthday is in September. And everything has pumpkin spice added to it.

But even more importantly, a cause near to my heart is recognized nationally in the month of September.

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

What does that mean here on the blog?

Lots of teal. Teal is the awareness color for ovarian cancer.

How about my social media?

More teal.

And in my everyday life?

Yep. Teal.

Teal and talking about the symptoms, complications, research, and treatments of ovarian cancer.

Tuesday I was delighted to spend the day speaking with students from Brownsburg High School and Harris Academy in Brownsburg, IN.

We talked about the writing process, breaking out of a writing block, the publication process, and character development.

We also talked about ovarian cancer awareness.

Okay, fine. I talked about ovarian cancer awareness.

Picture the slightly horrified looks on the faces of a classroom full of young adults as I said words like ovaries and urination and bloating. I said these embarrassing words out loud. For everyone to hear. Even the people in the room without ovaries!

It was priceless. Priceless because it's information they needed to hear, even if it's embarrassing—especially since it's embarrassing. And because they actually listened—even made eye contact with me—and that gives me hope.

Hope because a recent study by Ovarian Cancer Action Research in the UK has found that young women are more likely to turn to the internet for health advice than visit a doctor when the symptoms are related to gynecological health.

"More than half (57 per cent) of younger women would turn to Google instead of seeking medical help and just under half (48 per cent) are afraid of being intimately examined, according to the research published today by Ovarian Cancer Action."

Early detection is crucial to saving lives when it comes to ovarian cancer. If it is found and treated before it spreads beyond the ovary, the five-year survival rate of ovarian cancer is 92%. However, only 15% of ovarian cancer cases are discovered in this stage. Late stage diagnoses reduce women's average five-year survival rates to around 40% (source: American Cancer Society)

So despite the embarrassment, this is something we need to be talking about. Which is why you'll hear me over and again in September talking about the "embarrassing" symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Don't walk away, dudes. I'm talking to you, too. You need to know these symptoms because I'm pretty sure you all know at least one person with ovaries.

There's a simple way to remember the symptoms. If you want to BEAT ovarian cancer, you need to see a doctor if you have

Bloating
Eat less but feel full
Abdominal pain
Trouble using the bathroom

If you see a doctor and they don't take you seriously, then you need to find a new doctor. Know your body and speak up. Don't let anyone make you feel like you aren't in charge when it comes to your personal health.

Doing these things can save lives.

You can help, too. Join the GynCAN Challenge and help spread the word about ovarian cancer every day this month. Or just follow along on social media with me, sharing and liking posts as we go. 

And don't forget to wear your teal. You can't go wrong with teal!