Oprah
As everyone knows October is breast cancer awareness month. September was OVCA awareness month. Not one word in the media. I understand Oprah is doing a big show on Breast Cancer. I decided to write her an email about bring awareness to women about OVCA. Who better than Oprah. I have emailed her before about this to no avail. I was thinking if we all email her, maybe she will take notice. I think it is worth a shot. Thanks, www.oprah.com
Replies
I totally agree with you. Maybe if all of us write her she might say something. I will write to her too!!!
Michelle
Here is the email that I just sent to Oprah!
Oprah,
As you know October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and you are going to do a big show about it but.....Did youalso know that September was OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH? I have been affected by Ovarian Cancer because I had it. March 07 changed my life forever. The doctors found a small basketball size tumor on my right ovary and my life was changed forever. I had 6 chemo treatments, lost my hair and now life has returned to somewhat of a normal. But it will never be the same. Now I think I know why this happened to me. So I can make other women aware of these symptoms. And what better person to spread the word about the symptoms then you. Oprah! Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer do have ties to one another. You are at great risk to get Ovarian Cancer if you have had Breast Cancer and vise versa. That is what it\'s more important to spread the word about Ovarian Cancer. The sypmtoms are silent...They whisper so listen!
These symptoms include:
* Bloating
* Pelvic or abdominal pain
* Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
* Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)
Women who have these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks should consult their physician, preferably a gynecologist. Persistence of symptoms is key, especially when the symptoms do not resolve with normal interventions such as diet change, exercise, rest, etc...
I knew none of this and I got to the point that I looked like I was 9 months pregnant. I didn\'t go to my gynecologist because I had no idea. I went to my ulcer doctor because that\'s what I thought it was.
The agreement on common symptoms of ovarian cancer will hopefully lead to earlier diagnosis when a cure is more likely. They know that when women are diagonosed in Stage 1 of the disease, it is 90% curable.
It is estimated that more than 21,000 women will be told they have ovarian cancer this year and more than 15,000 will die from this deadly cancer. Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women. At present, about 80% of these cancers are not diagnosed in their early stages, leading to a reduced chance of survival.
The Risk factors of ovarian cancer include:
* Genetic predisposition
* Personal or family history of breast, ovarian or colon cancer
* Increasing age
* Undesired infertility
FACTS
* All women are at risk
* Symptoms exist - they can be vague, but increase over time
* Early detection increases survival rate
* A Pap test DOES NOT detect ovarian cancer.
I can go on and on but I know I have limited space here.
Just please know that it is just as important for you to spread the word about ovarian cancer. We need to let as many women as we can know about this because I don\'t want anyone to go through what I and many other women have gone through and are going through right now.
Thanks for listening.
Michelle
Wonderful Michelle. Come on everyone. Let\'s get on the bandwagon an email Oprah. Thanks.
I will do this as soon as I get back to the uk.. well done ladies.. xxx
I agree, Anita, what Michelle wrote is wonderful! I will email Oprah as well. Also considering emailing Ellen Degeneres. Her website for the show is http://ellen.warnerbros.com/
I have Emailed both of them. Maybe we will get lucky with either of them. Or even better, both.