Editor:

Have you ever stopped to consider the colors of fall? Red, yellows, orange and black (Halloween), browns and pink. Yes, pink. In October, you will see stores, grocery items, newspapers, magazines, TV, hospitals and doctors’ offices all decked out and promoting the color pink. This is to remind the community that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And what a great and wonderful cause this is to help us raise funds and awareness of a cancer that takes the lives of many women each year.

But have you ever stopped to consider the color teal and the month of September? This color and month is set aside to bring Awareness of ovarian cancer. Do we see that color displayed all around us? It saddens me to say “no.”

Ovarian cancer is a serious and under-recognized threat to Women’s health. This cancer is the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers and is the fifth leading cause of cancer among American women. This cancer affects 1 in 68 women in the U.S. More than 20,000 women will be diagnosed each year, with 15,000 of these ending in death. Currently, 55 percent of woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer will die from it within five years.

No woman is immune, but awareness makes a difference. Ovarian cancer doesn’t have a screening test and is often referred to as a “silent killer” because its symptoms can be vague and similar to the symptoms of many other conditions that can be part of a woman’s everyday life. Symptoms are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly and feeling the need to urinate urgently or often. Because these symptoms can be non -specific and not recognized by many women, only 19 percent of all cases will be found at an early stage.

I never give any thought to the color teal until I was diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian cancer in June. I am so thankful for a great gynecologist that listened to me during my yearly exam and for referring me to a gynecologic oncologist. With their help, I plan on beating this cancer.

Our community needs to be a part of the nationwide effort to bring this life-saving message about ovarian cancer forward to the public and break the silence. We can make a difference and hopefully add the color teal to our awareness when September comes again.

Fairhope