September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Ovarian Cancer.  Until recently, it was ‘just’ a concept out there – scary yes, but not something I thought about on a regular basis. It’s not the most common form of cancer in women (breast cancer is), or even numbers two or three (lung and colorectal cancers). And most of us tend to take our health for granted, I think – not even considering something like cancer as a possibility. Unless, or until, we have to.

Last month, I was diagnosed with a cyst on my left ovary, after over a year of semi-recurring pain on that side. And after being told that my pain was ‘too high’ to be anything involving my ovaries. But after staggering pain sent me to the urgent care clinic, I finally had an answer – of sorts. A cyst – not a ‘simple’, blood-filled one, but a ‘complex’ mass that would require further screening before it could be determined to be benign. Or not.

The doctor at urgent care was careful to point out that in most circumstances, there is nothing to worry about from a cyst like this one. But he urged me to follow-up with my own doctor, which I did. She took a look at the ultrasound which had revealed the cyst and referred me to a specialist, whom I saw last week.

I don’t know if it was the fact that my doctor called me personally to let me know she was referring me on – or the fact that the particular specialist I needed to see happened to be a gynecological oncologist (‘cancer doctor’), but I was very nervous about the appointment. Even after being reassured that if there was truly anything that the doctors were REALLY worried about, they would be rushing me in for tests, not scheduling them weeks later – I was worrying. The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer? Are abdominal pain (check), swollen or bloated abdomen (hard to tell – either that or I’m just plain fat…), and ‘feeling very tired all of the time’. Um, yeah – definite check there. But those symptoms could also be explained away by other causes as well. So I waited, very anxiously, for the appointment at the Cancer Center.

Walking in there was – well, humbling. After all, I am healthy (as far as I know), and so many of the people who enter the building aren’t. It’s a very calming atmosphere in there though, unlike any other hospital facility I’ve ever been in. Which is absolutely understandable – and was definitely appreciated on my part.

The doctor immediately put me at ease by stating that my cyst doesn’t “look malignant” to him, and he’s not worried about cancer in my case. Obviously, that’s just his opinion based on studying the ultrasound and other reports, but it was very reassuring. He feels that because the pain does keep coming back (and worse than before), it makes sense to remove the cyst. So, I will be undergoing a very simple, outpatient, laparoscopic procedure to remove the cyst in a couple of weeks. Obviously they will test it to determine with certainty whether or not it’s for sure benign, but I’m feeling very relieved to know that it most likely will be.

Why am I telling you all about this? Well, I was contacted this week by Seventh Generation, a company that I’m just winding up doing a giveaway for, about an initiative that they are doing with the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month – which just happens to be September. Talk about timing, huh…

Now in my case, there’s probably no cancer involved. But how many women out there are getting a different answer – who are being rushed in for tests, and whose cysts are not benign? Too many. So please take a moment and read on to find out more about how you can help. And how you can learn more about this disease yourself, because while it may not be one of the top three forms of cancer women are being diagnosed with, it’s still cancer. And 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. I still could be one of them.  So could you.

In accordance with their mission to educate women, Seventh Generation has teamed up with the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) to dedicate one day where women can start talking about ovarian cancer and to try to raise much need donations to help educate women on the signs of ovarian cancer.

They’ve created “Let’s Talk… Period” Day and a website, www.LetsTalkPeriod.com where they’re encouraging people to log on September 1st. When you register your email address, Seventh Generation will make a $1 donation to the OCRF, with an overall donation of $22,000 representing the women that will be diagnosed this year. The website has information on ovarian cancer signs, symptoms, risk factors and prevention, because the best way of prevention is through education. If you’re on Twitter, follow the conversation and join in by using the hashtag, #LetsTalkPeriod.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Seventh Generation is hoping that this initiative will get women talking. As a thank you for participating, Seventh Generation will give each registrant a coupon for their organic cotton tampons that are not bleached with chlorine, free of rayon and don’t contain added perfumes or dyes. Why is it important to use unbleached cotton tampons? Find out here:

This post courtesy of: Seventh Generation and Coyne PR. No payment or compensation was received for this post.