Teal Toes for Lisette and Yoland

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one. 

Last year my friend Lisette died of ovarian cancer.  This spring a classmate from medical school,Yoland Condrey-Tinker, died of ovarian cancer.  Last week I stumbled across this campaign “Teal Toes” to increase the awareness of ovarian cancer.  Both would have loved this. (photo credit)

The month of September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and to help bring attention to the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women, an organization called Teal Toes is asking women to wear teal polish on their piggies in September (and anytime, really!) to prompt conversations about ovarian cancer with other people who might see the color and compliment or question it.

I took a trip to Wal-Mart this past weekend and got my teal nail polish.  It is Nicole “Respect the World Nail” Lacquer by OPI.  Here’s the picture of my teal toes:

The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and the American Cancer Society, with significant support from the Alliance formed a consensus statement on ovarian cancer. The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance has endorsed the consensus statement, which was announced in June 2007. The statement follows.

Historically ovarian cancer was called the “silent killer” because symptoms were not thought to develop until the chance of cure was poor. However, recent studies have shown this term is untrue and that the following symptoms are much more likely to occur in women with ovarian cancer than women in the general population. These symptoms include:

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

Women with ovarian cancer report that symptoms are persistent and represent a change from normal for their bodies. The frequency and/or number of such symptoms are key factors in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Several studies show that even early stage ovarian cancer can produce these symptoms.

Women who have these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks should see their doctor, preferably a gynecologist. Prompt medical evaluation may lead to detection at the earliest possible stage of the disease. Early stage diagnosis is associated with an improved prognosis.

Please visit OCNA for more information.