Awareness of Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Key to Saving Lives

Washington, D.C. – December 1, 2009 – “The cancer community is enormously pleased by House passage of a resolution encouraging awareness of ovarian cancer, the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers. The resolution calls valuable attention to the disease, which will be diagnosed in an estimated 21,550 women and take the lives of 14,600 women this year alone.

“If ovarian cancer is diagnosed and treated at an early stage, the survival rate is as high as 90 percent. Women should be aware that, while there is currently no reliable early detection test for ovarian cancer, some persistent, non-specific symptoms can be a sign of the disease, including bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling full quickly or difficulty eating, or frequent urination.

“As research into ovarian cancer continues, all women should be aware of possible symptoms and discuss any changes in their body with their doctor. The resolution that passed today, which was sponsored by Rep.’s Steve Israel (D-NY), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Dan Burton (R-IN), Darrell Issa (R-CA), will help to increase awareness of ovarian cancer among all women who are at risk for the disease.”

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.

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