National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Why Teal?
September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and we’re all about wearing teal. Why teal? We’re so glad you asked!
Teal is the color that reminds everyone – that’s women and anyone who has a woman in their lives that they love such as a mom, a sister, a wife or a friend – that Ovarian Cancer is a life-threatening disease that cannot be ignored.
Teal is the color that reminds us of the major symptoms of Ovarian Cancer: bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, and feeling the need to urinate urgently and often.
Teal is the color that reminds us to know the risk factors for Ovarian Cancer: family history, age, high number of lifetime ovulations, breast cancer, hormone replacement therapy, fertility treatments, being overweight and endometriosis.
Teal is the color that reminds us to adopt healthy habits that reduce risk factors for cancer including eating a wholesome diet, exercise, not smoking or taking drugs and maintaining an appropriate BMI.
Teal is the color that reminds us to participate in National Ovarian Cancer Awareness events such as walks and fund-raisers to support research to end the disease.
Teal is the color that reminds us to visit our physicians for regular check-ups or to investigate any health issues that are out of the ordinary for our bodies. Pap tests do not detect Ovarian Cancer.
Teal is the color that reminds us that 22,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer every year and over half of the cases are deadly. One in 75 women will develop Ovarian Cancer in her lifetime.
Teal is the color that reminds us that Ovarian Cancer is the 8th most common type of cancer among women (excluding skin cancers) but the 5th most common deadly form of cancer for women.
Teal is the color that reminds us that early Ovarian Cancer has few to no symptoms. But if Ovarian Cancer is caught early before it spreads, it is far less likely to be fatal. (90% survival rate in the first 5 years)
Teal is the color that reminds us that we must stop Ovarian Cancer with our support and our actions.
Sources: WhyTeal.org, Medical News Today, ConsumerSafety.org and Ovarian.org
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