MANCHESTER, NH – Catholic Medical Center is going teal September 8 as part of a month-long campaign to raise awareness around ovarian cancer. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and the designated color is teal. Employees are encouraged to wear teal, and will be sharing photos on social media to spread the word.
“It is incredibly important that women make themselves aware of the signs, symptoms, and treatment options around this disease,” said Joseph Pepe, MD, President & CEO of CMC. “Ovarian cancer is highly treatable if it’s caught early, but too often the symptoms go unnoticed or mistreated. By the time cancer is diagnosed, it’s too late.”
1 in 75 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in her lifetime, yet 75 percent of those women won’t be diagnosed until advanced stages.
Ovarian cancer cannot be detected on a Pap smear and the symptoms are easy to miss. They include: abdominal swelling/bloating; pelvic discomfort; loss of appetite and/or feeling full early during a meal; indigestion; nausea; change in bowel or bladder habits; back pain; vaginal pain and vaginal bleeding. None of these symptoms are specific to ovarian cancer and can be associated with many very benign conditions as well as a few other serious conditions.
“I encourage women to be their strongest advocate,” says Dr. Pepe, pointing out that a woman knows her body best and, if she notices these changes, “she should not shy away from having a conversation with her primary care doctor or gynecologist.”
In addition to wearing teal on Friday, CMC’s skybridge lights have turned teal. City of Manchester employees are also taking part in the donning of teal clothing on Friday, as are other area business and community leaders. Dr. Pepe will be giving a community lecture on ovarian cancer on Monday, September 18, at 6 p.m. in Roy Auditorium, level C. Admission is free. For more information, visit catholicmedicalcenter.org.