Ovarian cancer is one of the truly nasty members of the cancer clan. It has very few signs of being present until it’s in a devastating state, having spread within the pelvis and belly. The overall five-year survival rate is 46%. According to the University of Kansas Cancer Center, it “can progress quickly from early stages to advanced stages within a year.”
The signs of the disease are abdominal bloating or swelling, quickly feeling full from eating, weight loss, discomfort in the pelvic area, fatigue, back pain, change in bowel habits like constipation and a frequent need to urinate.
Many may write off those symptoms as just “feeling off a bit,” but women should not hesitate to discuss these signs with their gynecologist.
According to veteran gynecologists, more research needs to take place to develop earlier detection of the cancer.
One of those people is Dr. James Strauss, “an esteemed hematology oncologist in Dallas and principal investigator for multiple clinical trials at Mary Crowley Cancer Research.” He will be honored with the inaugural Lynn Lentscher Difference Maker Award at the 6th Annual Runway For Hope Luncheon And Fashion Show on Thursday, February 27, at Vouv Dallas.
Benefiting the Be The Difference Foundation, the event will also feature a program featuring fashions from Nordstrom NorthPark modeled by eight ovarian cancer survivors. One of those models is a 12-year-old who “was diagnosed [with ovarian cancer] at just nine years old.”
With sponsorships ranging from $1,000 to $15,000, individual tickets are going for $150.