Ovarian Cancer Screenings

When ovarian cancer is found early, nearly 95 percent of patients live five years or longer after diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society, yet only about 20 percent of cases are detected early. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, so you might be seeing more people wearing teal and sharing the sometimes-subtle signs of ovarian cancer. These can include bloating, pelvic/abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary urgency or frequency.

Ovarian Cancer up Close

Every September, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance recognizes “30 Days of Teal” to help raise awareness of the often deadly disease during National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer – bloating, feeling full quickly, urinary frequency, backaches, fatigue and nausea –can be subtle or easily mistaken for other things, which is why ovarian cancer often goes untreated until the disease has spread to the pelvis and abdomen. While the five-year survival rate is currently less than 50 percent, when ovarian cancer is found early, that figure jumps to 94 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Ask Sofia: Is it safe to use talcum powder?

While the product has been around for generations, talcum powder is in the news more than ever. In February, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $72 million to a family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer after the family argued the death was linked to her use of baby powder. With many more cases regarding talcum powder filed elsewhere, questions about safety are cropping up.