F**K Cancer- Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Today is my sister Sierra’s EIGHT years cancer free. Since my sister’s diagnosis with Stage 1 Ovarian Cancer in 2014, my family and I have actively tried to raise awareness for ovarian cancer and raise money for cancer research through Relay for Life. In honor of Sierra, my blog post today will be all about raising awareness for ovarian cancer.

“Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. A woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 78.”

Ovarian cancer risk is very real, and it is one of the hardest cancers to catch early. This type of cancer is rare in women younger than 40, with half of all ovarian cancers found in women 63 years of age or older. Sierra was only 12 when she was diagnosed and had her ovarian tumor removed. My sister is proof that it does not discriminate.

More risk factors can be found here:

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html

Early detection is KEY for increasing survival rates of ovarian cancer. With that being said, only about 20% of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage. The key signs and symptoms to watch for are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms such as urgency or frequency. As you can see, these are relatively generic feelings which can make detecting ovarian cancer early tricky.

My family has always expressed how fortunate we feel to have been able to get a diagnosis for Sierra at an early stage. Since her cancer was contained to just her ovary, a surgery to remove one of her ovaries was all it took to find a cure. While there were many weeks of recovery from a major surgery, and many months and years of routine doctors appointments, one thing always remained consistent. We are in this together, we are all here for her to be her caregivers and provide support, and we will always let this remind us that life can change in an instant.

Today Sierra is a junior at Shepherd University studying to become a Physical Education Teacher. She is actively involved on campus and in the community, including being the President of her sorority and a lead for the county Relay for Life program. She loves animals, especially her dogs Chloe and Waverly, and her 3 rabbits. She is genuine and feisty, caring, and honest. I am so proud to be her sister, both today and everyday!

To donate to our Relay for Life team click here: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/tealforsierra

The American Cancer Society provides excellent information about all types of cancer. More about ovarian cancer can be found here: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer.html