LOSE WEIGHT
The Smart Weigh
FREE ASSESSMENT
www.djweightmanagement.ca
DIANE
Certified Weight Loss Consultant Lost 125 lbs, 20 yrs. experience
Weight Management
289-897-8903
Vol.16 No. 25
Pelham’s independent news source from the Heart of Niagara
The
VOICE
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Proud to be
The Voice of Pelham
for 15 years
Celebrating our 15th anniversary in print
Walking for hope, striving for early detection BY SARAH MURRELL VOICE Staff Ovarian Cancer. It’s not a term we hear very often, there is little awareness about the disease and few cars are sporting turquoise ribbons. Sadly, however, that lack of awareness contributes to the deaths of 1,700 Canadian women each year. One local woman, an Ovarian Cancer survivor, and her best friend are working to change that by chairing this year’s Niagara Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope and raising awareness of the disease and its symptoms. “It never entered my mind,” says Jayne Watson of her own awareness of Ovarian Cancer. “I thought I was just getting old.” When doctor visits became more frequent and tests became more serious, Watson says she knew then it was bad, but still did not realize it was “bad, bad” and she had late stage Ovarian Cancer. Based on the size of her tumours, Watson was told she’d had Ovarian Cancer for two years before it was detected. With nothing in place to screen for the cancer and symptoms that are generic and often attributed to women’s issues early detection is rare. But like other cancers early detection significantly increases the survival rate, from 20 per cent to 90 per cent. Watson’s best friend and business partner Diane Watters was more than shocked when she heard Watson’s diagnosis. Watters’ mother died 21 years ago from Ovarian Cancer and she says she just could not believe that the same cancer would strike another woman so close to her.
DIANE Watters (left) and Jayne Watson are overwhelmed by the communit support already given for the upcoming Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope, with more than $2,000 already donated. The walk will be held Sept. 9 at Harold Black Park to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer research and support. Sarah Murrell/Voice Photo Watters says there has been progress over the past 20 years, she’s seen the difference in Watson’s treatment and her mother’s. “It needs to go further,” says Watson, which is why she is working so hard on the walk and raising awareness. “It’s too late for me,” she says, adding she’s thinking of her daughter and granddaughters and Watters’ daughter. Both women say they’ll be
happy if just one woman second guesses her symptoms and goes back to her doctor for more tests. As part of planning for the walk Watson and Watters took part in Summerfest and held a garage sale. Both events raised $2,047 and, possibly more importantly, gave the women an opportunity to talk to thousands of people about Ovarian Cancer. Watson says she has a couple dozen survivor pins to hand
out and, despite the number of people who have shared their stories, she has only been able to hand out four of those pins. “It’s hard on my heart,” she says of hearing so many stories of Ovarian Cancer that have not ended well. “It’s made the numbers a reality.” And the numbers are a stark reality. More than 2,500 women are diagnosed in Canada each year and of them, 1,750 will die. There is no early detection screening and early diagnosis is almost impossible due to the relatively generic symptoms. Women, say Watters and Watson, have to be their own advocates and listen to their bodies. “You know your body,” says Watson, noting women know when something isn’t right and they should ask their doctor to take a second look if they have concerns. In the meantime Ovarian Cancer Canada is the only organization in Canada dedicated to research and programs for Ovarian Cancer and the Walk of Hope is the only major fundraiser for this type of cancer. Of the money raised, Watson says more than 70 per cent goes directly to research which will help find a screening test and therefore early diagnosis for more women. This year the walk is being held in Harold Black Park in Pelham on Sunday, Sept. 9. The 5km walk kicks off at 10 a.m. with registration followed by a small opening ceremony attended by Mayor Dave Augustyn and some musical entertainment. The event is being sponsored by several local businesses including Sobeys, Country Corner, Giant Tiger, Devries, Dan’s Produce, Nature’s Corner, Mossimo’s and Tim Horton’s.
“I was overwhelmed with the community support,” says Watson, noting the support of local businesses, the donations to the garage sale and the people who purchased items at the garage sale, and the people who have volunteered have all been amazing. To walk or make a donation go to ovariancancerwalkofhope. ca where you can register or make a donation in support of a walker, including Watson and Watters. Watson says if someone wants to walk but doesn’t have a computer or needs help with the online registration, she is willing to do that just contact her at 289-897-8903
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms There is no one specific symptom for ovarian cancer. The symptoms are generally vague, non-specific and can be mistakenly attributed to other causes. Just because you have the symptoms, does not mean you have ovarian cancer. Common Warning Symptoms •Swelling or bloating of the abdomen •Pelvic discomfort or heaviness •Back or abdominal pain •Fatigue •Gas, nausea, indigestion •Change in bowel habits •Emptying your bladder frequently •Menstrual irregularities •Weight loss or weight gain Other symptoms... •Mass or “lump” in your pelvis that you can feel •Inability to eat normally •Pain with intercourse ªVaginal bleeding If you have one or more of these symptoms and these symptoms persist for 3 weeks or longer, see your health practitioner immediately.