Wear teal to raise cancer awareness

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Every year, for 30 days, we have the opportunity to stop and think about how this horrible disease, that has no definitive diagnostic test, no definitive treatment plan and no cure in sight, impacts women and girls (yes, girls!) of all ages. The color teal is used to signify ovarian cancer awareness. Please wear teal and explain why.

If you have a lady in your life (grandmother, mother, sister, niece, aunt, cousin, friend), encourage them to get informed about the very vague symptoms of ovarian cancer and talk to their doctor if they say yes to any of them. The symptoms can include: Eating little but feeling full, feeling bloated, extreme fatigue and abdominal/pelvic pain. You might just save their life. Why? Because women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, if caught early, have a better remission and survival rate. It's a chance they might not otherwise have.

Go to whyteal.org or ovariancancerawareness.org for more information and let's flaunt our teal.

Deena Nelson

Cedar Rapids