did you know february is ovarian cancer awareness month??

or that today was teal ribbon day?

according to ovarian cancer australia "One in 70 women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime. It could be you, your sister, your mum, your gran or your girlfriend.

Every year in Australia around 1500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 850 women will die from the disease."

there is no early detection test or screening for this cancer, so it's really important to be aware of the symptoms

did you know...

that February is Ovarian Cancer Australia's Awareness Month?? or that today is Australia's first Teal Ribbon Day - the international colour for ovarian cancer???

According to the CEO of Ovarian Cancer Australia:

"Ovarian cancer is the 6th most common cause of death in Australian women and I commend Ovarian Cancer Australia for introducing Awareness Month and for the work it undertakes in helping women with information, education and access to support groups"

Every year more than 1500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 850 will die. Unfortunately most women are not diagnosed until the disease has spread which is why it is important to know the symptoms.

Karen Livingstone, CEO, Ovarian Cancer Australia, said, "Every woman needs to know the symptoms of ovarian cancer because this disease is often misdiagnosed, as symptoms are similar to less serious conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or those associated with menopause."

The most common four symptoms, which women with ovarian cancer experience frequently and persistently, are pelvic and abdominal pain, increased abdominal size/persistent bloating, urinary frequency, and difficulty eating and feeling full quickly."

in memory of all the sisters that have died... and those that have survived....

Bad news week...

You could say it's been a suck of a week where bad news about friends is concerned... one friend diagnosed 7 years ago with cancer - she's had a mammoth fight - admitted to hospital for emergency radiation treatment... then admitted to the hospice... waiting to see if she can get palliative care are home... only 52 years old... another family friend diagnosed with an extremely aggressive cancer... told it's only a matter of weeks... the tears have been flowing!!!!

I came across this poem on a site called Susan Weed's Wise Woman forum, and thought I'd share it...

I WILL WEAR PINK!

When I am a Breast Cancer survivor I will wear pink.

I will wear pink for my mother-in-law who received no treatment because the doctors thought she was too old to receive treatment, and
who looked lovely in pink.

I will wear pink for my friends who lost their health, their hair and their youth in their struggle to fight breast cancer.

I will wear pink for the non-survivors who seem more comfortable with this watered down color of the blood lost while fighting this terrible illness. Maybe the white of their optimism mixes with it.

I will wear pink to soften the lines and the hardness that has come in my face.

I will wear pink to remind me that Spring always comes and flowers bloom and I have time to change and bloom again myself.

I will wear pink when my chest aches where my breast is missing and my heart aches for missing friends and I will remember the miracle of my survival.

I will wear pink when I stand in for my deceased friends at their children's wedding and I will remember their beauty at their own wedding.

I will wear pink when I visit the graves of those whose bodies gave out before their spirit was ready.

I will wear pink when I race for the cure and speak against dollars wasted on the useless testing on animals whose bodies are so different from humans that they are poisoned by medicine that helps humans and cured by medicine that is poison to cancer survivors.

I will wear pink when I listen to the names of those who have lost the fight with cancer and celebrate with those of us who still survive.

When I am a breast cancer survivor I will wear pink.

and another one:

you can't help but think about mortality and weep for the sisters that are losing their battle!!!

And looking around YouTube I found this song, Standing all the way pink ribbon original by Rachael Chatoor - for all the sisters.......