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Tampa, FL, June 19, 2007 -- FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered joined the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation and other national organizations in announcing the first national consensus on the ovarian cancer symptoms. Often referred to as the “silent killer” due to the common belief that there are no warning signs or symptoms, ovarian cancer is the most deadly reproductive cancer.
The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation led this effort to form a consensus in response to ovarian cancer survivors who long held the belief that there were common symptoms of ovarian cancer. Researchers, including Dr. Barbara Goff, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington, have conducted conclusive research that demonstrates that the following symptoms are much more likely to occur in women with ovarian cancer than women in the general population. These symptoms include:
Women who have these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks should see their doctor, preferably a gynecologist.
“This agreement on common symptoms of ovarian cancer hopefully will lead to earlier diagnosis when a cure is more likely,” said Dr. Goff. “We know that when women are diagnosed in Stage I of the disease, it is 90% curable. Unfortunately, until now there has been no agreement on common symptoms, allowing women to go undiagnosed, despite visits to the doctor, until it was too late.”
FORCE is a national nonprofit organization devoted to individuals and families with a high risk for ovarian and breast cancer due to a family history of cancer or a BRCA mutation. Sue Friedman, founder and executive director of FORCE, applauds the release of the symptom consensus statement.
“This is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Friedman. “Having a uniform list of symptoms allows organizations like FORCE to make sure that our message is consistent. The groups that have signed on to the consensus statement, including FORCE, are in a good position to help disseminate this information. We hope women will take notice as our goal is to save lives.”
It is estimated that more than 22,000 women will be told they have ovarian cancer this year and more than 15,000 will die from this deadly cancer. Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women. At present, about 80% of these cancers are not diagnosed in their early stages, leading to a reduced chance of survival.
FORCE member and ovarian cancer survivor Jan Finer comments, “I was diagnosed at 47, and it took several months for my doctors to link my persistent symptoms to ovarian cancer. By the time I was diagnosed I was stage IIIC. I carry a BRCA mutation. My daughters could also carry this gene and be at high-risk for ovarian cancer. These guidelines give me hope that the next generations of women will be armed with better awareness and more tools to help diagnose ovarian cancer earlier.”
This consensus will facilitate a coordinated educational effort that will result in both physicians and women considering ovarian cancer when women experience these symptoms.
Women are encouraged to visit FORCE’s website (www.facingourrisk.org) and the Women’s Cancer Network website (www.wcn.org) to take a risk assessment and learn more about gynecologic cancers.
FORCE is a national nonprofit organization based in Tampa, Florida.whose mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. FORCE provides information, resources, advocacy, and support specific to breast and ovarian cancer risk, prevention, and detection. For more information about FORCE, please visit: www.facingourrisk.org.
The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure public awareness of gynecologic cancer prevention, early diagnosis and proper treatment. In addition, the Foundation supports research and training related to gynecologic cancers. GCF advances this mission by increasing public and private funds that aid in the development and implementation of programs to meet these goals.
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