COLUMBUS (WCMH) — September is recognized as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. This Sunday, the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Ohio is holding their annual Strides for Hope 5k at Genoa Park in Columbus.
NBC4’s Monica Day will be the emcee for this year’s event.
According to the OCAO website, one in every 70 women will develop Ovarian Cancer. Women in their sixties or higher are more likely to develop the cancer, and those who started menstruating before age 12 are more at risk as well. Several other factors can increase your risk, such as a history of cancer, obesity, or an Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
Symptoms for Ovarian Cancer include:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
- Urinary symptoms such as urgency (always feeling the need to go) or frequency (having to go often)
- Fatigue
- Upset stomach
- Back pain
- Pain during intercourse
- Constipation
- Menstrual cramps
- Abdominal swelling with weight loss
If symptoms last for more than a few weeks, you should talk to your gynecologist.
For more information about the walk this weekend, the disease, treatments, or other risk factors, visit the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Ohio website.
