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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Get ready for the city to be a little quieter. On Friday, September 28, 2012, women and men in Pennsylvania will join other states in the First Annual Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence to raise awareness of the symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer and encourage women to Take Early Action & Live®. Participants take a vow of silence for the day, encouraging women to listen for the signs of ovarian cancer and honoring those forever silenced by the disease.
Only in silence can you hear the whisper. As there is no screening test for ovarian cancer, women must know the subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer and listen to their bodies. Education and awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease provides an opportunity to women for early detection. If detected early, survival rates are above 90%. Unfortunately, less than 20% are diagnosed early, and over 70% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will not survive the disease. For this reason, it is imperative that everyone learn the early signs and symptoms of the disease and help the women in their lives listen for the whisper.
Over 500 participants are expected to be silent on September 28, wearing teal tape, teal awareness ribbons, teal clothing or any other means to raise awareness, giving women diagnosed with ovarian cancer a better chance. Some have pledged to remain silent the entire day, while others have committed to being silent for a portion of their waking hours. All are committed to raising awareness for the disease. Participants will pass out informative cards that will speak for them and explain the Day of Silence and symptoms of ovarian cancer.
“The Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence not only raises awareness about ovarian cancer in a loud way, it encourages women to listen to their bodies and be their own health advocates. It’s not normal to feel awful, and women of all ages need to know the symptoms of this deadly disease,” said Britaini Watterson, Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence Founder and Chair. “I founded the Day of Silence in honor of my mom Carol Watterson, a Stage IV survivor. We celebrate other successes and memorialize those have been taken by the disease with our silence.”
The Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence is supported in partnership with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. All donations raised in connection to the campaign fund local and nationwide NOCC programs.
About the Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence:
The mission of the Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence is to raise awareness about the symptoms and risks of ovarian cancer and encourage women to take early action and live. Participants take a vow of silence for the day, encouraging women to listen for the signs of ovarian cancer and honoring those who have been forever silenced by the disease. For more information visit www.tealdayofsilence.org and www.facebook.com/OvarianCancerDayOfSilence.
About the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition:
The Mission of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) is to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer. The Coalition is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer. For more information, visit www.ovarian.org.
Contact:
Britaini Watterson
412-310-5761