By Gareth Kelly
Cancer is ugly nasty stuff.
Too many of us have either lost someone or been touched by it during our lifetime. Man or woman, young or old, cancer can strike anytime anywhere. One of the deadliest cancers of all is ovarian cancer and ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women. However, for years it hasn’t got the attention or research funding other forms of the disease have and had become known as the silent killer.
One woman on a mission to change this is Sharon Leigh.
“This started as a very personal mission for me,” said Leigh. “My sister discovered she had stage three ovarian cancer and sadly she passed away five years ago. However, during her treatment she educated me about ovarian cancer and specifically about three very important tests women should get if the show any of the symptoms.”
Leigh, who is fighting ovarian cancer for the second time, advises that instead of simply listening to your doctor telling you “your fine” that you should insist on getting the tests–a pelvic exam, a pelvic ultrasound, a CA 125 blood test. Ovarian cancer doesn’t always exhibit symptoms but the more common ones are pelvic or abdominal pain, frequent urination, and bloating and back pain.
“We have a tendency to trust our doctors, I mean they’re the ones with the medical degrees right? But we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for these tests,” said Leigh. “I knew something was wrong, I just didn’t feel right. After seven years of getting these three tests, we discovered I had stage one ovarian cancer in year eight. For quite sometime I was in denial and simply ignored it but then I realized I had to do something. It’s very rare to discover this type of cancer in stage one and, with chemotherapy, I beat it. At the same time I started the Sharon Leigh Ovarian Cancer foundation as a way to inform, educate and encourage women to become their own advocates.”
Today the Sharon Leigh Ovarian Cancer foundation provides numerous resources to other women including referrals, advice and a community of support along with some very successful golf tournament fundraiser that have raised in excess of $140,000.
“The cancer came back, nine years later, so here I am doing chemo again,” said Leigh. “I’ve beaten it once, so I’ll beat it again. Early detection is the key and that’s what we try and promote more than anything. Also a family history. Knowing the family history can help tailor a better treatment plan. We had no history of this type of cancer in my family until my sister got it.”
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”Sharon Leigh” link=”” color=”#0066FF” class=”” size=””]“I’ve beaten it once, so I’ll beat it again. Early detection is the key and that’s what we try and promote more than anything. Also a family history. Knowing the family history can help tailor a better treatment plan. We had no history of this type of cancer in my family until my sister got it.”[/pullquote]As part of Ovarian Cancer awareness month, Leigh is encouraging everyone to wear teal on Tuesdays, visit her website at www.ovariancancer-detection.org and most important talk to your doctor and get tested.
Gareth hopes everyone has a happy and healthy September. Email him at [email protected].
