Ashley Thompson
THE HANTS JOURNAL
NovaNewsNow.com
The organizers of Windsor’s first mini Winners Walk of Hope for ovarian cancer may be a small group, in a little town, but they’ve got a big mission: to ensure every woman in Hants County knows the facts about ovarian cancer.
Peggy Hamilton, , a VIP attending the mini walk, learned about ovarian cancer the hard way after being diagnosed with the disease 17 years ago.
“It’s a rather sneaky disease and as you get older your body changes and you think ‘oh, that’s just because I’m old,’” Hamilton explains.
Women often dismiss the warning signs of ovarian cancer – bloating of the abdomen, pelvic discomfort, back or abdominal pain, fatigue, gas, nausea, bowel and menstrual irregularities and fluctuations in weight – as symptoms of aging, stress or “that time of the month.”
Facts compiled by Ovarian Cancer Canada state that on average 2,500 Canadian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer a year. As it stands, with low early detection rates, only 30 per cent of women diagnosed with the disease survive five years.
Hamilton caught her cancer in time for treatments – surgery and six months of chemotherapy – to effectively steer her into remission.
“I think the main thing is you have to have a comfortable relationship with your treatment team and you need the support of your family and friends,” she recalled.
She says too often women recognize symptoms, but are not persistent enough with their doctors to get results.
“It’s the squeaky wheel that gets greased so you have to keep it up,” Hamilton says.
“Be your own advocate.”
Hamilton has been invited by mini walk coordinators; Cheryl Barker, Leslie Porter and Barb Hughes, to cut the ribbon and kick start the 2.4 kilometre hike along the Windsor waterfront, Sept. 12, at 12:30 p.m.
The event, initiated by Barker, is open to everyone. There is no minimum pledge for walkers. The more women who show, and the wider word is spread, the closer the group is to achieving their goal.
Barker says all walkers who pledge will be eligible to win a one-night getaway prize donated by White Point Beach Resort. Brian Johnston’s jazz band is providing the entertainment and refreshments are compliments of Sobeys.
Barker, a retired nurse, says raising funds for ovarian cancer research is an important function of the walk, but secondary to educating women on the importance of knowing when to consult a physician if they believe something is wrong. The answer, she says, is always.
“Although the stats are not good - ovarian cancer claims 1,700 lives a year in Canada - if you have early detection, you have an almost 90 per cent chance of survival,” Barker explained.
“The signs and symptoms are so insidious that you don’t even notice them – especially if you’re getting older.”
Barker recommends knowing your family’s medical history, having regular pap tests at least once a year and requesting a pelvic ultrasound if you feel symptomatic. Women aged 49 and older are at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer, but it is not unheard of in young adults or teenagers – especially if family members have a history with the disease.
Ovarian Cancer Canada promises the money raised from all national and mini walks “is used to help raise awareness of the disease, provide support programs to women living with ovarian cancer as well as fund research for early detection, treatment and ultimately a cure.”
September is ovarian cancer awareness month. To learn how you can get involved visit: www.winnerswalkofhope.ca.
