NOCC to Host Annual “Walk To Break The Silence On Ovarian Cancer” in the Greater Washington, D.C. Area

The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Central Maryland Chapter announces its annual “Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” to be held on Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Quiet Waters Park, located in Annapolis, Maryland.

The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Central Maryland Chapter announces its 2nd Annual “Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” to be held on Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Quiet Waters Park, located in Annapolis, Maryland. This event will be held “rain or shine.”

Registration will open at 7:30 a.m. at the Blue Heron Center located within the park. The 5K Run will begin at 9:30 a.m. The 3K Walk is scheduled to kick off at 9:35 a.m. All participants will receive a T-shirt. The race will be timed and various age awards will be presented.

To view a complete schedule of events, click here. To view the event brochure, click here. To view a video from last year’s event, click here.

September is Ovarian Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. “We walk and run to raise funds but just as importantly we walk and run to raise awareness”, said Nancy Long, Co-president of the Central Maryland Chapter. “There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer. That is why education and awareness are currently our best defense against this disease.”

Survivors are celebrated at the Run/Walk, so please visit the survivors’ tent for gift bags. In addition, you can commemorate the occasion with a special survivors’ photo. Bring a photo of yourself, a survivor you know, or a lost loved one for the survivor/memory banner.

Quiet Waters Park - South River Overlook, Annapolis, Maryland

Quiet Waters Park - Bridge & Fountain, Annapolis, Maryland

More than 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, and approximately 15,000 women die from the disease annually. Unfortunately, most cases are diagnosed in late stages when the prognosis is poor.  However, if diagnosed and treated early, when the cancer is confined to the ovary, the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent.

There is currently no early detection test for ovarian cancer, and Pap tests do not detect the disease.  That is why it is imperative that the early signs and symptoms of the disease are recognized, not only by women, but also by their families and the medical community.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer may include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, and feeling the need to urinate urgently or often. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer may include fatigue, upset stomach or heartburn, back pain, pain during intercourse, constipation, and menstrual changes. Women who experience these symptoms for longer than two weeks, especially if these symptoms are new to them, are encouraged to visit their health care provider.

Many women attending this NOCC event are anxious and willing to tell their stories of, or related to, diagnosis, misdiagnosis, the hardships of treatment, the potential for inherited genetic mutations, and the fears and joys of being a survivor.

To register for the NOCC Central Maryland Chapter’s “Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer,” please call 443-433-2597 or visit www.nocc.kintera.org/mdcentral.

Nancy Long and Paula Kozik are the Co-presidents of the NOCC Central Maryland Chapter. Libby’s H*O*P*E*™ will be featuring the inspirational stories of these two amazing women as part of its Vox Populi (“voice of the people”) feature during National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

About the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

The mission of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization, is to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer. The Coalition carries out its mission through a toll-free Help Line, local NOCC Chapters, a comprehensive website, peer support, written publications, and awareness/educational programs. The Coalition is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer. If you would like more information about the “Break the Silence” campaign, or wish to contact one of the local NOCC Chapters, visit www.ovarian.org or call 1-888-OVARIAN (1-888-682-7426).