Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: How You Can Make a Difference

What Ovarian Cancer Really Means

Ovarian cancer doesn’t always scream for attention. It’s quiet. Often, it shows up with symptoms that look like bloating, indigestion, or tiredness-things most people brush off. By the time it’s diagnosed, it’s often spread beyond the ovaries. That’s why ovarian cancer awareness isn’t just important-it’s life-saving.

Every year, around 14,000 women in the U.S. and over 1,000 in Australia die from ovarian cancer. It’s the deadliest gynecological cancer. Why? Because there’s no reliable screening test like a Pap smear for cervical cancer. Doctors can’t catch it early in most cases. That means the people who care-family, friends, coworkers-need to be the first line of defense.

Know the Signs Before It’s Too Late

If you’ve heard "bloating" as the only symptom, you’ve been given half the story. Ovarian cancer rarely causes pain early on. Instead, it whispers. Here’s what to watch for, especially if they last more than two weeks and are new for you:

• Feeling full quickly, even after eating a small meal
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Changes in bowel habits-constipation or diarrhea that won’t go away
• Urinary urgency or frequency, with no infection
• Lower back or pelvic pain that’s persistent
• Extreme fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest

These aren’t rare. They’re common enough that many women think they’re just stress or aging. But if you’re not yourself for more than a few weeks, don’t wait. Tell your doctor. Bring a list. Ask: "Could this be ovarian cancer?"

Why Family History Matters More Than You Think

Most women who get ovarian cancer don’t have a family history. But if you do, your risk jumps. A mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene can raise your lifetime risk from 1 in 78 to as high as 4 in 10. That’s not a small number.

And it’s not just your mother or sister. If your aunt, grandmother, or even your father’s side had breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer, that’s a signal. Genetic testing isn’t for everyone-but if you have a strong family pattern, talk to your doctor. A simple blood or saliva test can give you clarity.

And if you’ve had breast cancer before? Your risk for ovarian cancer goes up too. Don’t assume you’re done with cancer just because one battle is over.

How to Help Someone Who’s Diagnosed

When someone you love gets an ovarian cancer diagnosis, the world stops. But life doesn’t. You don’t need to fix it. You just need to show up.

• Bring meals. Not just once-weekly. Chemo eats appetite. Cooking for someone is a quiet act of love.
• Drive them to appointments. Not because they can’t go alone, but because the silence in the car matters. Sometimes, they just need someone to sit with them while they cry.
• Don’t say "I know how you feel." You don’t. Say, "I’m here. What do you need today?"
• Help with kids, pets, or bills. Cancer isn’t just a medical event. It’s a financial and emotional earthquake.

And don’t disappear after the first round of chemo. Recovery takes months. The fatigue doesn’t vanish when treatment ends. Keep checking in.

How to Raise Awareness Without Saying a Word

You don’t need to host a fundraiser to make a difference. Small actions ripple.

• Wear teal. It’s the color of ovarian cancer awareness. A teal ribbon on your bag, a teal shirt on social media-it sparks questions. And that’s how conversations start.
• Share a real story. Not a celebrity’s. Not a generic post. Share what you saw. What your sister went through. What your coworker said when she was scared. Real stories stick.
• Ask your workplace to fund research. Many companies match employee donations. Just ask HR.
• Donate to groups that fund early detection research. Organizations like the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and Ovarian Cancer Australia aren’t just asking for money-they’re pushing for better tests.

And if you’re not sure where to start? Pick one thing. One thing you can do this week. Send a text. Buy a teal ribbon. Call your local hospital and ask if they offer free screenings or educational talks.

What’s Changing Right Now

There’s hope. Not because of miracle cures, but because of real progress.

Researchers are testing blood tests that can detect ovarian cancer early-before symptoms show. One trial in the UK found a new blood test spotted early-stage cancer in 80% of cases. That’s huge. Australia is joining similar trials.

Genetic counseling is now part of standard care for many women with ovarian cancer. That means families can get tested before it’s too late.

And more doctors are learning to listen. A 2024 study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed that when women described their symptoms clearly and doctors took them seriously, diagnosis came 3 months faster on average. That’s 3 months of extra time to fight.

What You Can Do Right Now

You don’t have to wait until next November to act. Here’s your simple, no-pressure checklist:

1. Learn the 6 key symptoms. Write them down. Put them on your fridge.
2. Ask your doctor if you should consider genetic testing-especially if you have a family history.
3. Text a friend: "Have you heard about ovarian cancer symptoms?"
4. Donate $10 to Ovarian Cancer Australia or a local support group.
5. Wear teal this week. Post it. Tag someone. Say why.

These aren’t grand gestures. They’re quiet acts of courage. And in a disease that stays silent, your voice matters more than you know.

It’s Not Just About October

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is in October. But the work doesn’t end when the calendar turns. Every woman deserves to know her body. Every family deserves to catch it early. Every doctor deserves to listen.

This isn’t about awareness campaigns. It’s about changing how we see the quiet signs. It’s about believing women when they say something’s wrong-even if it’s just bloating.

Be the person who asks. Be the person who remembers. Be the person who doesn’t let silence win.