You probably already know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. There are reminders everywhere…stories in the media, breast cancer luncheons, fundraising walks, and pink ribbons at every turn. And I think it’s great that so much attention is paid to this horrible disease. But what most people don’t realize is that September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. It seems to get lost in the shuffle.

According to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, more than 21,000 women are diagnosed  with ovarian cancer each year, and about 15,000 die from the disease. Yes, breast cancer is a much more prevalent disease—close to 200,000 women are diagnosed each year and about 40,000 die from it—but ovarian cancer is much deadlier. In fact, about 55% of people who get the disease die from it within five years. The reason: Ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed at past the point it can be effectively treated. If ovarian cancer is found early and treated before it has spread, the 5-year survival rate is higher than 90%. However, less than 20% of all ovarian cancers are found at this early stage.

Ovarian cancer is often called a “silent killer” because, unlike breast cancer, the signs aren’t obvious (like finding a lump). Nonetheless, there are some signs, and you should tell your doctor if you’ve had any of the following symptoms for more than a few weeks:  Bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms (urgency and frequency).

Ovarian cancer is linked to breast cancer as well. If there’s ovarian cancer in your family, that’s a sign that there might be a BRCA mutation involved. And if that’s the case, those who test positive will have up to an 87% chance of developing breast cancer during their lifetime and up to a 44% chance of developing ovarian cancer during their lifetime.

Bottom line: I think we all need to maintain our focus on breast cancer and make sure that women are getting regular mammograms, learning their family history and other risk factors, and taking steps to protect themselves. But we cannot forget about ovarian cancer. We must be aware. Our lives depend on it.

For more information, here are some resources:

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (www.ovariancancer.org)

Ovarian Cancer Institute (www.ovariancancerinstitute.org)

HysterSisters (www.hystersisters.com)