Local pg 12 10-14-10
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- Category: Past Issues
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Cancer Fighters
Left to right: Putnam's Joanne Nesbitt, Volunteer Vice President NOCC-CT; Madonna Kilcollum,Volunteer Chapter President; Cheryl Holmes Volunteer-Walk Committee Chair. Courtesy photo.
PUTNAM --- Putnam resident Joanne Nesbitt wanted to make some noise about ovarian cancer.
“I was so scared when I was diagnosed in 2004,” Nesbitt said. “I didn’t know anything about the disease, and I didn’t know who to talk to.”
So in 2009, when she found out from the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition that a Chapter was forming in Connecticut, she jumped onboard. One year later, thanks to the efforts of Joanne Nesbitt and other volunteers, the Connecticut Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) held their first annual “Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” Sept. 25 at Hammonasset State Park in Madison.
Almost 700 participants came from across Connecticut, and the event raised over $75,000 for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s education and awareness programs.
“It was such a great event. It was so nice seeing so many survivors. I will do whatever I can to not only let every woman know about ovarian cancer, but also to let every survivor know that they are not alone.” Nesbitt said.
More than 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. each year, and approximately 15,000 women die from the disease annually. Unfortunately, most cases are diagnosed in their later 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. 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 sex, 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.
Donations for the “Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” are still being accepted and are much appreciated. For more information, or to contact the Connecticut Chapter of the NOCC, please call 860-861-0061.