(WXYZ) -hundreds of people gathered at the downtown of Ann Arbor to take part in the “Time to Tear” 5K run for charity that was held on World Ovarian Cancer Day.
For those who have been affected and for survivors the need to raise awareness and funds for research into ovarian cancer is urgently needed.
“When I found out that terrified. I was of anxiety over what it could mean due to all the unknowns” stated Mary Wagner, an ovarian cancer survivor.
Wagner who is 34 Wagner, 34, is a 34-year-old Ovarian cancer survivor of Ovarian cancer. in 2021 Mary discovered she had stage 3 cancer of the disease, which she had never imagined could be possible given her age.
“For several years, I experienced some bizarre symptoms, I had sciatica and pelvic problems It took me some time to understand the cause,” Wagner said.
Ovarian cancer ranks 5th in cancer deaths for women. According to Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance every 23 minutes women are diagnosed with cancer of the ovary in the United States.
There is no screening at an early stage for cancer, the Dr. J. Rebecca Liu suggests regular pelvic exams with your doctor and genetic testing is the best method to go.
“The median age at which cancer is diagnosed is 60-65 years old, but when someone is genetically predisposed to predisposition to cancer of the ovary for instance or if they carry a genetic mutation that makes them more likely the person to be affected cancer, they’ll be diagnosed earlier, in their 30s and fortys” Liu said.
In the words of the American Cancer Society, the most frequently reported signs associated with Ovarian Cancer include:
- Bloating
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Trouble eating
- Frequent urination
Other people might also be affected by:
- Fatigue
- Stomach upset
- Back back pain
- Constipation
“Only 15% of Ovarian cancers are diagnosed prior to stage 3,” said Jennifer Mccurdy who is a survivor of ovarian cancer.
Mccurdy aged 36, she went to the OR to remove a cyst but was instead escorted away with the announcement that she was suffering from an ovarian cancer.
“It was life-changing. It took me a long time to comprehend what was happening because it happened so abruptly,” Mccurdy said.
After seven years of being in remission, Jennifer is upbeat about her life. She is in a quest to help others.
“The survivors diagnosed at an early stage and anyone who survived in a position to spread that word out and share this information, which could aid someone else not to go through the experience we had to go through,”” Mccurdy said.
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