September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and at Progressive Women’s Healthcare we want our patients to be “Ovarian Self-Aware.” This means to recognize one’s personal ovarian health and cancer risk. First, Do you have a first degree (mother, sister) or second degree (grandmother, aunt) family member who has been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer? If the answer is yes, you should consider Hereditary Cancer Screening. Twenty Five percent of Ovarian Cancer is hereditary or familial. Hereditary Cancer screening helps us understand your risk for Ovarian Cancer so that we can be proactive in your healthcare management. If you do not have a family history of Ovarian Cancer, it is still best to be aware of the most common symptoms. Primary symptoms include pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling the need to urinate frequently, prolonged bloating, and difficulty eating. Secondary symptoms are menstrual changes, back pain, upset stomach, pain with intercourse, and constipation. If you were to experience any of the above symptoms for a period of 2-3 weeks you need to be seen for evaluation. We encourage annual wellness exams where we screen every patient for Hereditary Cancer Screening. Take the time, in honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to schedule your wellness exam. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter this month for even more information about Ovarian Cancer.