Ovarian Cancer Canada is hosting its Walk for Hope this Sunday, September 8 in Saskatoon starting at the speed skating oval in Gordie Howe Park (1727 Dudley Street). Walkers will assemble at the oval at 10 am. The walk is an effort to raise funds to support research in ovarian cancer, a disease that impacts women worldwide.
“Ovarian cancer is women’s most fatal cancer,” says Stephanie Gosselin, national programs director for Ovarian Cancer Canada. “Over 50 per cent of women diagnosed today won’t survive five years past their diagnosis, and we need to change that. We’re walking to raise money for research to change those statistics.”
Gosselin explains that much of the challenge with ovarian cancer lies in the fact that it’s hard to detect. Symptoms will often mimic other disorders.
“You might feel bloated or full, and those can be passed off as less serious diseases,” Gosselin explains. “Therefore, it’s usually diagnosed in later stages – stages 3 and 4.”
For that reason, the organization is undertaking much of its work in prevention of the disease. Women who carry a genetic mutation or marker that makes them susceptible to the cancer can be identified. Doctors who have patients with a family history of certain cancers and other risk factors should offer them genetic testing. This would confirm if the patient has a genetic mutation and are at high risk for the disease. Ovarian Cancer Canada is helping educate Canadians about their risk so they can have these informed conversations with their doctor.
“We have a risk assessment tool on our website (ovariancanada.org) and there are some questions you can fill out and bring to your family doctor, just to bring ovarian cancer top of mind.”
To sign up for the walk, head to ovariancanada.org and register for the walk in Saskatoon or Regina. Similar walks are being held across the country. Registration is free.
The weather on the weekend looks great, and Stephanie and the organization welcomes all comers to the event in support of putting an end to ovarian cancer.