As with so many other forms of cancer, the key to successful treatment of ovarian cancer lies in early detection. That’s why the Department of Public Health joined with Senate President Therese Murray and other key stakeholders to proclaim September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

(left to right), Nancy Farrell of the M. Patricia Cronin Foundation, Senate President Therese Murray, Anne Levine of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Cheryl Bartlett, DPH Commissioner.

To honor this designation and spread the word, DPH Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett and Senate President Murray were joined by representatives of the M. Patricia Cronin Foundation, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and others to unveil a specially-created Ovarian Cancer Awareness Banner at the steps of the State House in Boston.

Basic Information About Ovarian Cancer  (information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• The signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.
• Things that can increase your risk of ovarian cancer.
• How to lower your risk of getting ovarian cancer.
• How to tell if you might have ovarian cancer.
• What to do if your doctor says you have ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer fact sheet: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/pdf/ovarian_facts.pdf

Women – Be Aware podcast: http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=10056

For more information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/basic_info/ or http://www.ovariancancerawareness.org/.

Tags: cancer awareness, cancer screening, Department of Public Health, DPH, healing, health, healthy, healthy living, Mass in Motion, Massachusetts, ovarian cancer, public health, State House, women's health