Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on September 14, 2012

Citing alarming statistics, Town Council Vice President Debi Merz read a proclamation from Mayor Russell Felter at the Sept. 5 council meeting declaring September Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Jefferson Township. She was joined by Health Educator Kristine Wilsusen who works with the town health department.

PHOTO/JOHN LUCIANO

Town Council Vice President Debi Merz, filling in for Mayor Russell Felter, reads the proclamation announcing that September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Jefferson. With her is Health Educator Kristine Wilsusen.

"Ovarian cancer continues to have one of the highest mortality rates of any cancer," Merz read from the proclamation, "and it is a leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States."

Merz and Wilsusen both went on to describe a serious disease that affects thousands of woman and their families. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2012 about 22,280 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed, and 15,500 women will die of the disease in the United States. The five year survival rate for the disease is only 28 percent.

"We need to spread the word about this disease," Wilsusen said. "If you have family members or women you care about, you need to let them know about this."

Merz read the proclamation on behalf of the mayor who was absent from the meeting for personal reasons. According to the proclamation, ovarian cancer has a lack of early symptoms and effective screening tests, meaning the disease is not detected in time for successful interventions. That makes it crucial for women to know how to recognize the warning signs in order to detect the disease as early as possible.

Teal ribbons will be placed around the township to promote awareness of the disease. At the town hall, there will be a silver basket with information people can take home with them. The mayor's proclamation called for citizens, organizations and health-care providers to talk about this disease and raise the public's awareness of it as much as possible.

According to information provided by Wilsusen, one in 55 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The disease has no age, race or heritage boundaries and can affect anyone. Wilsusen recommended regular rectal and vaginal pelvic examinations for all women. PAP tests will not detect the disease.

Risk factors for ovarian cancer include:

Read the rest here:
Sept. proclaimed Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Jefferson

Category: Jewish American Heritage Month
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