Exercise May Lower Risk of Ovarian Cancer

'Even a modest amount of exercise may lower the risk of developing – and dying from – ovarian cancer, two new studies show.

Ovarian cancer is the most deadly female cancer. Although it accounts for only 3 percent of cancers among women, it causes more deaths than any other malignancy of the female reproductive tract.

But knowing how much exercise is enough to prevent health problems is confusing, but two recent studies led by the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y. show that years of physical inactivity prior to ovarian cancer diagnosis is associated with increased risk.'

Read more:  Exercise May Lower Risk of Ovarian Cancer

16 Year Old Takes to Singing to Fight Ovarian Cancer

An unusual diagnosis for a 16 year old girl from Toledo, Ohio proves that ovarian cancer can strike at any point in time in a woman's life.  Ellen DeGeneres picked up the story of Caly Bevier who turned to Rachel Platten's hit 'Fight Song.'  You have to watch this incredibly moving video from the Ellen Degeneres Show. 

Full Article from PopSugar.com

Rachel Platten's hit "Fight Song" is for anyone going through a difficult time, but for those struggling with cancer, it's as if the singer wrote it just for them. That's what 16-year-old Caly Bevier of Toledo, OH, said when she listened to the lyrics after being shockingly diagnosed with ovarian cancer last Summer. 

So, when Ellen DeGeneres had the teen on her daytime talk show to perform the song as a duet with Platten, tears were expected. What was less expected, however, was the powerful response from parents across the country following the moving performance.

When the clip from yesterday's show was posted to Facebook, it instantly went viral — the video was shared 198,000 times and garnered 290,000 "likes." Among the 15,000 comments were moms and dads sharing photos and stories of their own children's cancer struggles – all of them writing that the song was their child's "fight song" as well.

World Ovarian Cancer Day

Today Team Jags takes a moment to observe World Ovarian Cancer Day.  Most recently news about Angelina Jolie brought much needed attention to the importance of ovarian awareness when she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.  Early detection is the key to fighting ovarian cancer.  Here are a few important things you need to know about ovarian cancer.

1. Any woman can get ovarian cancer

Though relatively rare, ovarian cancer is diagnosed in more than 250,000 women worldwide every year. And unlike other cancers, it affects women in developed and developing countries similarly. Also, while the diagnosis rate is higher in some age and ethnic groups, the cancer affects women across the spectrum. Basically, any woman who is capable of giving birth (as in, her ovaries are intact and working) is at risk. 

2. Caucasian women have a statistically higher rate

Even though the disease can affect any woman, Caucasian women develop ovarian cancer at a higher rate than women of color in the United States. By extension, the mortality rate in Caucasian women is also higher. 

3. Ovarian cancer can be hard to detect 

Because most of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer are also linked with common problems, the disease isn’t always detected early on. Common symptoms include bloating (common during PMS), pelvic pain or discomfort and frequent urination (common with a urinary tract infection), and persistent lack of energy (common with being an busy adult). However, these symptoms will last longer and increase over time, which might be a tip off that something else is wrong.

See the full article from BUSTLE HERE.

The White Shirt Campaign

Frances Abbott, Prime Minister Toby Abbott's daughter, posing for the White Shirt Campaign.  

Witchery is a fashion design studio that is creating white shirts in various styles to raise money for the OCRF (www.ocrf.org).  The White Shirt Campaign is bringing awareness to ovarian cancer.  Team Jags is proud to bring you a link to the Witchery website.  Click here!

This was brought to our attention when we hears that Frances Abbott, daughter of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, started supporting the 2014 campaign.  We give a strong teal thumbs up to the efforts of these organizations in Australia where many members of Jags Solanki's extended family live!  Check out the full article from The Herald Sun News here!

A Survivor's Story

Cheryl Lampasona was 21 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare type of ovarian cancer that only 12 other people in the world have had. In virtually uncharted territory, it was unclear if she would be able to have children or what the treatment would be. Her doctor, Diane Contreras and the team at the Katz Institute for Women's Health, treated Cheryl, and now Cheryl has two beautiful children. Watch her story.

The New York Times & Ovarian Cancer

Recently the New York Times launched a new page on their website which is a hub for information about ovarian cancer.  Click here to take a look.