World Ovarian Cancer Day

World Ovarian Cancer Day (WOCD) is celebrated on 8 May. It aims to create a community where people living with ovarian cancer, survivors and family and friends can unite, share experiences and help educate the community about this deadly disease.

Cancer is never a fun subject to contemplate. But despite its specter throughout our lives, we now have the scientific tools to combat it. Ovarian cancer is a particularly dangerous and misunderstood form of the disease. Therefore, World Ovarian Cancer Day is an opportunity to bring women across the globe together to raise awareness and help combat this condition.

Some interesting facts about World Ovarian Cancer Day

Ovarian cancer is a major disease, causing about 140,000 deaths annually globally. However, as with many other gynecological disorders, it is still poorly understood, especially in some developing regions. For that reason, Target Ovarian Cancer’s charity has spearheaded World Ovarian Cancer Day, a global initiative to highlight the plight of women with the condition and offer hope.

Organizers hope World Ovarian Cancer Day will help encourage governments and private organizations to devote more resources to the field. With enough money and scientific investigation, survival rates can improve, just like survival rates for other forms of cancer.

Ovarian cancer that occurs in the ovaries - sac-like structures that contain human egg cells in women - causes a range of complications. Women with this condition often experience bloating, difficulty eating, abdominal pain, and an increased need to urinate. Although ovarian cancer is the eighth most common disease in the world, medical professionals are still frequently misdiagnosed. Therefore, there is a need for higher awareness and improved diagnostic equipment.

What is World Ovarian Cancer Day?

Founded in 2013 by a group of leaders from worldwide ovarian cancer advocacy organizations, May 8th - World Ovarian Cancer Day, is a day of the year we are on the world comes together to speak out in solidarity in the fight against ovarian cancer.

While the World Ovarian Cancer Alliance is multi-faceted, World Ovarian Cancer Day is our flagship awareness initiative and an important date on our calendar. Supported by nearly 200 organizations from around the world, our social media reach grows exponentially each year, with 2021 directly reaching over eighteen million, up from three million years ago - nearly 500% growth. Our partner organizations range from as small as kitchen-table patient advocacy groups in rural communities, to national healthcare associations based in urban areas, all coming together as one to raise awareness about the disease - and this year their expanded days range is over 100 million.

History of World Ovarian Cancer Day

World Ovarian Cancer Day is the brainchild of Ovarian Cancer Goals. This leading cancer charity funds life research and provides support to women undergoing treatment. The charity was first established in 2008 and has since pursued three main pillars, designed to eliminate the disease.

The charity's main goal is to improve early cancer diagnosis. If ovarian cancer can be detected early, the patient has a much higher chance of survival. The second goal is to raise funds for graduate students. Currently, the charity supports a number of novel, revolutionary and promising treatments that offer hope to millions of women with this condition.

Finally, there is an urgent need to support those who are sick. Living with cancer is always a challenge, but ovarian cancer is particularly worrisome for all involved. Objectives Ovarian cancer provides intensive care for some patients.

Although the charity first opened its doors in 2008, it took until 2013 to launch World Ovarian Cancer Day. This was the first event of its kind anywhere in the world, so the organization expanded the event to the global community. The day brings together organizations from around the world to teach the community about the disease and its associated symptoms.

Ovarian cancer is a serious health problem in practically every country, rich and poor alike. Both healthcare and individuals need to know the signs and symptoms so that they can screen women and detect the disease early in its development. Part of the purpose of the day is to create a sense of solidarity among all those affected. The organizers want everyone to know that this is a disaster they can fight and there is always hope.

In the years following 2013, World Ovarian Cancer Day continued to gain momentum. Target Ovarian Cancer currently works with more than one hundred ovarian cancer charities in more than 32 countries. They raise money for research, improve public awareness of the disease, and emphasize the importance of checking for symptoms early.

Medicine usually diagnoses ovarian cancer at a late stage in its development. In the early stages, symptoms tend to be mild. People treat them like other conditions and don't entertain the thought that they could become seriously ill. Therefore, physicians often encounter patients in advanced stages.

Therefore, both doctors and patients need to consider the possibility of early ovarian cancer - if only to rule it out. The earlier it is detected, the more treatable the disease is.

Target Ovarian Cancer regularly hosts popular events to promote and steer the conversation about ovarian cancer. For example, in 2016 the charity organized a fundraising event in which participants walked along the Great Wall of China!

With World Ovarian Cancer Day on the calendar, we all have an excuse to get stuck. You can do something silly and help support the hundreds of thousands of women who know they have the disease each year.

How to celebrate World Ovarian Cancer Day

How about planning a great idea for World Ovarian Cancer Day? Think! There are so many things you can do and you don't even have to be a doctor!

Sharing the symptoms of ovarian cancer is one of the most impactful things you can do as an individual. About one in seventy women will get it at some point in their lives, but most know very little about it. As discussed, telltale signs include bloating, frequent urination, and abdominal pain. Women must not rule out ovarian cancer and consider these symptoms to be due to other causes.

The next thing you should do is to share more interesting information about World Ovarian Cancer Day on social media by using your accounts.

Furthermore, you can organize a fundraiser. You don't have to walk thousands of miles along the Great Wall of China, but you can find creative ways to get people to hand over money in your community. Things like sponsored walks, marathons, swimming, and even eating challenges can all raise donations quickly.

Many people like to use the date to share their inventory of ovarian cancer. This disease fundamentally changes the lives of everyone it comes in contact with. Millions of people have had it or know someone who has. Sharing your story can be an effective way to engage others.

Finally, you can wear teal, donate to an ovarian charity or subscribe to their social media posts.