During the month of September, trees on the campus of Centegra Hospital-Woodstock and Centegra Specialty Hospital-South Street will be decorated with teal ribbons. Centegra Health System is partnering with the Illinois Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) to raise awareness of ovarian cancer.Jolene White, a Woodstock native and three-year ovarian cancer survivor who volunteers for NOCC, coordinated the efforts and invited Centegra Health System to join in the first Teal Around Town campaign.”Our hope is that the entire community will join us in this awareness initiative,” said Amy Moerschbaecher, executive director of medicine and oncology services for Centegra Health System. “The city of Woodstock agreed to have ribbons decorate the historic Woodstock square, city hall, Station 2 for Woodstock Fire and Rescue and the South Street entrance to Emricson Park. Everywhere you look, we hope you will see teal.” Known as the silent killer, ovarian cancer will affect one in every 58 women with few warning signs.”Early detection is the key to survival. We want to raise awareness of the signs of ovarian cancer so women know when to contact their physician,” said Moerschbaecher. “When caught early, ovarian cancer can be managed and even cured.” Signs and symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
- Feeling the need to urinate urgently or often
- Fatigue
- Upset stomach or heartburn
- ” ¢ Back pain
- Pain during sex
- Constipation or menstrual changes
Centegra Health System and the Gavers Community Cancer Foundation partner year-round to raise awareness of the importance of early cancer detection. The Get Checked! Program provides information on lifestyle changes and guidelines for routine screenings that can make a big difference in one’s life. The Gavers Cancer Resource Library is also featured in Centegra Sage Cancer Center in McHenry and offers touch-screen computers, a library inventory of books, journals and booklets. Information in the library is available in English and Spanish.Centegra Hospital-McHenry is recognized as having one of a few cancer programs in the state to receive the Commission on Cancer (CoC) Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Additionally, all the Centegra Sage Cancer Center nurses are oncology certified.All Centegra hospitals will have free information about ovarian cancer available to the public during the month of September. For more information about this initiative, contact Karen Young at the Illinois Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition at 708-763-8477.
