September marks ovarian cancer awareness month, a time to spotlight a disease that affects thousands of women each year. This month is an opportunity to educate the public about ovarian cancer, support those affected, and push for critical research funding. Although informally recognized for decades, the Biden administration officially declared September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in 2022. In the U.K., March was informally designated ovarian cancer awareness month in 2005. While the reasons for this discrepancy in timing is unclear, the push to create an awareness month was driven by one of the U.K.’s most prominent ovarian cancer organizations, Ovarian Cancer Action.
The Purpose of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month isn’t just about turning social profiles teal; it’s about spreading a message that can save lives. At the heart of this campaign is the drive to raise critical funds to support pioneering research, and inform women about the often elusive symptoms that can be easily dismissed as something benign.
“Many women have never even heard of ovarian cancer until they are diagnosed,” explains Dr. Fernanda Musa, a gynecologic oncologist and member of the Rivkin Center Board of Trustees. “The research that supports prevention and early detection is vital.”
What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries, the small organs that produce eggs in the female reproductive system. However, the term is often used more broadly to include cancers that originate in the fallopian tubes or the peritoneum, which are closely related in how they behave and are treated. Ovarian cancer’s danger lies in its stealth—symptoms such as bloating, pelvic pain, and changes in appetite can be easily mistaken for everyday ailments, leading to late diagnoses.
The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age, particularly after 50, and is more prevalent in women with a family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancers. Genetic mutations, such as those in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, significantly heighten the risk. Despite medical advancements, the disease remains difficult to detect early because its symptoms are vague, and there is no simple screening test available yet.
The Rivkin Center’s Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium
Recognizing that research and awareness go hand-in-hand the Rivkin Center holds its Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium in September, to coincide with this month dedicated to raising awareness. The symposium is one of the oldest and most-established ovarian cancer research symposiums in the world, and attracts scientists, clinicians and researchers from over a dozen countries. The symposium provides a crucial forum for the ovarian cancer science community to share research, and includes sessions covering a variety of scientific topics.
This September, the Rivkin Center will co-host the world’s oldest and most prestigious Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium. Since 1996, this event has drawn leading clinicians and scientists from across the globe to share knowledge, push boundaries, and drive breakthroughs in ovarian cancer research. The symposium is recognized as a critical platform for advancing innovative treatments, early detection methods, and understanding the complexities of the disease.
Additionally, the Rivkin Center funds the Pilot Study Awards, which provide essential seed funding for groundbreaking research, and the Scientific Scholar Awards, designed to support young researchers and nurture the next generation of ovarian cancer experts.