News
In the News: Local women raising awareness for ovarian cancer
Posted on August 21, 2015
Originally published in the Times Daily.
When Mary Ann Clement went to her doctor on Aug. 29, 2013, for what she believed was a routine bladder infection, she never expected the word “cancer” to come up during their discussion.
A mother and grandmother, Clement was the picture of health. She runs a daycare from her home, walks two miles a day and frequently works out. She never had a person in her family die from cancer.
“I was just certain the doctor was wrong,” she said. “I knew there was no way that I had cancer.”
Clement was diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer once doctors found the cantaloupe-sized tumor. She immediately entered the whirlwind of cancer treatments — chemotherapy, scans, trips to Birmingham, surgeries and multiple doctor appointments.
“They talk about cancer patients fighting their cancer ‘battle’ and I know why it’s called that now,” she said. “You really do have to fight — you have to fight the disease, fight the urge to give up, and fight to stay positive.
“The first three letters of ‘cancer’ are ‘can,’ and I had that plastered everywhere I could to remind myself that I can do this. I can fight back.”
Just a little more than five months after Clement’s diagnosis, fellow Franklin County resident Robin Drake received similar news. She chalked up her minor weight gain to all the holiday meals in November and December of 2013, but a persistent pressure in her chest finally sent her to the doctor.
“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” Drake said. “The pressure I was feeling was because of fluid build-up caused by the cancer. I hadn’t had any other symptoms at all. I hadn’t even been sick.”
Drake also went through the grueling treatments, fighting the disease with chemotherapy and radiation. When she was at her nine-month checkup, doctors found a small spot that remained on her ovaries, so she is currently undergoing a second round of chemo treatments until she receives the news that she’s in remission.
After dealing with the effects from their cancer diagnoses, both Clement and Drake were left wondering how they could possibly have gotten to Stage III ovarian cancer without realizing it.
“I never missed an appointment with my gynecologist, so I thought I was being checked for things like that,” Clement said. “But then I found out that routine appointments don’t check for ovarian cancer. You have to specifically ask to be checked because there isn’t any sort of screening in place. I was so shocked. I didn’t understand why there wasn’t more awareness or education about the symptoms. And the symptoms are such common things that it’s easy to overlook it or dismiss it, which is what I did.”
According to the American Cancer Society, the most common symptoms associated with ovarian cancer are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms.
Ovarian cancer accounts for about 3 percent of cancers diagnosed among women, but it causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, according to the American Cancer Society.
The organization estimates 21,290 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer this year, and about 14,180 women will die from it — a fact Clement said was staggering considering how little awareness there is.
“I didn’t think there was any other ribbon color for cancer than pink,” she said, “Breast cancer is very important and should receive awareness, but there needs to be awareness about this cancer, too. We need to start seeing more teal, which is the color for ovarian cancer.”
Clement and Drake have developed a bond through their similar experiences. They have become a support system for each other, something they both said has been a huge help.
They’ve also made it their goal to raise awareness about this lesser-discussed cancer.
“I wear my teal whenever I can,” Clement said. “I want people to see this teal ribbon and ask me what it’s about because that gives me an open door to tell them about what I’ve gone through and how they can try to protect against this.”
Drake said it’s important for women and men to hear this message. The genetic mutation that led to her ovarian cancer also can show up in men and affect their chances of developing prostate, pancreatic and breast cancer.
“Having genetic testing done can literally be a life saver,” she said. “If you know you or your children have the gene, you can take steps to prevent these cancers from occurring or progressing.”
The two women enlisted the help of the Russellville City Council to spread their awareness message. Mayor David Grissom and council members recently passed a resolution naming September as Ovarian/Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month in the city.
Grissom said they would help the two women put up teal ribbons.
“This is an important cause, and we appreciate both of these ladies making it their mission to educate others about this specific type of cancer,” Grissom said. “They have fought and are fighting their cancer battles in such a courageous way, and I commend them for also taking time to care about the health and safety of others around them.”
Drake said even though there have been many hard days, her diagnosis and battle with cancer will mean something if she is able to help people.
“Having a positive attitude is so important,” she said. “I pray a lot, and I choose not to worry. No one is guaranteed tomorrow at any age. I have a wonderful husband, three great kids who are hard-working, Christian parents to my seven beautiful grandchildren, and I feel blessed by that every day. I try to focus on those things instead of focusing on the negative things.”