Lady Teal Mobile leads the parade for Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Check her out at this year's Art Car Parade!!!

Lady Teal Mobile to the ready. She is an art car, a transporter of Ovarian Cancer awareness, a unifier, a display for butterfly art. The concept is the brainchild of Barbara Garvin, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2007. 

Barbara had a need to get the word out about this deadly disease. She thought that moveable art would be a great way to do it. Helping to bring this car to its full, brilliant teal self came from the women in her Ovarian Cancer Support Group, two seasoned art car officionados by the names of Rebecca and Isaac, a Girl Scout troop, students from a High School art department and really good friends. This magnificent art car is rolling out its message this Saturday, May 12, from 1-3pm, in Houston’s World Famous 25th Annual Art Car Parade. The 97 teal, hand-decorated butterflies, made by or for women diagnosed with this silent killer will be displayed on the car. The butterfly art is as unique and as beautiful as the woman that they honor. There is power in expression, power in unification, power in getting the word out to all women. 

Wear the Teal and Listen for the Whispers

Taken from Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Web site:

SYMPTOMS

Research suggests that the majority of women with ovarian cancer experience symptoms. Symptoms vary and often depend on the location of the tumor and its impact on the surrounding organs. Many ovarian cancer symptoms mimic those of less life-threatening conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.

In June 2007, the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, and the American Cancer Society, with significant support from the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, formed a consensus statement on ovarian cancer, agreeing that the disease has specific symptoms.

The Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Consensus Statement:[i]
Historically ovarian cancer was called the “silent killer” because symptoms were not thought to develop until the chance of cure was poor. However, recent studies have shown this term is untrue and that the following symptoms are much more likely to occur in women with ovarian cancer than women in the general population. These symptoms include:

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Urinary urgency or frequency
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly

Women with ovarian cancer report that symptoms are persistent and represent a change from what is normal for their bodies. The frequency and/or number of such symptoms are key factors in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Several studies show that even early stage ovarian cancer can produce these symptoms.

Women who have these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks should see their doctor, preferably a gynecologist. Prompt medical evaluation may lead to detection at the earliest possible stage of the disease. Early stage diagnosis is associated with an improved prognosis.

Several other symptoms have been commonly reported by women with ovarian cancer. These symptoms include fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation and menstrual irregularities. However, these other symptoms are not as useful in identifying ovarian cancer because they are also found in equal frequency in women in the general population who do not have ovarian cancer.

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Ovarian Cancer National Alliance  www.ovariancancer.org

 Houston Art Car Parade

http://www.orangeshow.org/art-car/