Volunteers 'turn the town teal' for ovarian cancer awareness

Volunteers gathered in downtown Newark on Tuesday to “turn the town teal” to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms.

They tied teal ribbons on utility poles along Main Street, and the ribbons will remain on display through September, which is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

“This Turn the Towns Teal initiative gives ovarian cancer survivors a voice, and volunteers who have lost a loved one to this disease are proud to do something proactive in memory of their loved one,” said Meghan Lynch, a volunteer for the Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation who coordinated the effort.

Lynch added that there is still no test for ovarian cancer, so knowledge of the symptoms is crucial.

The symptoms are vague and if they persist more than two weeks, should be discussed with a physician: bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, or urinary symptoms (frequency or urgency). They mimic other conditions, thus are difficult to diagnose, Lynch said.

All women are at risk, as ovarian cancer affects 1 in 70 women of any age. Due to late diagnoses and a high recurrence rate, it is the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers.

Turn The Towns Teal was started locally by Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation Vice President Sally Oberle, who lost her sister Sidney to ovarian cancer and volunteers in her memory.

Residents are encouraged to join the awareness campaign by wearing teal or tying a teal ribbon on their mailboxes to show support for the awareness campaign.