Ovarian Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp

To:  U. S. Postal Service Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC)

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee approve an Ovarian Cancer Awareness Stamp. With early diagnosis and specialized care, survival rates increase dramatically.

Every day counts...women/girls of all ages are dying needlessly from this terrible disease. Each year, approximately 20,000 American women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 16,000 deaths occur in the U.S. from this dreaded disease. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers, killing more women than all other gynecologic cancers combined. Every female is at risk (even those who have had their ovaries removed), and no age is spared (girls as young as one year old have been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer).

Ovarian cancer is sometimes mistakenly called “The Silent Killer”. It is NOT silent, but its symptoms are often subtle. Women with ovarian cancer DO have symptoms, even in the early stages. These can include (but are not limited to) pelvic pain, discomfort or heaviness, changes in bowel habits, loss of appetite, early fullness and increasing abdominal girth. Increased awareness of ovarian cancer by women and health care providers is urgently needed. Every woman should have an annual gynecologic exam, including a vaginal/rectal pelvic examination. Women at high risk and those with persistent ovarian cancer symptoms should receive prompt attention, and may benefit from additional evaluation with CA-125 blood testing and transvaginal ultrasound.

It is our sincere hope that an Ovarian Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp will help improve the chances of early diagnosis. One of the best ways we can bring about earlier diagnosis is through awareness and education. Symptoms are often overlooked or attributed by women and their doctors to gastrointestinal upset or menopausal problems. We can save women’s lives through Ovarian Cancer awareness and education. A U.S. Postage Stamp for Ovarian Cancer Awareness will be an enormous help in these efforts.

Please consider our request at your earliest convenience...women are dying daily because they do not know enough about this terrible disease. One of these women could be you or someone close to you (your mother, your sister, your best friend, or...even your daughter!!).

We have been requesting an ovarian cancer awareness postage stamp annually since 2001. We know you are inundated with stamp requests and that there are many worthy causes to be considered. Naturally, we believe our request merits strong consideration, and we will continue our campaign until an Ovarian Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp is granted and created.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Ovarian Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp Petition to U. S. Postal Service Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) was created by Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Florida - Gulf Coast and written by Carolyn Benivegna & Carol Hensley (Info@OvarianCancerFlorida.org , Deswinds@Bendcable.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.