WHEREAS, ovarian cancer is a serious gynecologic cancer that remains a leading cause of death among cancers affecting the female reproductive system; and

 

WHEREAS, symptoms of ovarian cancer potentially include abdominal bloating, early satiety, abdominal and/or pelvic pain, urinary frequency, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, back pain, changes in bowel or bladder habits; and

 

WHEREAS, there is currently no effective screening test for ovarian cancer, resulting in approximately 80 percent of cases being diagnosed at advanced stages after the disease has spread beyond the ovaries; and

 

WHEREAS, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, approximately 520 women are estimated to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2026, with approximately 340 expected to lose their lives to the disease; and

 

WHEREAS, increasing public understanding of ovarian cancer, including its risk factors, warning signs, and treatment options, is essential to advancing early detection, improving outcomes, and supporting individuals affected by the disease; and

 

WHEREAS, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month provides an opportunity to honor the courage and resilience of survivors, support women currently undergoing treatment, and remember those whose lives have been lost to this devastating disease;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize September 2026, as OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.