My sister loved Halloween.

She loved to be scared.

I find it ironic that she was diagnosed with one of the scariest diseases: ovarian cancer.

But, in a weird twist, I wonder if her love of scary things (scary books, scary movies) actually helped her when it came to dealing with cancer.

She knew that the hero generally wins after a hard fight against evil.

Tammy gave evil cancer a heck of a fight.

And for 10 years, she did win.

But four years ago, on November 2, she lost the fight.

Since then, in her honor and around the anniversary of her death, I’ve been posting the warning signs of ovarian cancer.

She’d be happy to know she might be helping someone avoid their own scary story.

I hope you’ll pass this information along to all the women in your life.

Ovarian cancer has occurred in unbelievably young women, as young as 11 (That’s very rare, though.).

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

Many of these symptoms can be signs of other cancers or even of benign illnesses.

But if you have any of these, please see your doctor.

Please.

Bloating: Swelling in the lower pelvis or abdomen. Your clothes may feel tighter around your waist.

Pelvic or Abdominal Pain: Pain in the abdomen, back or pelvis. (Tammy felt pain in her abdomen when she drove over speed bumps.)

Trouble Eating or Feeling Full Quickly: Loss of appetite or feeling full after eating only a few bites.

Urinary Frequency: Feeling the need to urinate more frequently.

Back Pain: Pain or discomfort in the lower back.

Fatigue: Feeling more tired than usual and more often.

Menstrual Changes: Changes to your monthly menstrual cycle, including additional bleeding or vaginal discharge.

Pain During Sex: Discomfort or pain.

Upset Stomach, Heartburn, Constipation: This can include diarrhea or changes in bowel habits such as urgency or pain.

If you experience any of these symptoms for two weeks, please contact your physician.

It may or may not be something scary.

Happy Halloween from Tammy and Gail.

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