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www.insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 1, 2017 | 8 Couple walking together to try to end ovarian cancer by Marta Marychuk Oakville Beaver Staff Barbara and John Fleming will be walking together at the Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope in Burlington/Oakville on Sunday, Sept. 10 to raise money and increase awareness of the disease. "People are so unaware of this disease," says Barbara, a former nurse, who has become an advocate after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer five years ago. "It is such a sneaky disease." The common symptoms of ovarian cancer include: increased or persistent abdominal bloating; difficulty eating or feeling full quickly; pain in the pelvis or abdominal areas; and urgency or frequency in urination. All women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer and 2,800 women in Canada are diagnosed with the disease every year. There is no reliable screening test for ovarian cancer and no vaccine to prevent it. Women with a higher risk include: being over the age of 50; having a family history of certain types of cancer (ovarian, breast, endometrial and colorectal cancers); women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent; and having a genetic mutation associated with ovarian cancer. Barbara experienced back pain. "It just came up out of the blue," she recalls. She went to her doctor who did some test- Barbara and John Fleming are hoping to raise funds and awareness in the Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope. | Nikki Wesley/Metroland ing and found that Barbara had fluid under her lungs. Subsequent testing revealed she had an advanced stage of ovarian cancer. Two days after experiencing symptoms, Barbara was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. That was on Valentine's Day in 2012. The family was planning a vacation to Florida. Barbara and John remember the doctor telling them -- "You are not going anywhere." Barbara went through a surgery called debulking to remove all visible tumour, as well as chemotherapy. John, who has held senior leadership positions in government, including CAO of Halton Region, City Administer in London, Ont., and Deputy Minister at the Province of Ontario (Community and Social Services, Correctional Services, Solicitor General and Environment), immediately called a contact at Ovarian Cancer Canada to offer his assistance. John now volunteers as the chair of the Ovarian Cancer Board of Directors. "It's an amazing organization (Ovarian Cancer Canada)," says Barbara, adding that the registered charity offers information, support and advocacy for women with the disease, and their families. The Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope is a very "powerful experience," adds John, as participants talk about their journey with cancer during the event. In December of 2105, Ovarian Cancer Canada launched the Ladyballs marketing campaign to increase awareness about the disease. Men don't have a problem talking about their reproductive organs, says John. It has been a game changer, according to Ovarian Cancer Canada. The Ladyballs campaign encourages women to talk about their reproductive orsee Organizers on p. 9 MENS & LADIES AVAILABLE AyA Kitchens of oAKville 1195 north service roAd west EMILLE S H #1 SHOE STORE #1 CHILDREN'S SHOE STORE Monday-Friday 9am to 9pm Saturday 9am to 6pm Sunday 10am to 6pm Factory Shoe outlet 2394 FAIRVIEW STREET, BURLINGTON eMIlle ShoeS BurlINGtoN FACTORY S ES H O 905.847.1522 ayaoakville.com th OUTLET OE hourS: 905-632-9688 www.factoryshoeoutlet.ca VERSARY ANNI