by Caralyn Moore
I am a young, reasonably healthy woman. However, I’ve had a recent realization of just how little I really know about my body. When I started working at Spark Media last Spring, one of my first tasks was helping to wrap up production on No Evidence of Disease, our GYN Cancer Awareness-Rock Band documentary. I was thrown suddenly into the world of GYN Cancers and all I could think was ‘why haven’t I heard any of this before?’
The first time I watched the film, I went home with a nagging hypochondria. There were a plethora of symptoms that I never knew existed and they sent my mind reeling. ‘My mother is a breast cancer survivor, ovarian cancer is a serious risk for me!’ ‘I had weird cramps yesterday, what if it’s too late?!’ Am I crazy? A little. Is it possible that I might someday develop GYN cancer? Absolutely. That’s the point. What you don’t know can hurt you, and women have every prerogative to educate and empower themselves.
So even as we tie the bow on the film, it’s really important that we continue to discuss its themes of awareness and activism, and spread the conversation about women’s cancer and women’s health. More women need to talk about the reality of GYN cancer, because it is prevalent, tragic, often preventable…and unfortunately not a commonly broached topic.
Our involvement with No Evidence of Disease has also led us to become involved in the creation of the first ever Globe-athon, a truly awesome effort to raise awareness worldwide for GYN cancer.
The work we are doing here at Spark gives me hope, and inspires me not only to be conscientious about my own health, but also to live passionately and reach out to other women. This is what it’s all about. Empowered women are those with the knowledge, the support, and the gumption to be strong and achieve their goals, beyond the grasp of cancer. Life is too short and too precious to leave it all up to chance. It’s so important to know that there are people out there fighting for women: for their health, life, fulfillment and success.
So here’s a shout out to the strong men and women in N.E.D. and everyone everywhere else who has been touched by GYN cancer. Keep the conversation going!