Often the symptoms of ovarian cancer are confused with disorders less serious, such as gastrointestinal discomfort, as occurs with increased abdominal size and permanent swelling, difficulty eating, feeling full quickly, abdominal or pelvic pain and the need to urinate more frequently or more urgently. However, these ailments can hide the cancer lowering its survival rate. Each year 25,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer worldwide, and about 140,000 patients die from this cause.

To raise awareness, 100 organizations from 32 countries unite to call for greater prevention.  “This year more than 100 organizations from 32 countries will come together to disseminate information on the disease and give voice to every woman,” says Elisabeth Baugh, president of the organizing committee of the International Day of Ovarian Cancer and CEO of Ovary Cancer Canada. “As the years pass many of us stop to think about what we would have done differently to have had more information.  We hope to get hundreds of thousands of people participate in this campaign to share their knowledge and discuss the world of ovarian cancer. ”

The campaign is called #KnowNow and is very focused on social networks. “We want to raise global awareness about ovarian cancer,” says Calaneet Balas, executive vice president of Alliance Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. “The effort focuses on connecting people internationally with the resources available to educate others and save the lives of more women.”