Teal Toes (and Fingers) For Ovarian Cancer Awareness

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. To help raise awareness http://www.tealtoes.org/ is encouraging women to paint their toenails (and/or fingernails if they wish) teal, since it is the awareness ribbon color for this form of cancer.

I do not know anyone with ovarian cancer, but as a woman, I feel compelled to spread the word. Its easy for women to not know the symptoms. To be honest, until I found teal toes, I was unaware that there was no test for ovarian cancer, and that the symptoms often get brushed aside as other ailments.

So yesterday, I sat down and painted my toenails and fingernails teal. As a conversation starter and to give an idea of why my polish was teal, I painted my ring fingers white with a teal ribbon.

I do not really want to post my feet, but its for a good cause, so I cannot say no. The idea is called Teal Toes, after all. 

I used Sally Girl Surf's Up. It is the only teal polish I own that's not really dark. Its a very pretty shade in person. I love the little Sally Girl polishes. Sally Beauty Supply has a rather large selection of colors for them. The cute little mini bottles only cost one dollar.

I would love to see everyone's teal toes or fingers! If you want, you can post a link to them in the comment section. :)

Important information about ovarian cancer: 
Even in its early stages ovarian cancer has symptoms. Research indicates that 95 percent of women with ovarian cancer had symptoms and 90 percent of women experienced symptoms with early-stage ovarian cancer. Symptoms vary from woman to woman and many times depend on the location of the tumor and its impact on the surrounding organs. Many of the symptoms mimic other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Symptoms include: Bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency).

Women who have these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks should see their doctor, preferably a gynecologist. Prompt medical evaluation may lead to detection at the earliest possible stage of the disease. Early stage diagnosis is associated with an improved prognosis.

Why raise awareness? 
Too many women with ovarian cancer do not get diagnosed until their cancer has spread. Their survival rate is 45%. The survival rate improves greatly - to 93 percent - if the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage before it has spread. Only 19 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at this local stage. Approximately 75 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage after the cancer has spread beyond the ovary.

For more information about Teal Toes, visit their website http://www.tealtoes.org/