Assemblyman Tom McKevitt (R,I,C - East Meadow) is teaming up with SHARE, Self-help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer, to reach out to his constituents and help educate them on ovarian cancer, "In order for you to protect yourself it is important to first understand the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer" McKevitt stated.

Many times we tend to overlook the symptoms that are presented to us. Symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague and can be attributed to other ailments. Feelings such as bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, fatigue, back pain, constipation and urinary symptoms (urgency or frequently) are just some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Many of these symptoms can be associated with other diseases and because of that, often, ovarian cancer is misdiagnosed. In 2007, approximately 22,430 US women will be diagnosed and 15,280 will die of cancer of the ovary. In New York State, 1,623 women will be diagnosed and out of these 1,018 will die. "It is imperative that women be aware of their bodies and the feelings that they are experiencing. The best way to be sure, is to receive annual gynecological visits each year," said McKevitt.

There are many things available for those who believe they might have ovarian cancer or those who are going through it at this point in time. SHARE is a not-for-profit organization that designed a hotline for women, to provide support, information, and resources to callers. To reach the hotline call: 1-866-537-4273. If you would like to volunteer, contact Teri Conti, Ovarian Consultant at 212-719-0364, Ext. 310 or email ovarianconsultant@sharecancersupport.org.

"The fight against cancer does not have to be alone. There are people to help and guide you in many different areas. These organizations are here to reach out and together, we can win this battle."