Women at risk for late stage ovarian cancer until pre-screening tool is developed

EAST SANDWICH, MA (Sept. 12, 2017) -- According to the National Cancer Institute, it is estimated that 22,440 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2017 and 14,080 will die from the disease, making it the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women. This death rate is so high because according to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer does not have any obvious signs and symptoms until its later stages.

The major issue is the lack of a pre-screening tool to identify ovarian cancer early. Like all cancers, early detection is the key factor for survival. Jill Di-Tommaso, who grew up in Walpole, MA, was a resident of East Sandwich, MA when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008. She quickly learned a great deal about her illness and realized all women needed to be aware of this health issue that could affect any of them.

Over a cup of coffee with her good friend Laura Smith, they decided to start an organization to educate women about ovarian cancer and the need for a screening tool to identify the disease early and increase the survival rate. They founded girlygirl P.A.R.T.S (Pre-Screening Awareness Required To Silence ovarian cancer) and began organizing an annual 5K Run/Walk to generate awareness for ovarian cancer and raise funds for the development of a screening tool.

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Craigville Beach in Centerville, Massachusetts, beginning at 9 a.m. More information is available at www.girlygirlparts.org. This will be the second year that Smith will be leading the event without her friend Jill, who lost her eight-year battle with ovarian cancer on Dec. 27, 2015.

"I never felt that Jill would ever lose her battle with ovarian cancer,” said Smith, a longtime resident of Sandwich, MA. “It never owned her. She stayed focused and lived her life every day with zest and joy! Her loss is my driving force. I do this for all the women we can't imagine living without!

“We really need a pre-screening tool to identify ovarian cancer early. This affects women, because right now any of us can be diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer. And it impacts families and friends. Everyone should be concerned. We really hope people in the Boston area will come out and participate in this year’s event to show their support and raise the needed money to develop a pre-screening tool.”

The money raised from the girlygirl P.A.R.T.S 5K Run/Walk for Ovarian Cancer goes directly to a fund managed by Dr. Ursula A. Matulonis to research a pre-screening tool for ovarian cancer. Dr. Matulonis is the Medical Director and Program Leader of the Medical Gynecologic Oncology Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Since girlygirl P.A.R.T.S. inception, the organization has donated over $450,000 to this fund.

“We are running and walking for our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our nieces and our grandmothers,” said Smith, who works passionately to generate awareness for the disease. “We are proud to say that all of the fundraising is making a difference in the lives of the women in your lives.”