2 What is the Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence?

What is the Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence?
The mission of the Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence is to raise awareness
about the symptoms and risks of ovarian cancer and encourage
women to Take Early Action and Live®. Participants take a vow of
silence for the day, encouraging women to listen for the signs of
ovarian cancer and honoring those who have been forever silenced by
the disease.
Only in silence can you hear the whisper. As there is no screening test for
ovarian cancer, women must know the subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer
and listen to their bodies. Education and awareness of the signs and
symptoms of the disease provides an opportunity to women for early
detection. If detected early, survival rates are above 90%. Unfortunately,
less than 20% are diagnosed early, and over 70% of women diagnosed with
ovarian cancer will not survive the disease.
For this reason, it is imperative that
everyone learn the early signs and
This year, more than
symptoms of the disease and help the
20,000 women will be
women in their lives listen for the whisper.
diagnosed with ovarian
cancer, and 15,000 will
If you or a woman you love experiences
pass away from the
symptoms for over two weeks, seek
disease.
medical assistance immediately.
The Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence is dedicated in loving memory to Carol
Watterson, Stage IV ovarian cancer fighter, and is supported by the National
Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Pittsburgh Chapter.
www.TEALDayofSilence.org
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Help everyone in your community listen for the whisper. Early
detection saves lives.
Bring the Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence to Your Community
Step 1: Learn More
Before you can tell others about the whisper of ovarian cancer, you have to learn how to hear it
yourself and to be confident as your own health advocate.
Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect, especially in the early stages. These are some of the
potential signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer:
Symptoms:

Bloating

Pelvic or abdominal pain

Trouble eating, feeling full
quickly

Feeling the need to urinate
urgently or often
Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:
 Fatigue
 Upset stomach or heartburn
 Back pain
 Pain during sex
 Constipation
 Menstrual changes
Also know the risk factors of ovarian cancer, like the inherited genetic mutation in the
BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Find more information at www.TEALDayofSilence.org.
Step 2: Register and Connect
Register for the Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence on our website to receive reminders about the
campaign, to share your photos and stories, and to connect with other ovarian cancer fighters
and self-health advocates.
www.TEALDayofSilence.org
PAGE3
Talk about it and promote the campaign to raise awareness and build support for the day. Direct
others to www.TEALDayofSilence.org, and share OCDOS with your social network: Facebook,
Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Step 3: Get Ready, Get TEAL’d
Paint the Town TEAL!
Get your community ready by printing and distributing the poster included on page 10. Connect
with other cancer awareness organizations or groups that have mutual interests to help spread
the word. Ask if you can display posters in local businesses and schools, and use the example
press release on page 14 to contact your local media.
Deck Out in TEAL
Get your wardrobe ready by decorating t-shirts to wear in support and making fun TEAL
accessories.
www.TEALDayofSilence.org
PAGE4
Find other fun ways to TEAL your community on pages 8 and 9. The possibilities are endless!
Step 4: FUNdraise
You can raise funds to support ovarian cancer awareness through a
variety of events and activities. All donations raised in connection to the
OCDOS campaign fund local and nationwide National Ovarian Cancer
Coalition programs.
Involve Family and Friends
Enlist your family and friends to help hold a bake sale or car wash. Ask
someone who cannot participate to help you collect donations. If you
have a talent for crafts or cooking, make something to raffle off.
Host a TEALtini Happy Hour
Consider holding a TEALtini Happy Hour at a
supporting restaurant to raise funds for OCDOS.
Have the partnering bar concoct a teal martini to help
spread awareness.
Most businesses are happy to support a great cause like
OCDOS. Many local restaurants offer 10% nights to non-profits. Representatives
for Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, and other direct sales companies will also donate
a portion of sales to your cause. Just ask!
www.TEALDayofSilence.org
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TEAL a Table
Set up an awareness table at a business, church, or event to distribute materials and collect
donations from games, raffles, or sales.
Step 5: Be Silent
Raise Awareness
Make the Most Impact
Take a vow of silence for the day, encouraging women to listen for the signs of ovarian cancer
and honoring those who have been forever silenced by the disease. Staying silent for the entire
day, although difficult, will create the most impact. However, if you cannot stay silent all day, try
to wear teal and stay silent during those times of the day when you are out in public (e.g.
grocery shopping, getting gas, taking a coffee break, walking to work, etc.). If you can only
commit to a few hours or less of silence, that’s okay! The purpose of the OCDOS is to raise
awareness about the symptoms and risks of ovarian cancer and encourage women to Take
Early Action and Live®. Whatever your level of participation, you are raising awareness, which
may save a woman’s life.
Wear Your Support
Get decked out in TEAL with your
decorated t-shirt and accessories.
Let the Cards Speak for You
Hand out the Communication Cards
on pages 12 and 13 (print out 2sided) to speak for you about the
warning signs of ovarian cancer.
Share Your Snapshot
Share your picture on
www.TEALDayofSilence.org.
Use the Silent Snapshot on page 13
to explain why you are silent on the
Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence.
www.TEALDayofSilence.org
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Share your experiences through social media: people’s reactions, your influence, and how
you’re helping save lives!
Listen to Your Body
Become intentional about listening to your body. No one
knows your body better than you do, and it is imperative to
be your own health advocate.
Honor the Silenced
Honor those you have been forever silenced by the disease
with luminaries. Even a small display in front of your house
will make a big statement.
Step 6: Break the Silence
For one day out of the year, we are silent to listen to our own bodies and
honor those who have been forever silenced by the disease, while we are
raising awareness. For every other day of the year, tell everyone about the
symptoms of ovarian cancer.
www.TEALDayofSilence.org
PAGE7
Connect with an NOCC chapter near you and join a Walk to Break the
Silence on Ovarian Cancer.
T.E.A.L Activities
Hershey Kiss Angels
To make these adorably sweet treats, you will
need mini bow tie pasta, teal acrylic
paint,12mm faux pearl craft beads, 10mm
silver metal jump rings, Hershey’s Kisses, and
a hot glue gun. Paint the uncooked bow tie
pasta and let dry. Glue the rings to the beads,
covering one of the holes. After drying, glue the head with
halo and pasta wings on to the Kiss and let dry.
Include Your Pet
Take a walk and tie a teal bandana around your pet to raise more
awareness. You can also decorate its collar with your favorite
teal items. Our pets can offer stress reduction, companionship,
and compassion, so who better to include in the campaign?
Luminaries
www.TEALDayofSilence.org
PAGE8
Turn a paper bag into a luminary and tribute to honor a loved
one. Personalize the bag with memories, drawings, or pictures.
Place sand and a candle inside of the bag. Use several
luminaries to light a pathway, illuminate a field, or simply place in
front of your home. Burn all night or perhaps the week leading
up to the Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence.
Hair Clips
Assemble your favorite teal materials.
Snap Clips (We strongly recommend getting these from
the sewing section of the store rather than the hair
section—same metal clip, much cheaper!)
Beads or buttons
Plastic craft lace
Glitter glue
Hot glue
Ribbon or fabric
Attach the crafty products to the snap clips to make beautiful,
unique hair accessories. Here are some ways to do this:
Lace the beads or buttons to the snap clips using plastic
craft lace. Melt or tie the lace to keep it in place.
Hot glue the beads or buttons into place.
Knot the plastic craft lace into ribbons on the snap clips.
Use glitter glue on everything to make it sparkly and
beautiful.
Duct Tape Bracelets
There are several ways to make bracelets and accessories to show your support for ovarian
cancer awareness. These bracelets are easy to make and wear. You will need 8.5” x 11” paper,
teal duct tape, scissors, and sticky back ¾” Velcro white tape.
Take a sheet of bright green, teal, or
white paper. Place teal duct tape across
the short edge of the page. Five
bracelets can be made with one sheet of
paper. Cut off any excess tape along the
edges, and cut between each bracelet.
Cut off about an inch of Velcro tape.
Place the soft loops piece on the short
edge of the duct tape side of the
bracelet, and stick the hard hooks piece
on the opposite and end and side. Now
you have five fashionable duct tape
bracelets that can adjust to fit any sized
wrist.
www.TEALDayofSilence.org
PAGE9
Have more ideas? Please share with us! Post your activities on our Facebook
page or email [email protected].
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Contact: Britaini Watterson
412-310-5761
[email protected]
Second Annual Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence
PITTSBURGH, PA – Get ready for the city to be a little quieter. On Thursday, April 10, 2014, women and men in
Pennsylvania will join other states in the Second Annual Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence to raise awareness of the
symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer and encourage women to Take Early Action & Live®. Participants take
a vow of silence for the day, encouraging women to listen for the signs of ovarian cancer and honoring those
forever silenced by the disease.
Only in silence can you hear the whisper. As there is no screening test for ovarian cancer, women must know the
subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer and listen to their bodies. Education and awareness of the signs and symptoms
of the disease provides an opportunity to women for early detection. If detected early, survival rates are above
90%. Unfortunately, less than 20% are diagnosed early, and over 70% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will
not survive the disease. For this reason, it is imperative that everyone learn the early signs and symptoms of the
disease and help the women in their lives listen for the whisper.
Over 500 participants are expected to be silent on April 10, wearing teal tape, teal awareness ribbons, teal clothing
or any other means to raise awareness, giving women diagnosed with ovarian cancer a better chance. Some have
pledged to remain silent the entire day, while others have committed to being silent for a portion of their waking
hours. All are committed to raising awareness for the disease. Participants will pass out informative cards that will
speak for them and explain the Day of Silence and symptoms of ovarian cancer.
“The Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence not only raises awareness about ovarian cancer in a loud way, it encourages
women to listen to their bodies and be their own health advocates. It’s not normal to feel awful, and women of all
ages need to know the symptoms of this deadly disease,” said Britaini Watterson, Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence
Founder and Chair. “I founded the Day of Silence in honor of my mom Carol Watterson, a Stage IV fighter. Sadly,
she passed away on September 23, 2013. We celebrate successes and memorialize others have also been taken by
the disease with our silence.”
The Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence is supported in partnership with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. All
donations raised in connection to the campaign fund local and nationwide NOCC programs.
About the Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence:
The mission of the Ovarian Cancer Day of Silence is to raise awareness about the symptoms and risks of ovarian
cancer and encourage women to take early action and live. Participants take a vow of silence for the day,
encouraging women to listen for the signs of ovarian cancer and honoring those who have been forever silenced
by the disease. For more information visit http://www.TEALDayofSilence.org and
https://www.facebook.com/OvarianCancerDayOfSilence.
About the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition:
The Mission of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) is to raise awareness and promote education about
ovarian cancer. The Coalition is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with
ovarian cancer. For more information, visit http://www.ovarian.org.
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