Oklahoma's only ovarian cancer support group will honor victims with a candlelight vigil at the OU Medical Center on Saturday. The event will commemorate Oklahoma's first Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

The group, known as H.O.P.E. (Helping Ovarian Cancer Patients Everywhere in Oklahoma), is holding the vigil at 7:30 p.m. on the second floor of the OU Physicians Building in Oklahoma City.

The vigil is to honor the victims of ovarian cancer and the families who have lost a loved one.

After the vigil, balloons will be released to honor the survivors, caregivers, supporters and Oklahoma women who have died from the undetectable disease that kills 14,000 women every year.

The balloons will be coordinated by each group, white for families of ovarian cancer victims, yellow for caregivers and supporters, and teal for survivors. The families will write messages on cards for the balloons. Dr. Robert Mannell, a gynecologic oncologist at the medical center, will be reading the proclamation of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month by Gov. Frank Keating signed in June.

"It is going to be a memorable evening and a healing process for the families," said Paula Nevius, president of H.O.P.E.

Ovarian cancer occurs in 1 out of every 55 women in the United States. The average age of cancer patients is 55, but Nevius said she sees a lot of 30 to 40 year-old women. Age does not factor in the susceptibility of the disease, she said. The youngest member of H.O.P.E. is 16, and two 19 year-old women recently joined the group after being diagnosed with the disease.

H.O.P.E. was created in 2000 after Nevius was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and searched for a support group in Oklahoma. Not finding one, she gathered five other women she knew who had cancer. Today, about 150 women, including doctors from the medical center, are members of H.O.P.E.

The main focus of the group is support for women with ovarian cancer, but to also raise awareness about the disease.

"Women do not know that their Pap Smears do not detect ovarian cancer," Nevius said. Instead of relying on the Pap Smear, women should also have an annual vaginal/rectal pelvic exam.

If ovarian cancer is suspected, Nevius said the women should see a gynecologic oncologist to treat the disease.

"Oklahoma is fortunate enough to have five gynecologic oncologists right here in Oklahoma City," Nevius said.

Currently, 75 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer find out in the advanced stages of the disease. Of the women who detect the disease early, 95 percent live more than five years.

Symptoms of the disease include abdominal pressure or pelvic pain, nausea, urinary frequency, abnormal bleeding, shortness of breath, and menstrual disorders. If women have the symptoms, they can call the Medical Information Hotline at 271-2222. Women with ovarian cancer can call H.O.P.E. at 580-863-2249.
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