Kickin up some heels to kick cancer's ass!

Carrie-u-Under reporting as directed… but my real name is Lisa Muratori, and I am supposed to write this riveting back story to persuade you to donate to the She ROCKS of the Triad, benefactor of GRAWL’s Oct 12th event (Country Queens). But as much as I may try, I am failing at writing a back story. Guess its cause my front story just keeps breaking through my heart, my brain and my guts and telling you the truth.

I started with GRAWL as part of an entourage for another wrestler. Loved it! Raising funds for worthy and local causes… and having all the fun of dressing up and playing a role (if I had needed to auditioned for I would never have gotten). But this current event is speaking to me heart and soul, so no BS.

October 12, 2019 is 10 days shy of the 3rd anniversary of the loss of a dear friend, a runner, a coach of the world, and a mother of 2 sons on top of being an awesome wife, daughter and sister, you name it. So I cannot make up any back story as to who my character is but I can tell you why I am wrestling to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Awareness. I am doing it in honor of Rebecca. When she finally dismissed her “oh it’s just womanly issues” and was diagnosed with cancer, she fought fiercely to promote education and awareness of the horribly disease. She ROCKS of the Triad did not exist back then. But if it did I am sure she would have been a huge advocate. Had she known of the sister chapter in Wilmington she probably would have started her own here.  

But in one way she did. Through her Facebook page she promoted Random Acts of Kindness (ROAK) days on Wednesday and encouraged everyone to wear teal on that day. To this day I do, wear teal that is, but I am cognizant of doing ROAK every day. Rebecca is still awesome. I love how her spirit continues to lift and enlighten me in ways I had not realized before.

Now… here is what you need to know (and  I am sure Rebecca would advocate on this) about yourself as female or as a partner to a female, husband, father, wife, daughter, however you are connected.

The American Cancer Society estimates for ovarian cancer in the United States for 2019 are:

• About 22,530 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
• About 13,980 women will die from ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. A woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 78. Her lifetime chance of dying from ovarian cancer is about 1 in 108. Only about 20% of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage. When ovarian cancer is found early, about 94% of patients live longer than 5 years after diagnosis. (Visit the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics Center for more key statistics.)

Ways to find ovarian cancer early - Get health exams on a regular basis.

During a pelvic exam, the health care professional feels the ovaries and uterus for size, shape, and consistency. A pelvic exam can be useful because it can find some female cancers at an early stage, but most early ovarian tumors are difficult or impossible to feel. Pelvic exams may, however, help find other cancers or female conditions. 

The Pap test is effective in early detection of cervical cancer, but it is not a test for ovarian cancer. Rarely, ovarian cancers are found through Pap tests, but usually they are then at an advanced stage.

See a doctor if you have symptoms!

Early cancers of the ovaries often cause no symptoms. Symptoms of ovarian cancer can also be caused by other, less serious conditions. By the time ovarian cancer is considered as a possible cause of these symptoms, it usually has already spread. Also, some types of ovarian cancer can rapidly spread to nearby organs. Prompt attention to symptoms may improve the odds of early diagnosis and successful treatment. If you have symptoms similar to those of ovarian cancer almost daily for more than a few weeks, report them right away to your health care professional. 

Ovarian cancer may cause several signs and symptoms. Women are more likely to have symptoms if the disease has spread, but even early-stage ovarian cancer can cause them. The most common symptoms include:

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal (belly) pain
• Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms such as urgency (always feeling like you have to go) or frequency (having to go often).

These symptoms are also commonly caused by benign (non-cancerous) diseases and by cancers of other organs. When they are caused by ovarian cancer, they tend to be persistent and a change from normal − for example, they occur more often or are more severe. These symptoms are more likely to be caused by other conditions, and most of them occur just about as often in women who don’t have ovarian cancer. Please do not dismiss them as “hormonal” or “I am just eating too much”, or “I am just tired”.

There are others symptoms of ovarian cancer too. Please visit: 

Hugs and love. Lisa, aka Carrie-u-Under