Colorado Gynecologic Cancer Alliance
Wear Teal Day on Sept. 4 kicks off National Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
The symptoms that took Fowler resident Carol Benzing to the doctor eight years ago were vague: bloating, lower back discomfort and trouble urinating. She initially dismissed them as signs of aging and the long hours she put in as a pharmacist. Eventually, she couldn’t ignore her intuition that something wasn’t right and scheduled an appointment. A Physician Assistant at her doctor’s office ordered an ultrasound, which revealed an 18 cm tumor on Benzing’s left ovary.
Fortunately, Benzing’s cancer was found early at stage 1A. Following surgery to remove the tumor, a hysterectomy and chemotherapy, she was found to have no evidence of disease and now enjoys an active life volunteering in the community and caring for animals on her property. However, she knows that if she hadn’t listened to her intuition – or if the PA hadn’t listened to her when she said that something wasn’t right – things would have been much different. There is no screening test for ovarian cancer, which is the deadliest gynecologic disease and claims the lives of nearly 13,000 people in the U.S. each year.
Benzing first learned about the Colorado Gynecologic Cancer Alliance from her medical team while she was recovering from surgery. She reached out to the nonprofit once she was feeling better and joined a support group with other ovarian cancer survivors. “There’s a sense of camaraderie when you talk with others who have gone through what you are experiencing. They provided me with support and hope, and now I try to do the same for other survivors,” shared Benzing. She volunteers to help CGCA raise awareness of ovarian and gynecologic cancers at health fairs, education and outreach events – including in rural areas around the Arkansas River Valley.
The main message she shares is to pay attention to your body and advocate for your health. “Most of us tend to brush aside small discomforts because we’re so busy,” she explains. “We really need to pay attention and talk to a doctor when things don’t seem quite right. I’m not sure I would be here today if I had ignored my intuition.”
September 4th is Wear Teal Day and people are encouraged to wear teal (the color associated with ovarian cancer) and share information about the symptoms on social media. The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloating, abdominal pain, feeling full quickly or changes in urination or bowel movements. The Pap test only screens for cervical cancer. There is no screening test for ovarian and most gynecologic cancers, so symptom recognition is critical for early diagnosis.
Colorado Gynecologic Cancer Alliance
Formerly known as the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance, the Colorado Gynecologic Cancer was founded in 2005. In early 2024, the nonprofit expanded its scope to include all gynecologic cancers. The organization’s mission is to promote awareness and early detection of gynecologic cancers through advocacy and education while providing support to people in Colorado affected by gynecologic cancers. Programs include CGCACares Financial Assistance, Nicki’s Circle Support Groups, a Gynecologic Cancer Resource Guide, Comfort Kits for the newly diagnosed, Carol’s Wish Financial Navigation, an annual Raise Awareness campaign, and Survivors Teaching Students, a national program of the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. To learn more about CGCA and its programs, visit www.gyncancercolorado.org.
