DENVER, Colo., May 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ginnissa Pettinger learned about ovarian cancer the hard way. Like many women, she was not aware of the disease - which is the fifth most common cancer in females in the United States, and the deadliest gynecologic cancer - until it directly impacted her life.
In September 2013 Pettinger, who was an avid runner, considered herself to be in good physical shape. When she experienced some abdominal pain, bloating and frequent urination, she chose not to worry about it as she was already scheduled for an October physical. Before that physical could take place, the 42-year-old mother and her daughter, Analise, set out to participate in the annual Race for the Cure. But they did not finish their run that day. When Pettinger started having trouble breathing, they went straight to the emergency room. After undergoing various other tests, an ultrasound showed that Pettinger had a tumor the size of a lemon on her right ovary. The ovary was surgically removed the following week, but, according to Pettinger, “Things did not look good. On October 21, I was informed that I had Stage 3B ovarian cancer.”
After being referred to a gynecologic oncologist, Pettinger had a complete hysterectomy. During the surgery, the doctors found that the cancer had spread throughout her peritoneal cavity, the fluid-filled gap between the wall of the abdomen and the organs contained within the abdomen.
“When I got out of surgery and the doctors told my husband what they had found, they cautioned him not to go on the Internet and research my condition,” she recalls, describing most of the online information as negative and suggestive that the disease is not survivable. Instead, the Pettingers decided, “We are going to work through this together.”
Due to the severity of her cancer, Pettinger went through 16 rounds of chemotherapy. Even though she lost her hair, the hearing in her right ear was impacted, and she experienced peripheral neuropathy in her hands and feet, she continued to work as a paralegal except during the week of her treatments.
Pettinger says the “tough love” of her husband, Jack, was instrumental in her tolerating chemotherapy so well. “There were days when I didn’t want to eat or get out of bed and I kind of felt sorry for myself, but he made me eat and get up and go for walks.”
She also credits her family, friends and coworkers for providing great support. In addition to teal bracelets, her office mates wore teal (the color of ovarian cancer awareness) one day each week. The teammates of her son, Brandon, also wore teal ribbons on their baseball caps.
It was during her treatments that Pettinger learned about the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA), the Denver-based nonprofit committed to promoting awareness and early detection of ovarian cancer through advocacy and education while providing support to people affected by ovarian cancer. Although she does not know who requested it on her behalf, Pettinger received a COCA Comfort Kit with items to use during chemotherapy and, she says, “tons of information.”
To help support its work, COCA hosts the annual Jodi’s Race for Awareness (http://www.jodisrace.org/). Pettinger's daughter wanted to participate in the 2014 event, so they formed a team – G-Strong Teal There’s A Cure – with a few family members and friends. The next year the group got bigger and in 2016 there were 54 team members.
“This year (Saturday, June 10) will be our fourth race,” she says, adding, “It amazes me how much Jodi’s Race grows each year. I hope someday it will get as much support as the Race for the Cure. Usually, you don’t hear about ovarian cancer until it is too late. It’s important to know and recognize the symptoms (bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary urgency or frequency) early.”
For Pettinger, a special part of the Jodi’s Race festivities is attending the Survivors Breakfast, where the honored guests receive a variety of goodies, most notably one strand of teal beads in celebration of each year of their survival.
“It’s pretty moving to see these women, who have gone through the same things you did, with all those beads around their necks. It really gives you hope,” she admits.
Although cancer does not run in Pettinger's family, she tested positive for the BRCA 1 gene mutation and had a double mastectomy in July 2016. She says her daughter has not been tested yet, but will be in the future.
In addition to participating in Jodi’s Race, Pettinger actively promotes Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, which is observed nationally in September. She received great support when she contacted local officials and for the past two years the Brighton City Building has been adorned with teal ribbons throughout the month. Last year, the Brighton mayor issued a proclamation declaring that the city would recognize each September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Pettinger also encourages local residents to decorate their yards with teal yard signs and ribbons provided by COCA.
“Seeing all those teal ribbons really brings awareness,” she says. “That's what we need to keep women living longer.”
“Unfortunately, a lot of women have the misconception that because their yearly pap smear exam is normal, everything is fine. They don't realize that there is no screening test for ovarian cancer,” points out Pettinger, who has become proactive and more aware of her body since her diagnosis. “I totally believe that if it had not happened to me I would never have given ovarian cancer a second thought or known anything about it.”
About Jodi’s Race for Awareness
The eighth annual Jodi’s Race for Awareness is set for Saturday, June 10, in Denver’s City Park. The Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance fundraiser is named after Jodi Brammeier, a young wife and mother diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008 who believed she would have discovered the cancer earlier if she had been more aware of the symptoms. Brammeier established the race to raise awareness so that other women might find their cancer earlier and stand a better chance to win against the disease. All money raised from Jodi's Race remains in Colorado and funds COCA programs that support women with ovarian cancer. To learn more about COCA and its initiatives, visit www.colo-ovariancancer.org or call 303-506-7014.
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c98af505-0c93-41ed-b3b1-bbc809afbbef
Attachments:
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/58e8c44f-0844-4fba-ab34-b5b582fd45a5