Many Michigan survivors participate with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s innovative educational program, Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives®. The purpose is to help future healthcare professionals – physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers and physician assistants -  increase their understanding of ovarian cancer symptoms and risk factors so they are better able to diagnose the disease in its earlier, most treatable stages.
 
Since 2002, this program features ovarian cancer survivors sharing their experiences and first hand information about the disease. Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives® is now active in nearly 150 medical schools, hospitals and healthcare training programs nationwide, including many in Michigan.

A recent attendee commented:

"Your group is outstanding - it all comes from the heart, and I think you all do a remarkable job in sending the messages that are necessary for physicians, medical students, and paramedical personnel to hear."

Rudi Ansbacher, MD, MS

Hearing personal accounts from ovarian cancer survivors helps put a “face” to the disease. It also illustrates the real life subtleties of its symptoms and the challenges of early detection.

Based on this premise, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s nationwide educational program, Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives®, brings survivors into healthcare classrooms to share their diagnostic and treatment experiences. Inspired by this highly successful experiential learning, SPEAK raises ovarian cancer awareness among all women in a similar way. It provides a forum for ovarian cancer survivors to explain the facts of this disease and to describe their personal cancer experiences.

During each free one-hour presentation, ovarian cancer survivors discuss the myths, facts, symptoms and risk factors of the disease. Audience members are encouraged to listen to their bodies and learn the symptoms, because this information could foster an earlier and lifesaving diagnosis.

To educate the women of our community about ovarian cancer, please host a SPEAK presentation.