According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 22,430 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007. During that same time period, more than 15,200 died from the same disease.

Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women and yet it remains largely unknown and chronically under-discussed by the American public.

In the North County, a group of five young women are dedicating themselves to lowering those staggering numbers by raising awareness, as well as gathering monetary donations for ovarian cancer research.

Caroline Barth, Ravae Rohrer, Jennifer Chavez, Megan Conaster and Megan Bentz are a group of five best friends who will be competing in the 2008 Wildflower Mountain Bike Triathlon on Saturday, May 3 as Team Ovacome, in honor of Barth’s mother, Mary, who has been battling the disease since 2005.

Barth, Rohrer and Chavez all attended Paso Robles High School together and met Conaster, who graduated from King City High School, and Bentz, of Atascadero High School, when they all worked summers with Monterey County Parks on the South Shore of San Antonio Lake from 2005 to 2007.

Just as the group of girls evolved into a second family of sorts, Barth’s parents, Mary and Doug, became like a set of surrogate parents to many of the girls.

“She is like my second mom,” Chavez said of Mary. “[Caroline and I] pretty much live at each other’s houses during the summer time, so I am really close to her mom.”

Rohrer is also a frequent visitor to the Barth household, even living with the family for a short time before she enlisted in the Air Force. Mary opened her home and her arms to her and made her feel as if she was another daughter, Rohrer said.

“This is a person who always said what is mine is yours,” she said.

It came as a shock to everyone when Mary was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in late 2005, just months after Barth made the move up north to attend college. Not only did Mary’s family tree have no history of cancer, she paid great attention to her health by keeping fit and eating right.

“I was shocked at first. I didn’t really believe that it was actually happening,” Chavez said. “I never thought in a million years that it would happen to her.”

Moreover, more publicized types of cancer, such and lung and breast cancer, are well known and understood by the public, but none of the family or the extended network of friends really knew much about ovarian cancer.

“The word cancer I knew, and I just knew that it wasn’t good,” Barth said. “You never think that can happen so close to home.”

Ovarian Cancer: The silent killer

Ovarian cancer is a growth of abnormal malignant cells that begin in a woman’s ovaries, according to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Five year survival rates for all women with ovarian cancer is just 45-percent, but those survival rates jump dramatically, to 93-percent, if the cancer is caught in the early stages before its metastasizes and spreads to other organs, according to OCNA.

“The sooner you find it, the better the chances you have of surviving,” Rohrer said.

The problem comes in early diagnosis, Mary said. The warning signs and symptoms for ovarian cancer are so subtle and common that they are often confused with more commonplace signs of aging. The four major warning signs of ovarian cancer are:

* Bloating

* Pelvic or abdominal pain

* Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly.

* Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

The OCNA urges women who are experiencing those symptoms daily for a period of a few weeks to see their doctor, preferably a gynecologist. Eighty-seven percent of the women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 45 years of age or older, according to the OCNA.

“Because of our age, often times we think it is related to menopause or some other classic older ‘women’ issues, so it is easily put aside,” Mary said.

Additionally, ovarian cancer is often difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages not only due to lack of awareness, but also because there is currently no definitive test that can be used on all women to detect the disease. Contrary to public perception, while annual pap smears are useful in detecting cervical cancer and infections, they cannot detect ovarian cancer.

“That is why they call it the silent death, because it goes unnoticed for so long and then normally it is caught way too late,” Barth said.

Team Ovacome

The group of young athletic women had always wanted to take on the Wildflower course, which they had worked during their summers on San Antonio Lake, but were wary about competing in the event against their best friends. When Chavez suggested that they take on the course in honor of Mary and her battle against ovarian cancer, the group immediately seized upon the idea and formed Team Ovacome.

The girls were eager to show their support for the woman who had touched each of their lives.

“There are people out there that are willing to fight as hard for [Mary] as she has fought against this cancer,” Rohrer said.

The primary goal of the team is to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and give women the tools to recognize the disease in its early stages, Chavez said.

“A lot of people don’t know about ovarian cancer,” she said. “We just want it to be known like breast cancer is known and other cancers have been known. The more women know about it, the more people will put time and effort into it. That is why we are trying to get it out to the community that this is a disease and you might not even know you have it.”

Also central to the Team Ovacome message is that ovarian cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Barth said that keeping a positive frame of mind is key to fighting the disease, citing her mother’s own “optimism” and “constant positive attitude.”

Rohrer said Mary is a model for how to combat ovarian cancer.

“She never let it get her down, even through chemo,” she said. “She is just ready to overcome this and that is what we are trying to promote.”

The young women waited to surprise Mary with the news that they were tackling the course for ovarian cancer, holding the news until late February. Mary said that she was touched and honored by the measures the young women were taking to combat ovarian cancer.

“I was really honored,” she said. “The more publicity there is about it, the more informed all of us women can be on any type of cancer that is female related.”

Mary called the close-knit group of young women generous and inspirational, trying to change their world for the better.

“They are like sisters,” she said. “Working together as a team — the power behind that is much greater than one individual person.”

Fundraising for the battle

There is research in the works to develop more efficient ways to detect ovarian cancer in its early stages and to discover more effective ways to treat the disease. Team Ovacome is looking to support that research by raising money for the cause.

The team is currently selling hats and T-shirts, emblazoned with the Team Ovacome logo, to those wishing to support the team and their goal of “ovacoming” ovarian cancer. After covering the cost of the materials and using a small portion to buy uniforms for the team, the money will be donated directly to an ovarian cancer fund.

White and black embroidered hats with adjustable backs are available for $20. Black and teal Team Ovacome t-shirts are available for youth in sizes small to large and adults’ sizes are available in small to XXL and are also $20.

The last day to order Team Ovacome apparel is Tuesday, April 1. Donations are also welcome, said Caroline.

“We are happy for whatever we raise,” she said.

Preparing for the course

The women of Team Ovacome are currently training to take on the grueling Wildflower Triathlon, which includes a quarter mile swim, a 9.7-mile mountain biking course, followed by an exhausting two-mile hilly run to the finish line.

Since the five girls are spread between four different cities and two different states, training as a group has its difficulties. The women are currently training on their own to build up their endurance and will meet together during spring break to practice as a group.

Each of the girls has their own strengths and weaknesses as it pertains to the course, but the team will be there to encourage and push each other to the finish line, Chavez said.

Though the Wildflower Triathlon routinely attracts around 7,500 competitors from all over the world, Team Ovacome isn’t focusing on the competition; rather they are focusing on the team and on the cause.

“We have agreed to all run side-by-side, do the whole thing side-by-side and finish at the finish line all side-by-side,” Barth said.

In crossing the finish line together, the group is hoping to make a bigger impact and place the emphasis squarely on ovarian cancer awareness.

“It is such an accomplishment to finish a triathlon, let alone finish it as a team and for an amazing cause,” Rohrer said.

Mary, who recently finished her final round of chemotherapy and is currently living cancer-free, will be on-hand with husband Doug to cheer the team on to the finish.

Perhaps the greatest lesson that Team Ovacome has learned in this journey is the importance of family and friends. Uniting behind a cause has made the already close group of young women even closer, Barth said.

“They are my family,” she said. “I would do anything for them just as they have done for my mom.”

For more information, to purchase a t-shirt or hat, or to make a donation, contact Team Ovacome at teamovacome@live.com.

Julia Bluff 3-14-08