LaKisha Miller

817.329.2678

lakisha.miller@BaylorHealth.edu

(GRAPEVINE, Texas, August 28, 2009) – In recognition of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine will team up with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and host the ninth annual Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer on Saturday, September 26 at 8:30 a.m. Formerly known as Walk for the Whisper, the event attracts ovarian cancer survivors and their families and helps heighten awareness of the disease in North Texas. More than 2,000 participants are expected to attend.

“It is a privilege for Baylor Grapevine to host this event for the ninth year,” said Doug Lawson, president. “Early detection is the key to beating this disease and creating awareness helps to do just that.”

Ovarian cancer is often called a “silent” killer because there are sometimes no symptoms until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. However, there are some early warning signs women should look for, said Mark Messing, M.D., a gynecological oncologist on the medical staff at Baylor Grapevine. These include:

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Changes in urinary or bowel symptoms

While these symptoms are common in many women, a physician should be consulted if they last more than several weeks. “You need to consider the possibility of ovarian cancer, but it could also be another health issue that needs to be addressed,” said Dr. Messing.

Unlike breast and cervical cancer, there are no comparable early screening tests for ovarian cancer. More than 21,000 women will be diagnosed with this deadliest form of gynecological cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

For a referral to a physician on the Baylor Grapevine medical staff, please call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine. To register or learn more about the Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer, please visit the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Web site at noccdfw.org and click “Annual 5K Fun/Run Walk.”

Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine is a full-service, fully-accredited not-for-profit hospital serving residents in more than 20 cities throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth region. Focused on being the best place to give and receive quality, safe and compassionate care, Baylor Grapevine works to lead the transformation of health care. The 233-bed hospital offers advanced medical services for cardiovascular services, women’s services, diagnostic imaging, neonatal intensive care, sleep disorders, intensive and emergency care.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, Baylor Health Care System reported $446 million in community benefit, which includes providing care for charity patients and patients enrolled in government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the unreimbursed costs of medical education, research and community programs.  Total community benefit was calculated in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 311.