In honor of breast cancer awareness month, sorority Delta Gamma hosted an ovarian cancer awareness table to share information with young women about the risks of getting the disease.

“Our sorority chooses a different panhellenic every year,” said Brandi Cook, an accounting sophomore. “This year we chose ovarian cancer because it has only an eighth of the fund raising money that breast cancer gets, but the mortality rate of ovarian cancer is almost double that of breast cancer.”

The sorority held ovarian cancer signs while telling students ovarian facts.

One in 75 women get ovarian cancer and the cancer survival rate is only 46 percent. If left untreated, ovarian cancer, like breast cancer, can spread throughout the body. Though typically it will only spread within the abdominal organs.

“I’m part of a great sorority so it’s good for us to spread the word,” said Cynthia West, a communications freshman. “Ovarian cancer is really serious. My grandma had it and survived. She’s part of the 46 percent.”

Even though ovarian cancer is most common in women over the age of 50, common risks such as family history, obesity, and fertility drugs in young women can have a negative effect on the body leading to ovarian cancer. There is no routine testing done to check for ovarian cancer, so women must watch for symptoms. Symptoms may include abdominal pain or swelling, leg pain, back pain, or feeling full too quickly after eating.

“It is the least researched and advertised type of cancer, even though almost half of those who have it die. 1 out of 75 means there’s a pretty good chance you’ve got it,” said Shelby Willson, freshman.

Though 204 thousand women are diagnosed annually, there is still no routine check for ovarian cancer. If symptoms go ignored malignant tumors may form. Treatments may include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or all of these. 1 in 95 women will die from ovarian cancer.

“There’s a new group focusing just on ovarian cancer and we might team up with them,” Cook said. “This experience has been really eye-opening and after today’s booth closes we’ll be spreading the word to all the sororities.”