Awareness, Outreach and Action
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2024, an estimated 19,680 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed, and 12,740 women will die from the disease in the U.S. Globally, more than 324,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2024, and more than 207,000 will die from it. That means that, by my midnight tonight, approximately 570 women will die from the disease – many, prematurely and possibly avoidably, if diagnosed and addressed earlier in the cancer’s progression.
According to Globocan’s 2022 projections, by 2050, the number of women around the world diagnosed with ovarian cancer will rise over 55% to 503,448. The number of women dying from ovarian cancer each year is projected to increase to 350,956 an increase of almost 70% from 2022.
The leading reason for this rapidly rising death rate is late diagnosis.
Our Initiatives
Step One – Provide a simple tool for earlier intervention – Based on her personal experiences and before her death, Bridget Nesko developed an ovarian cancer “signs and symptoms report card” for women like her to use, to track and record their symptoms in an easy and understand format. The “report card” could be presented to each woman’s physicians, to help focus doctors unfamiliar with the illness on the possibility of its presence.
Bridget’s ovarian cancer should have been caught years before it was too late. Even as a practicing nurse, she and other medical professionals were not aware of the specific interconnected symptoms and the early testing options that were available.
After Bridget’s death, the Foundation formalized the “report card” as part of a brochure, and distributed thousands throughout the US, for display where most needed – urgent care facilities, primary care physician offices and clinical centers providing services to women.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, the Foundation received calls from nearly two dozen women who obtained, used and presented the tracker tool to their primary care physicians, requesting early testing. They were diagnosed with possible early-stage ovarian cancer and referred to a gynecologic oncologist.
To date and to the best of our knowledge, all remain in treatment or remission.
A copy of that brochure can be found and downloaded from the link below, or can be mailed to you (one or in quantities) upon request free of charge by contacting us at Director@BridgetAngelFund.Ord or by phone (not text), at (856) 595 2184.
Bridget Nesko – OC Report Card
Bridget’s ovarian cancer should have been caught years before it was too late. Even as a practicing nurse, she and other medical professionals were not aware of the specific symptoms and early testing options available.
Step 2 – Outreach – To help mitigate the rising rate of ovarian cancer deaths, the Foundation initiated an aggressive grassroots “guerilla-war” to promote public ovarian cancer awareness by conducting educational presentations focused on “The Truth About Ovarian Cancer“, including discussions about early warning signs and symptoms, early testing options and the process for selecting the right, best and most responsive and informed medical team and cancer-related treatment options. Outreach activities include:
- Live In-Person Presentations At Your Location: The Foundation is happy to conduct a live on-site informational and educational workshop or seminar at no cost to groups and organizations. Currently, the Foundation is performing such events throughout the greater Delaware Valley area but is broadening its ability to deliver such presentations virtually, through digital platforms.
To request an on-site or virtual informational and educational workshop, please complete the form below.
- Stop, Learn and Live Events: A schedule of Foundation-sponsored in-person and virtual informational events will be available here starting in 2025. In-person informational events will continue to be held at area public gathering events and locations throughout 2024 and 2025 in the greater Delaware Valley area.
Of course, to host or attend an event is free of charge.
Like to schedule a live in-person informational seminar at your location? Please complete and submit the form below or call us at (856) 595 2184.