Awareness, Outreach & Initiatives

With more than 200 types of cancer, and over 70 different organs in the human body, there can be no surprise that primary healthcare teams* who spend an average of less than 18 minutes with each patient miss - or misdiagnose - the the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2024, an estimated 19,680 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed, and 12,740 women died from the disease in the U.S.  These numbers do not account for cancers referred to as "primary peritoneal cancer of malarian origin", or cancers of the fallopian tubes, both of which are often the secondary source of the cancer.  Globally, more than 324,000 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2024, and more than 207,000 died 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" journal 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 Center formalized the “Symptoms Journal” 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. 

Starting in 2023, the Center received calls from more than 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 qualified gynecologic oncologist.

To date and to the best of our knowledge, all remain in treatment or remission.

Preview a copy of the Symptoms Journal, or have a copy 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.  

Step 2 – Outreach – To help mitigate the rising rate of ovarian cancer deaths, the Center initiated an aggressive grassroots “guerilla-war” to promote public ovarian cancer awareness by conducting educational presentations focused on “What is 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 Center 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 Center-sponsored in-person and virtual informational events will be available here starting in 2026. In-person informational events will continue to be held at area public gathering events and locations throughout 2026 in the greater Delaware Valley and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas.

Of course, to host or attend an event is free of charge.

Like to schedule a live in-person informational seminar at your location, or virtually, through a Zoom venue?   Please complete and submit the form below or call us at (747) B R I D G E T (274 3438)