On September 30, 2011, the College of Charleston campus will swap its signature Cougar maroon for the color teal in recognition of Ovarian Cancer Month. Everyone is invited to wear teal (the color associated with this cancer) to emphasize the importance of education and awareness and in memory of Kimberlee Shonk, a College of Charleston student who passed away in January 2011 as a result of this silent killer.

Kimberlee Shonk, age 20, was a biology major with a 3.7 GPA and plans to attend medical school. Midway through the Spring 2009 semester Kimberlee had an operation to remove her ovary and was informed a week later that the biopsy revealed the tumor was cancerous.  For the next 21 months, she continued with her education at the College while at the same time enduring surgeries, chemotherapy, pain and medications with courage and optimism.  In September 2010 Kimberlee wrote that she hoped her story would help others be more aware of the symptoms and avoid a late diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

The College’s School of Education, Health, and Human Performance and the Center for Women’s Lowcountry Women with Wings organized Teal Day to fulfill Kimberlee’s wish. In addition to wearing teal, whistles will be distrubted for “Break the Silence” at 11:55 a.m. There will also be an information table in Cougar Mall between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. where people can sign a condolence book for Kimberlee’s family. The event has been planned and promoted by Dr. Susan Balinsky’s health promotion class.

Sue Sommer-Kresse, College of Charleston vice president for community relations, has also battled ovarian cancer. She says, “Although we were separated by 40 years in age, we were sisters in ovarian cancer.  Sitting in my office with our bald heads we compared notes on chemotherapy and talked about the lack of a reliable test to detect ovarian cancer. Both of us wondered how we could have had an earlier diagnosis. What symptoms did we ignore? What should we have done differently?”

Each year, more than 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and about 15,000 women die. It is one of the five leading causes of cancer death in American women. Symptoms include bloating, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, pelvic or abdominal pain and urinary symptoms. A woman’s chance of survival is better if the cancer is found early, late diagnosis of ovarian cancer often occurs.

For more information about ovarian cancer, visit www.lowcountrywomenwithwings.org.

For more information about Teal Day, contact Sue Sommer-Kresse at 843.953.6684.