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Ovarian Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp- UPDATE

Good news...bad news. The good news is that our petition drive this year for the ovarian cancer awareness postage stamp got the attention of the postal service, and we made it onto their October agenda for consideration. (They meet quarterly, and we can only make our request once each year.)

The bad news is that they did not recommend an ovarian cancer awareness postage stamp this year.

This means we get to do it all over again! An acquaintance was told by the postal service that it sometimes takes ten or more years to get a postage stamp, so don't get "down" over this. We'll just keep working harder and harder every year until they ultimately grant our request.

Of course, we'd also like you to send email notes to all your email address book and ask them to sign the petition too (and ask them to ask *their* friends to sign, etc. etc.)

Please sign the on-line petition to support the creation of an ovarian cancer awareness postage stamp: http://www.petitiononline.com/ovca2007/petition.html

Another thing we're going to try this year...let's get some famous people involved in this project! If you know someone with a big name (singers, actors, radio or TV personalities, congressional reps, senators, CEO's of major corporations, etc.), please ask them to write a letter to the postal service requesting this ovarian cancer awareness postage stamp.

Though they could send their letter directly to the postal service (address below), I don't recommend it. I think it could easily "get lost." I'd rather they address their letter to the postal service, but send it to ME and I'll send them all to the postal service at the same time in late Aug.-early Sept. It will have much more impact that way and we can be sure those letters won't get lost like they might if they dribble in one at a time.

The postal service address is:

Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee Stamp Development U.S. Postal Service 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4474E Washington DC 20260-2437

My mailing address is:

Ovarian Awareness of Kentucky (OAK)
3991 Dutchmans Lane, Suite 309
Medical Plaza II
Louisville, KY 40207

Help Save Lives

"Ovarian Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp" Petition

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/ovca2007/petition.html

(Please sign this Petition and ask your friends to sign, too!)

To: The Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee - U.S. Postal Service

Proposal for an Ovarian Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp

We respectfully request that the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee approve an Ovarian Cancer Awareness Stamp. With early diagnosis and specialized care, more than 90% of those afflicted could be saved.

Every day counts...women/girls of all ages are dying needlessly from this terrible disease. Each year, approximately 25,000 American women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 14,000 deaths occur in the U.S. from this dreaded disease. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers, killing more women than all other gynecologic cancers combined. Every female is at risk (even those who have had their ovaries removed), and no age is spared (girls as young as 9 have been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer).

Ovarian cancer is often described as a "silent disease." However, women with ovarian cancer DO have symptoms, even in the early stages. These can include (but are not limited to) pelvic pain, discomfort or heaviness, changes in bowel habits, loss of appetite, early fullness and increasing abdominal girth. Increased awareness of ovarian cancer by women and health care providers is urgently needed. Every woman should have an annual gynecologic exam, including a vaginal/rectal pelvic examination. Women with persistent ovarian cancer symptoms should receive prompt attention, and may benefit from additional evaluation with CA-125 blood testing and transvaginal ultrasound.

It is our sincere hope that an Ovarian Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp will help improve the chances of early diagnosis. One of the best ways we can bring about earlier diagnosis is through awareness and education. Symptoms are often overlooked or attributed by women and their doctors to gastrointestinal upset or menopausal problems. We can save women's lives through Ovarian Cancer awareness and education. A U.S. Postage Stamp for Ovarian Cancer Awareness will be an enormous help in these efforts.

Please consider our request at your earliest convenience...women are dying daily because they do not know enough about this terrible disease. One of these women could be you or someone close to you (your mother, your sister, your best friend, or...even your daughter!!)

We have been requesting an ovarian cancer awareness postage stamp annually since 2001. We know you are inundated with stamp requests and that there are many worthy causes to be considered. Naturally, we believe our request merits strong consideration, and we will continue our campaign until an Ovarian Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp is granted and created.

Thank you for your consideration.

Their letters should be addressed to the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee *with a copy to me, please* so I can include a copy of their letter with our completed petitions when I mail the BIG package to the USPS in early September 2004.

Addresses:

Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee Stamp Development U.S. Postal Service 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4474E Washington DC 20260-2437

Carolyn Benivegna, Pres. Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Florida-Gulf Coast 5835 Cloudstone Ct. Naples FL 34119

Thanks for your help!

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