As a Northampton woman living with ovarian cancer, I wasn’t fortunate enough to benefit from early detection. Years ago, my primary care doctor in Brooklyn dismissed my bloated belly as “visceral fat.” I could diet away. In truth, the swelling was ascites — fluid caused by two growing tumors. Had my doctor ordered a simple ultrasound or blood test, she might have caught what a young doctor at Cooley Dickinson finally diagnosed two years later: ovarian cancer, by then at Stage III.
Early detection saves lives. That’s why I’m deeply concerned by President Trump’s proposed cuts to cancer education and screening programs. The CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC) supports critical efforts like cancer registries and Inside Knowledge, which educates the public about gynecologic cancers, including cervical and the notoriously hard-to-detect ovarian cancer. In FY2024, Massachusetts received $2.3 million through these federal programs. Thanks to this funding, 53,929 women received cervical cancer screenings, leading to the detection of 34 cervical cancers and more than 3,000 precancerous conditions. These are lives saved.
Each year, more than 19,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Too many of us don’t get a fair shot at early detection. That’s why I’m urging U.S. Rep. James McGovern and our state delegation to oppose these dangerous cuts — to cancer detection, education, and research — and to stand up for women like me.
Joan Oleck
Northampton