September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. Gynecological cancers encompass all cancers that start in the reproductive organs of a person assigned female at birth. The major categories of gynecological cancers are: cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine/endometrial cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer.
Here are 10 organizations that are dedicated to raising awareness, education, resources and support for gynecological cancers all year long.
All of the information shared below has been gathered and reviewed from the organizations' websites.
Foundation for Women's Cancer (FWC)
- GYN cancer(s): Serves all gynecological cancers
- Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Mission: Dedicated to increasing research, education, and awareness about gynecologic cancer risk, prevention, early detection, and optimal treatment.
- GYN + Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Provides
social media posts, Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month toolkit/fact sheet, and official hashtags: #GynecologicalCancerAwarenessMonth #GCAM #IWishIKnew (campaign for voices of gynecological cancer patients, survivors, friends). - Financial support: Donations support research, patient-centered education courses, and awareness for gynecological cancers.
Ovarian Cancer Project
- GYN cancer(s): Ovarian cancer
- Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Mission: Provides education on symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer and provides supportive services to women impacted by gynecologic cancer and their families.
- Financial support: Funding goes to provide free information and supportive services for ovarian cancer.
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC)
- GYN cancer(s): Ovarian cancer
- Mission: Supports survivors and caregivers and funds research to advance treatment.
- GYN + Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Together in TEAL- Everywhere as ONE; virtual walk/runs to turn the country TEAL from coast to coast on September 25th. Call to action: get people moving and active in anyway.
- Financial support: Fundraising supports the following four pillars: Early awareness, quality of life, research, and community outreach.
As of 2014, NOCC is a funding partner for the Ovarian Cancer Dream Team with Stand Up to Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance
Research focus is on DNA gene repair.
Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA)
- GYN cancer(s): Ovarian cancer
- Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Mission: A leading organization in the world fighting ovarian cancer from all fronts, including in the lab and on Capitol Hill, while supporting women and their families.
- GYN + Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Created an Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Toolkit which includes; social media graphics, copy inspiration, suggested hashtags: #OvarianCancerAwarenessMonth, #letstalk, #ovariancancer, #oacam, #ocrahope. General OCRA media kit/infographics available.
- Financial support: Funding research to treat, prevent, and cure ovarian cancer. OCRA has previously funded research at 70 medical centers and provided over 349 grants to ovarian cancer research and related programs.
World Ovarian Cancer Coalition
- GYN cancer(s): Ovarian cancer
- Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Mission: Empowering the global ovarian cancer community through knowledge, collaboration, and action.
- GYN + Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Global Partner Meeting: September 30th.World Ovarian Cancer Day: May 8th.
NIH: Ovarian Spores
- GYN cancer(s): Ovarian cancer
- Mission: The Ovarian Cancer SPORE program was initiated by the NIH and run through the Translational Research Fund (TRP). Research areas cover a wide scope including early detection, imaging technologies, risk assessment, immunosuppression and novel therapeutic approaches. SPOREs are designed to enable the rapid and efficient movement of basic scientific findings into clinical settings, as well as to determine the biological basis for observations made in individuals with cancer or in populations at risk for cancer.
- Financial support: Total funding shown represents the SPORE program using relevant P50s, P20s, U54s, and co-funded grants external to NCI.
National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC)
- GYN cancer(s): Cervical cancer
- Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Mission: To help women, family members, and caregivers battle issues related to cervical cancer and HPV. The NCCC advocates for cervical health in women through prevention promotion through education on early vaccination; PAP testing and HPV Dedicated to women with, or at risk for, cervical cancer and HPV disease.
- GYN + Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Provides general education and awareness on cervical cancer and HPV through a variety of resources; downloadable toolkit, educational materials, resources for free and low-cost Pap testing.
- Financial support: Organization is merged with (and is a program of) the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA). Donations go to NCCC a program of ASHA.
The Clearity Foundation
- GYN cancer(s): Ovarian cancer
- Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Mission: Strives to improve the survival and quality of life of women with ovarian cancer. The Clearity Foundation gives hope to women with ovarian cancer and their families. Provide free services and programing: Treatment Decision Support Program Psychosocial Support Advancing Care (tumor profiling).
- GYN + Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: 2021 Teal Woman Celebration September 19th, 2021 #TealTuesday.
- Financial support: Donations to the organization fund their tumor profiling program, support programs, and research.
Cervivor
- GYN cancer(s): Cervical cancer
- Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Mission: Global community of patient advocates who inspire and empower those affected by cervical cancer through education and motivating patients to use their voice to create awareness, to end stigma, and to influence decision and change to end cervical cancer.
- GYN + Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Provides information and resources on cervical cancer for patients; provides some example copy for sharing on social virtual education. Events are listed on their website.
- Financial support: Donations directly support the organization's mission and programing.
HysterSisters
- GYN cancer(s): Hysterectomy support
- Mission: Woman to woman hysterectomy support – diagnosis to surgery through recovery and beyond. Covering: pre-op, post-op, gynecologic treatment options, surgical procedures, fibroids, endometriosis, menopause, hormonal issues, pelvic floor, GYN cancer, oophorectomy, sexual dysfunction, and a step-by-step guide through the weeks before and after hysterectomy.
- GYN + Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Provides educational resources for all gynecological cancers.