After the annual bowing of Milton and Lewes on recent days, Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation officials and volunteers turned their attention to Rehoboth Beach Aug. 28.

Turn the Towns Teal is an annual initiative that marks September as national Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Its purpose is to create awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms.

Sally Oberle, Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation vice president, said there’s still a big push for early detection because there is no test to detect ovarian cancer. The symptoms are vague and can be confused with indicators for other types of cancer, which is why knowledge is crucial, she said.

In addition to Cape Region towns, teal bows were hung in towns up and down the state. The Delaware River and Bay Authority is also hanging bows on all its facilities, said Oberle. Now, when anyone comes into Delaware from New Jersey they’ll see them, she said.

“There still may not be a test, but at least it gets people talking about it, if nothing else,” said Oberle.

All women are at risk for ovarian cancer; the disease affects 1 in 70 females of any age. Fewer than 20 percent of cases are diagnosed early. Due to late diagnosis and a recurrence rate of 70-90 percent, ovarian cancer is the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers.

There is no test for ovarian cancer, so knowledge of symptoms is crucial. Symptoms can include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms such as frequency or urgency. The symptoms are often vague, but if they persist more than two weeks, a woman should discuss them with her physician.

The foundation’s 15th annual Teal Ribbon 5K will take place Saturday, Sept. 20, at Rockford Park in Wilmington. It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year, said Oberle. 

For more information on the Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation, go to deovariancancer.org, email info@deovariancancer.org or call 302-998-6889.