Inspiring legacy: Women with Wings

A year ago our community lost a vibrant life force named Terry Scharstein, one of 15,000 women who die every year from ovarian cancer. Terry was a mother, a teacher, a friend -- and a person who reached out to other women with the disease.

One of Terry's legacies was the creation of Lowcountry Women with Wings, a program that is part of the Center for Women. In Terry's words:

"I established Lowcountry Women with Wings to provide support to other women with ovarian and other gynecologic cancers. The program will provide information for women who have questions, who want to know what to expect and who need other patients to talk to. Most importantly, I want this program to be a forum to educate women about this disease. I want to convince women to listen to their bodies -- if something doesn't feel right or is unusual, they should go to their doctors and discuss it."

The Lowcountry Women with Wings program provides online and individual, local resources for ovarian cancer patients, survivors and their families. The goal of the program is to raise awareness of ovarian cancer by teaching the symptoms and demonstrating the urgent need for ovarian cancer testing and research. The program also addresses non-medical issues by offering support for the financial, legal and emotional concerns affecting women who have been diagnosed.

Lowcountry Women with Wings marches under Terry's banner. Tomorrow morning at 11 a.m., representatives from women's organizations throughout the Lowcountry will meet at Colonial Lake downtown to show their support for ovarian cancer awareness. The display there is to honor Terry and other women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

There is no reliable screening test for early detection of ovarian cancer. Sadly, many women are not diagnosed until the cancer is in advanced stages.

We urge everyone--women and those who care about them -- to learn the symptoms, support the women who have been diagnosed and help save other wonderful women like Terry.

Until there's a test, awareness is best.

JENNET ROBINSON ALTERMAN
Executive Director
Center for Women
Cannon Street
Charleston

LINDA M. PLUNKETT
Chair
Citizens Advisory Council
Hollings Cancer Center
Medical University of S.C.
President Street
Charleston