‘It gives me hope’: Annual ovarian cancer walk to take place in Saskatoon

Sunday marks an important day for ovarian cancer survivors like Ralanda Hall, as hundreds of women will come together in the annual Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex in Saskatoon.

Each step taken will be one step closer to bringing awareness about and the statistics of ovarian cancer.

According to Ovarian Cancer Canada, one in 75 Canadian women are affected, with 3000 diagnoses made every year.

For Hall, the walk is an opportunity to reconnect with other survivors and their families.

“It gives me hope because I can see other women who have survived,” she said.

The walk will also connect women facing a new diagnosis.

Hall said it was “pretty scary” when she received her diagnosis in 2018 after going to her doctor about a visible lump in her abdomen. That lump turned out to be an 8lb ovarian tumor.

After surgery and chemotherapy her situation was “looking good” for four years until the cancer returned in a number of areas.

Ralanda Hall’s son Erik visits her in the hospital during chemotherapy. (Ralanda Hall/Submitted)

Now Hall said she is waiting to see what will happen after having more chemotherapy but is still is remaining optimistic.

She hopes sharing her story will bring awareness for both men and women about the realities of ovarian cancer and how to take preventative action.

“People assume that it’s an old lady’s cancer and it’s not,” she said. “If you are born with ovaries you are at risk for ovarian cancer at any age.”

Hall reminds women to pay attention to their health, and talk to their doctor and ask for an ultrasound if they have concerns.

Her message for other women who are faced with ovarian cancer is to “know that you are not alone.”

“There’s still life after cancer,” she said. “Cancer is not a sentence — it’s a word.”

Walk of Hope 2019 with Ralanda Hall (centre) and her friends and family. (Ralanda Hall/Submitted)

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