This article is dedicated to Phenomenal Women everywhere.

March 2008 was Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in the UK and I thought that for my 3rd article I'd focus on a cause which is particularly close to my heart. Whilst both March and the awareness month has been and gone, the problem lingers on for many women and whilst awareness months are hugely important the world over, the reality is that after the month of press, awareness and campaigning is over, the disease lives on.

I like to incorporate meaningful images throughout my articles and today I've chosen a selection of the finest fine art nudes which depict real women, phenomenal women, enjoying themselves in their own skin. Celebrate all the women in your life. We are all wonderful in our own unique way.

EACH week around 100 women die from Ovarian Cancer - women like these.




Ovarian cancer affects more than 7,000 British women every year and worldwide around one million women will be diagnosed this year with gynaecological cancers making them the fourth most common form of cancer. It develops mostly in women over 55, and half of all cases occur in women of 65 plus, although one in ten patients, nowadays, will be under 45. Ovarian cancer is a lump created by the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells. Cancer grows and can sometimes spread to other parts of your body through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system (part of your immune system, which protects your body from infection).

The main challenge with ovarian cancer is early diagnosis. The ovaries are buried deep within the abdomen, and symptoms of the disease are vague and unspecific. So by the time the cancer is diagnosed it is very often too late.




Ovarian cancer is one of the leading cause of cancer death among women, in fact, it has the highest mortality of all cancers of the female reproductive system. The UK has one of the highest incidences of ovarian cancer in Europe and one of the lowest survival rates in the western world. From the 7000 women in the UK diagnosed every year, 5000 of them will die. That’s a death rate of over 70% - similar to the survival rate for breast cancer.With statistics like these, being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is likely to be devastating. And this news affects not only women themselves, but their family, friends and other loved ones as well.




Unlike breast and cervical cancer there is currently no way of screening women to catch it before its spreads. Seventy per cent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer find that it has already spread beyond the ovaries. However a lot of work is taking place to find a decent screening test because if your cancer is diagnosed early and has not spread outside the ovary then official US figures show their women have a 94 per cent chance of surviving 5 years (90 per cent in UK)





Awareness can save lives. Recent research has shown that almost all women do experience symptoms, particularly very frequent, persistent and sudden onset ones, even in the early stages of ovarian cancer. Ovarian Cancer Action suggest women look for a constant feeling of being bloated and an increase in abdominal girth, without any evidence of weight gain elsewhere. The first symptom is often urinary urgency. For more symptoms and signs - click here [link]

The Ovarian Cancer Action site advises that all women should follow a three point health code throughout their life:

1. Be aware of any changes in your body
2. talk to their GP if you have concerns
3. keep going back if the problem persists

Once known as the "silent killer" (because it gives few, if any, warning signs at the early stage when treatment can be successful) ovarian cancer is perhaps more usefully described as the "whispering" disease, because women who listen to their bodies carefully may just pick up possibly life-saving signs

This is a call to celebrate the women in our lives and I urge everyone to encourage their mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, friends and girlfriends in their lives to take the time to listen to their bodies, be aware of frequent and persistent symptoms and report them to their GP.





A huge thank you to all the fine art nude photographers featured - you are all phenomenal too. You capture women at their most beautiful and you share your art with the world. To the women featured in the images, you are all gorgeous and I only hope it inspires more women to bare their skin to the camera. Please click on each of the images to visit the original artist page here on D.A

IMPORTANT LINKS FOR ADVICE/NEWS

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