Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers, and for Black women, its toll is especially devastating. They are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages, less likely to receive full and timely treatment and face lower survival rates than their white counterparts.

In Missouri, the disparities are growing, with incidence rates on the rise in the Black community and outcomes that remain persistently worse.

These grim realities are why advocates pushed for Missouri to formally recognize September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month — a chance to confront the silence surrounding the disease and reach the women most at risk. The designation is a legislative victory applauded by St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness (SLOCA), which has made addressing racial disparities central to it

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