Letters | Women's health

ON JAN. 12, President Bush signed a bill that will save women's lives.

Called Johanna's Law, it authorizes a major federal campaign to educate women and health professionals about the signs of ovarian and other gynecologic cancers. It would help women recognize potentially dangerous symptoms and seek earlier medical attention.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our congressional delegation for their leadership in securing unanimous passage of Johanna's Law in both houses of Congress. But there is one more step. Congress will now need to appropriate the necessary funding - so we will again be looking to our congressional delegation to champion this cause.

Ovarian cancer is the top killer of all the gynecologic cancers. Because there is no reliable screening test for ovarian cancer, fewer than one in five women will be diagnosed in the early stages. This campaign will help in earlier diagnosis, when prognosis is good, sparing women and their families from the suffering and heartache that accompanies a late-stage cancer diagnosis.

Ovarian cancer's symptoms can include abdominal bloating or discomfort, increased abdominal size or clothes fitting tighter around a woman's waist, an increased or urgent need to urinate, and pelvic pain. A woman should see her doctor if she experiences any or a combination of these symptoms for three or more weeks.

Robin Cohen, Co-Founder

Sandy Rollman Ovarian

Cancer Foundation, Havertown

Bravo, Wendy!

Major kudos to Wendy Ruderman for her article on the heartbreaking story of Terri Appleton's missing daughter, Jessica, a heroin-addicted young person.

As Terri Appleton so eloquently expressed, heroin addicts are usually viewed as present-day lepers, and even a missing dog will garner more support than a missing child addicted to a drug. Sad, but true.

Sue Shields

Bensalem