Mission
Our Mission
Headquartered in Chicago, the Foundation for Women’s Cancer was established in 1991 by the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) primarily to increase funding for gynecologic cancer research. Since that time its mission has expanded to include raising awareness about the prevention and early detection of cancers unique to women, and educational programs and materials about the optimal treatment for women with a gynecologic cancer diagnosis. Visit the Foundation’s new, improved website — the only comprehensive national resource for information about all GYN cancers.
Every seven minutes, a woman hears a diagnosis of a reproductive cancer — cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar — touching more than 88,000 American women each year. Many are not diagnosed until the late stages of these diseases, and more than one third will lose their battle.
These “below the belt” cancers receive a fraction of the coverage and research funding as other cancers with similar incidence rates. But there is also good news: cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable through early vaccination and routine screening.
We Need YOUR Support!
The Foundation for Women’s Cancer’s National Race to End Women’s Cancer is more than a race – it’s a movement! And this movement—to shine a bright light on GYN cancer—is growing every day.
Join us! Support our efforts to provide crucial grant funding to researchers, and to share educational information and resources women need to prevent, detect, treat and defeat women’s cancer.
Research and Training
The only national organization dedicated to the eradication of all reproductive cancers, the Foundation for Women’s Cancer fosters new knowledge through the annual funding of research grants. Since 1995, the Foundation has provided more than $5 million in research funding earning recognition from Worth Magazine as one of the nation’s 100 best charities. These grants, often in the form of seed funding, have seen an impressive 23% return on investment and encouraged many new physicians to pursue careers in research.
Awareness and Education
The Foundation for Women’s Cancer strives to provide all women with the information they need to make the best choices to ensure their gynecologic health. Since 1999 when the Foundation declared September as Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (GCAM), it has created annual focused national messages on gynecologic cancer topics. We employ a variety of approaches to deliver the messages including national radio and TV PSA’s; billboard messaging, including Times Square; on-board airline programming interviews; print news stories; and TV local and national broadcast interviews.
The Foundation also offers free courses for survivors of cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers. These courses, averaging 10 per year, are held throughout the country and partnership with academic health centers, community advocacy organizations and others.
The FACTS
Reproductive cancers affect women of all ages — from their teens and 20’s through their 80’s. The Foundation urges all women to LEARN, LISTEN and ACT to maintain their gynecologic health:
LEARN the symptoms and risk factors for each gynecologic cancer;
LISTEN to their bodies;
ACT to take preventive steps, and seek care first from a gynecologic oncologist when a gynecologic cancer is suspected or diagnosed.
For More Information
For more information about the Foundation for Women’s Cancer and gynecologic cancers, please visit www.foundationforwomenscancer.org.
If you have trouble registering or have any other questions about the race results, please contact Attilie Smith at: 281.773.2715or email her.
