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Raising awareness -- and flowers: Doctor battles ignorance of ovarian cancer as tribute to his late wife
DECATUR - Diane Velek's favorite color was purple.
So it is only natural that the Decatur woman, who died in 2003, be remembered with a plaque of photos and garden bench surrounded by vibrant flowers in shades of lilac.
The memory garden is but one way Dr. Joseph Velek pays tribute to his late wife and the joy she brought him, her daughter, Brook Warnhoff, and the many others who knew her.
Diane was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2000 after she felt a lump in her abdomen during a trip to Kenya. She was 51 when she died and completely healthy until the diagnosis, said Warnhoff.
"My mom was a retired nurse," Warnhoff said, "very loving, caring and protective."
After Diane's death on Sept. 14, 2003, Velek knew he couldn't sit by and watch other lives be taken simply because of lack of awareness of this subtle, yet powerful disease.
According to a national survey in May sponsored by the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, only 15 percent of women are familiar with the symptoms of ovarian cancer, and 82 percent have never talked to their doctors about the symptoms and risk factors. However, ignorance of the disease can prove to be deadly. According to the coalition, more than 20,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 15,000 will die from the disease this year.
As part of their personal healing process, Velek and Warnhoff decided to combat the public's ignorance of the disease and became involved in the coalition. They are continuing to work to bring it to the Decatur area.
Although Central Illinois is still looking for an area coordinator for the organization, Velek already has gone above and beyond to educate the community about ovarian cancer in the hopes that more women will not ignore the symptoms or attribute them to other conditions such as menopause.
"The lack of knowledge in so many areas is very disturbing," Velek said. "So many women don't even know where their ovaries are located. It's all about bringing the message before the public."
All women are at risk for ovarian cancer, according to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Potential symptoms include pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort, frequency of urination, unexplained weight gain or loss, bloating, ongoing unusual fatigue and pelvic or abdominal swelling. If diagnosed and treated early, the five-year survival rate is more than 90 percent, according to the coalition.
And contrary to common misconception, a Pap smear is not used to detect ovarian cancer, only cervical cancer, Velek said. A pelvic exam, transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 test, which determines the levels of proteins caused by ovarian cancer cells in high-risk patients, are some of the most common ways to detect the cancer.
The Illinois chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, with Velek leading the way, has set out to spread the word about ovarian cancer through an upcoming billboard campaign, the annual Walk for the Whisper and, most recently, at last week's Women's Day at the Decatur Civic Center.
"This is the best way to reach women," said Luann Anderson, coordinator of the Illinois Division of the coalition in Naperville, during Women's Day. "We hope that people who came by the booth will share the information with their family, friends and all the women in their lives."
In addition to being an educator, Velek has also become a source of encouragement.
Saying he was "dumbfounded" when he couldn't find an organization that had a support group for those affected by ovarian cancer, Velek reached out to others in the community to ask for support and offer his own. The group first met in Velek's home but it is now part of Decatur Memorial Hospital, said Leslie Roberts, a social worker and director of volunteer management at DMH.
"When you take something of your personal life and use it to help others, it helps to make sense of things," Roberts said. "For a man to start an ovarian cancer support group and get it going shows he's a very compassionate and caring individual."
The support group focuses on sharing resources, experiences, speakers and support among all participants, Roberts said.
"They're all going through the same circumstances and realize they're not alone. They get hope from one another," Roberts said. "Part of our goal is to really promote awareness of the sign and symptoms of ovarian cancer, so more people can be aware of the early symptoms. We want to help women be proactive and let them know what to look for."
Velek said his outlook on life has changed since his wife's death. At first, he said he had no desire to live without her, but he has turned his grief into action so others may have a better chance of winning the battle his wife fought.
"There are two things that I'm concerned with for the rest of my life: community education of ovarian cancer and growing more flowers at my house for Diane's memory garden," he said.
Courtney Klemm can be reached at cklemm@herald-review.com or 421-6968.
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