To get people thinking about their cancer risk, the NormaLeah Ovarian Cancer Initiative created the “Passport to Genetic Discovery” as part of the girlpARTs Sculpture Project that is on display through this Friday, Dec. 1.
That unique community education and awareness program is focused on highlighting genetic cancer risk using torso sculptures that will continue to be featured in various Quad Cities locations through Friday alongside important, lifesaving information.
Supporters can join the effort by downloading the passport here. Participants will receive visual clues to identify each sculpture at their respective locations. Participants may also choose to participate virtually.
When complete, the passport can be dropped off or mailed to NormaLeah at 1614 Second Ave., Rock Island, or emailed to [email protected] to be entered into a drawing for local gift cards.
“It’s important to know what we’re made of so if we’re at higher risk for a disease, we can be proactive about our health,” Jodie Shagrin Kavensky, founder and CEO of the NormaLeah Ovarian Cancer Initiative, said of the art project.
“Knowing our genetic and familial cancer history is empowering; it can help guide early detection, risk-reduction strategies and treatment decisions,” she added.
The sculptures made their debut at the Sept. 16-17 Riverssance Festival in Davenport. A reception was held on Sept. 21 to celebrate the artists and community leaders who created these sculptures. The torsos were later placed around the Quad Cities community accompanied by critical health information.
Goal? Get people thinking
The girlpARTs Sculpture Project itself is a unique community education and awareness program that focuses on the genetic relationships between breast, ovarian and other cancers, NormaLeah said. The Passport to Genetic Discovery activity is designed to get people thinking about their cancer risk.
Learning about a person’s genetic makeup through counseling and screening can save a life. Several medical conditions and hundreds of genetic mutations can put people at higher risk for certain diseases, according to NormaLeah. Two specific genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, have many variations that can play a role in the development of several cancers including ovarian, pancreatic, colon, uterine, prostate, melanoma, rectal and breast.
“Having a genetic mutation does not mean we will get that disease. It means that we are at higher risk and we can monitor for disease symptoms to catch it early when it is easier to treat,” Ms. Chagrin Kavensky told the QCBJ. “Utilization of genetic and genomic information is paving the way for personalized medicine and saving more lives.”
Genetic counseling and screening can help people understand how their family history impacts their personal risk of developing cancer. A familial history of cancer can increase an individual’s risk of developing cancer themselves.
One in 78 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, according to a news release. When caught early, the disease has a 92% five-year survival rate – but only 15% of diagnoses are made at this stage. There is no screening test, and the symptoms are subtle and/or attributed to other health conditions. Anyone born with ovaries is at risk for ovarian cancer (even if they have been removed).
This project’s aim is to provide critical health information in an easily accessible and creative way. The emphasis also is on reaching underserved populations, including Hispanic, BIPOC, LGBTQ and others, who experience healthcare disparities.
