LU Nursing, Julie Rogers Gift of Life Program team up to spread awareness of ovarian cancer

The Julie Rogers Gift of Life Program was established in 1994 by longtime Lamar University supporter Regina Rogers as a tribute to her late mother, Julie Rogers, a breast cancer survivor. Rogers has teamed up with the LU JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing and Sandra Cesario, program director and tenured professor in the College of Nursing at Texas Woman’s University, to bring ovarian cancer awareness to the Southeast Texas region.

In 2009, Cesario lost her daughter Anna to ovarian cancer. She made a promise prior to Anna's death to spread the word about early warning signs of the disease so others do not have to die simply because of a late diagnosis.

According to OCRAhope.org, one in 71 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. With early detection, about 94% will survive longer than five years after diagnosis. However, only 15% of ovarian cancer is detected in early stages.

Ovarian Cancer: Anna’s Legacy and a Story of Hope will take place Monday, Nov. 29 at Lamar University’s Setzer Student Center and will include students from the JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing, area hospital residents, alumni and college advisory boards, and university administration.

This event is sponsored by the Gift of Life and the JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing.