It’s a whisper. So listen.

As September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Sam Blum, senior in Engineering, hopes all will be listening hard and making an effort to be aware of the symptoms of a disease known as a silent killer.

Having lost her mom to a 10-year battle of ovarian cancer, Blum wants all women on campus to be educated on this little-known disease so they can better protect themselves.

“My mom always stressed to me the importance of spreading awareness because the earlier it is detected, it makes for a more successful treatment,” Blum said.

If the cancer is detected, contained in the ovary and treated early, the five year survival rate is over 90 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. However, only 19 percent of cases are found at this stage — thus the reputation of the silent killer.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are much like symptoms of a monthly period or menopause. They are: bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, and urgent or frequent urination, according to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

Blum just hopes women on campus will be smart and see a gynecologist if they experience the symptoms for more than a couple of weeks.

“You have to get over the fact that it is awkward for five minutes because if they find something, it could totally change the outcome of your life,” Blum said.

Growing up with a mother who was sick and a father who passed away, Blum and her two brothers had to learn how to take care of themselves when their mother was not able to.

“It was horrible but it was also inspiring to watch her,” Blum said. “She was living with this terrible disease but she was always my mom first. No matter what was going on, whether it was a bad day, a bad week or a bad month, she still made my lunches for school and she was still concerned about my homework. Her first priority was taking care of us, and taking care of herself second.”

Blum aspires to be like her mother, as she believes it was her mother’s strength that kept her alive so long after the diagnosis.

“It never hit me that she had cancer,” Blum said. “She had the label but didn’t act like it. She acted so strong.”

Having spent a lot of time in doctor’s offices and hospitals, it is no surprise that Blum is a pre-med student. Currently she has an internship at Carle Foundation Hospital in the oncology department.

“I had to make a choice to be frightened of hospitals and medicine or I could be intrigued by it and learn more, and I choose that path,” she said.

Blum hopes that ovarian cancer will soon have the same awareness level as breast cancer, as there are many fundraisers and advertisements promoting breast cancer awareness month.

“That’s the problem — not a lot is being done,” Blum said. “You would never even know it was Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.”