This summer, BCPL lost a longtime, beloved friend and former employee, Teresa, to ovarian cancer. Teresa started her career at the Florence Branch in November 2000 as a reference librarian, and soon became the Branch Manager of the former Lents Branch in Hebron. In her later years at BCPL, she served in the Collection Services department as the Collection Development Manager, selecting items for the adult collection while also managing the Interlibrary Loan department and Buy the Book, Main’s book sale room. She was also the much loved (and deeply missed) leader of the Thrillers and Chillers book group.
Ovarian cancer is often called a “silent killer,” but it isn’t truly silent. Its symptoms are frequently mistaken for other, more common conditions. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms may include:
- Abdominal bloating or swelling
- Quickly feeling full when eating
- Weight loss
- Discomfort in the pelvic area
- Fatigue
- Back pain
- Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
- A frequent need to urinate
While deaths from ovarian cancer have declined 43% since 1976, it remains the fifth leading cause of cancer related death among women (Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance) with a 51.6% five year survival rate.
For more information about signs, symptoms and treatment, visit the Mayo Clinic website.
We hope that featuring Teresa and the disease that took her too soon not only honors the impact she made during her 24 years at BCPL, but also raises awareness about a condition that can be as confusing for doctors as it is for patients.
This October, our BCPL family will wear teal bracelets in Teresa’s honor – to raise awareness, to support the fight against ovarian cancer and to remember how much she meant to us. We miss you, Teresa.
