Pink ribbons have long been synonymous with Breast Cancer Awareness, but there’s another advocacy group helping women who face a different cancer diagnosis: ovarian cancer; its ribbon is teal blue.

RNs are a critical part of the medical team treating a woman with cancer, which, you could say, is women helping women; according to the U.S. Department of Labor, women make up 91% of the nursing workforce. If you want to use your skills to help cancer patients, American Traveler Nursing Professional Resources page has a link to the Oncology Nursing Society web site.

No matter her specialty, RNs should recognize the symptoms of ovarian cancer (bloating, a feeling of fullness before meals, frequent trips to the bathroom, Pelvic and abdominal pain) to help their female patients, as well as know their own bodies well enough to stay healthy themselves.

The deadliest of all gynecological cancers, ovarian cancer and the research conducted everyday to beat it, is supported largely by The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA), where teal ribbons and a host of products in the same robin’s egg blue (bracelets, necklaces, pendants, art and more) are devoted to raising money for increased research, clinical trials for which visitors to the site can use matching services, and a support system for women who have ovarian cancer or will be diagnosed with it within the year.

2009 brought over 21,000 new documented cases of the disease. If you watch testimonials of its survivors on the Alliance website, you’ll see that the disease—though more prevalent in women age 55 and older—has and will continue to be diagnosed in women of all ages, races and medical histories.

If colon cancer or breast cancer runs in your family, there is an increased risk. What can you do about it?  Just be aware of your body and its changes—as a nurse, you have a good idea of what is normal for you and what isn’t. The OCNA has tools that can help you do your due diligence, with a personal symptom diary and guidance manual you can download, to better consult with your doctor.

You can also get involved. Are you a nurse who wants to specialize in oncology and help cancer patients? American Traveler has RN jobs in Oncology in top hospitals nationwide. If you’re interested in New York travel nursing jobs in the springtime of 2010, you’ll be close to a very important event on May 1st in New York City, where there will be a Revlon RunWalk that helps secure donations and pledges for ovarian cancer research.

By visiting the OCNA website, you can subscribe to an RSS feed that provides continuous updates on positive advances in protecting women, and fighting cancer.

If you or someone you love is facing this disease, or is in any way touched by it, the site sells beautiful handmade bracelets, and will donate all proceeds; these bracelets are made of Swarovski crystals, sterling silver and teal fiber optic cat’s eye beads, and a sterling silver awareness ribbon. It might your head start this Mother’s Day—a gift to benefit thousands.