Susan Evans of Cranberry Township, an ovarian cancer survivor, is joined by Desolina Postreich, a 7-year-old survivor herself, in Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's office. The two were on hand as Pittsburgh proclaimed September Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. They are joined by River, the unofficial canine greeter in the mayor's office.

CRANBERRY TWP — Susan Evans has learned, seen and heard a lot about ovarian cancer over the past few years.

The Cranberry Township resident was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in 2012, and has since gone into remission. Since her diagnosis Evans has dedicated her life to promoting awareness of the disease, writing a book about her experience, becoming a de facto expert on the topic, and raising money for research.

Still, Evans was taken aback last week when she met Desolina Postreich of Pittsburgh, a 7-year-old ovarian cancer survivor. Desolina joined Evans in the chambers of Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto as she was recognized for her efforts in building awareness of ovarian cancer.

“What a darling little girl to have gone through all of this at that age,” Evans said.

The proclamation designates Pittsburgh’s participation in September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, which will be recognized throughout the state. Similar proclamations have been made by both houses of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Desolina, who missed her first day of second grade to attend the ceremony, was named Mayor of the Day, and sat in Peduto’s chair to sign her honorary title.

“It was a really big deal for her, as well as for me,” Evans said. “(Seeing her) makes it all worthwhile.”

Evans said Desolina’s story is, unfortunately, not uncommon. Of the 22,000 women diagnosed annually with ovarian cancer, an estimated 500 to 1,000 are 20 and younger.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women and the eighth most common cancer in women, according to the American Cancer Society. ACS puts a woman’s likelihood of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer during her lifetime at 1 in 75.

No screening tests exist to find risk factors or early symptoms of the disease, leading to ovarian cancer being called the silent killer because it often is not detected until symptoms occur in advanced stages.

Early detection improves chances of survival. But only about 19 percent of ovarian cancers are detected at an early stage, according to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

Evans said her motivation is to get the word out about the disease. While breast cancer and others are promoted heavily through commercials and sporting events, ovarian cancer is rarely the topic of such high-profile awareness efforts.

“Rarely, if ever, will you see an advertisement for ovarian cancer,” she said.

As part of the proclamation designating September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the Allegheny County and Pittsburgh City buildings on Grant Street will be lighted in teal throughout September. Additionally, the state Capitol Building on Sept. 18 and 19 will be awash in teal, which is the symbolic color observing ovarian cancer.

While the proclamations are appreciated, Evans said she will continue to speak to groups about the disease and do fundraising for the Evans-Krivak Gynecological Cancer Research and Education Fund, which is named after her doctor, Dr. Tom Krivak, who has been with Evans throughout her battle with cancer.

The fund has raised about $145,000 in the past four years.

“I’m not going to win the battle, but I might be able to do a little bit,” Evans said of her awareness campaign and push to find a cure for the disease.