Transcript:
Good morning. How's everyone feeling today on this rainy Saturday? Can I get a little thank you? That's what I'm looking for. My name is Diana Falzone. I am a woman with endometriosis. I'm an endo found ambassador and the host and executive producer of Endo tv and I am thrilled to be amongst all of you today. So to start off, we're going to do something a little bit different. We're going to have a proclamation for endometriosis awareness month. So as everyone trickles in, I just want to give you all a warm welcome in estimated 10 million US women and individuals born with a uterus grapple with the enduring impact of endometriosis. This illness characterized by tissue growing outside the uterus has an average seven to 10 year diagnostic delay. The lack of awareness and persistent stigma amplifies the diagnostic delay, elevating the risk of various health issues.
(01:14)
The urgent attention is crucial for heightened awareness, education and research on endometriosis and its associated health disorders. The symptoms such as pain, infertility, anxiety, and depression, afflict those with endometriosis. With nearly 75 experiencing misdiagnosis, the endometriosis profoundly affects all aspects of life, necessitating increased public attention and research. There is an estimated 10 million reproductive aged women in the United States that have endometriosis receiving minimal federal research funding of only $3 per person annually from the NIH. The women and individuals born with a uterus who have a close relative with endometriosis face a four to seven times higher likelihood of having the disease. Up to 50% of women with infertility, myself included, and an estimated 71 to 87% of women and individuals born with a uterus also have chronic pelvic pain, are estimated to have endometriosis. The anxiety and depression rates among women and individuals born with a uterus who have endometriosis reach roughly 75 to 90%. Endometriosis is a known precursor to ovarian cancer. It is the second leading indication for hysterectomy in the us topping the list among women and individuals born with the uterus aged 30 to 34. Now therefore, we the Endometriosis Foundation of America together with the entire endometriosis community, proclaims March, 2024 as Endometriosis Awareness month. Let's go
(03:17)
Now. Please welcome Dr. Seckin, a man who has devoted himself to improving the lives of those with endometriosis. Thank you so much.
Good morning. Good morning, great day to be in. It's raining outside, so I just want to make some correction. Endometriosis does not cause ovarian cancer, but there is a link. It's very, very rare, but the link is strong, I have to say. So do not panic. I am truly excited. I am very, very happy. Whatever brings you here is the same reason I'm here and I've been here with this meeting almost 15 years. The foundation really started 2006 by six or seven patients of mine who already believed and requested we should do something about this. I knew this was so prevalent and nobody was talking about it. I remember those years and then we really went kind of public. Couple years later, we started this meeting with Ball and I was lucky because I'm in New York City. I did have some very prominent patients whose names that you may be familiar.
(04:44)
They really did help a lot. It's not, nobody would believe a doctor who or doctors like me who tried maybe before, but I was lucky to be in New York City and we elevated our voice. This is the most misdiagnosed, most mistreated disease. We'll get to those when we do presentations. I'm very, very excited. We have incredible speakers, and Dimitri is something that is going to be defining the future of gender equality. Many things that women were not recognized in the past. I bet recognizing endometriosis will change the rest of the world with respect to how men and women appropriate their behaviors and social justice, whatever, especially if these things are happening politically right now.
(05:46)
So you all know. Anyways, again, warm. Welcome. We have a great, I'd like to thank everyone that helped and many things. This is the first I really did not do anything about programming, nothing. I appreciate Endofound staff, Carolyn Jeanne, Lauren, Diana for making this happen, along with Sarper, who is our digital department chief. So thank you. The first speaker will be Dr. Amanda Chu, who is my associate great surgeon, and someone I trust tremendously with her gift and loyalty to the cause particularly. And Amanda has been a resident fellow, also minimally amazing, and has been working with me almost three years right now. Amanda Chu, please come.
