Broadway Star Valisia LeKae Joins NOCC to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer

Valisia LeKae

Grammy and Tony Award Nominee, Valisia LeKae, was starring in the Broadway role of a lifetime, playing Diana Ross in "Motown The Musical." Then she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Now, one of Broadway's brightest lights has joined forces with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) as national spokesperson to play one of the most important roles of her life.

LeKae understands the need for women to be proactive about their health and that early detection saves lives. "It's another way for me to use my voice and be an advocate for this disease that I now have. I want to talk about it. I just want people to be aware."

Currently, there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer, and pap tests do not detect the disease. Unfortunately, most cases are diagnosed in the later stages, when the prognosis is poor.

For this reason, spreading awareness and promoting education about ovarian cancer is particularly important. If detected early, the 5-year survival rate is over 90%. People must be aware of the disease and understand its impact on women, families, and communities.

"As a 34-year old, African American woman," said LeKae, "I feel that it is important that I share my story in order to educate and encourage others about this disease and fight against it. God has given me another role to play, and like all my previous roles, I plan to go all in, only this time I plan to win!"

The mission of the NOCC is to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer. The Coalition is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with the disease.