DEAR [ANN LANDERS]: One year ago, my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She died four months later. To honor her, I would like to make more women aware of this terrible disease. This year alone, more than 25,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. They have a 50-percent chance of surviving five years. The survival rate could approach 95 percent, but unfortunately, only 25 percent of women are diagnosed early enough.

For information, contact the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, 910 17th St., N.W., Suite 413, Washington, D.C. 20006 (www.ovariancancer.org). You can assess your risk by accessing the Women's Cancer Network Web site at www.wcn.org. For a free brochure, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, 500 NE Spanish River Blvd., Suite 14, Boca Raton, Fla. 33431, or call 888-OVARIAN (888-682-7426) (www.ovarian.org).