Wednesday, September 22, 2010
OCRF Researchers Identify 5 Gene Variants Linked to OC
This is great news in the area of OC research! Your donations to Ovarian Cancer Research Fund make a difference. Read full article 5 Gene Variants Identified
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
4th Annual Ovarian Cancer Awareness Campaign
September 2010 marks our 4th annual ovarian cancer email awareness campaign. This campaign is in support of Janet B., in Austin, TX. Janet is a courageous survivor! Her strength, faith, hope and perseverance are a true inspiration to all! Please pray for Janet's healing. Pray that her current chemo regimen is effective and that more drugs useful for treating oc are developed very soon.
It's that simple! Educate yourself on the symptoms of ovarian cancer, pay attention to your health and take action, by making an appointment with your gynecologist, when you have concerns.
Symptoms may include:
Many of the symptoms mimic what we feel on a routine basis. But if you're feeling "a little different" for a longer period of time, contact your physician and ask for a vaginal ultrasound and a CA125 blood test.
Know the symptoms, know yourself and take action!
Detecting cancer in it's early stages is important for survival. Unfortunately, there is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer. The best method for early detection is YOU!
Until there's a test...Awareness is best!
KNOW THE SYMPTOMS, KNOW YOURSELF, AND TAKE ACTION!
It's that simple! Educate yourself on the symptoms of ovarian cancer, pay attention to your health and take action, by making an appointment with your gynecologist, when you have concerns.
Symptoms may include:
- Pelvic and abdominal pain
- Urinary frequency and urgency
- Difficulty eating/feeling full quickly
- Unusual weight gain or loss
- Increased abdominal size and bloating
Many of the symptoms mimic what we feel on a routine basis. But if you're feeling "a little different" for a longer period of time, contact your physician and ask for a vaginal ultrasound and a CA125 blood test.
Know the symptoms, know yourself and take action!
Education and Research...How Can I Help?
If this is the first time you've heard about this disease, it's time to start spreading the word! Many women are not familiar with this type of gynecological cancer and it's "silent" symptoms. Here are a few simple ways you can get involved in ovarian cancer education and research.
- Power Balance will donate $15 to Ovarian Cancer Research Fund with the purchase of an OCRF Power Balance Wrist Band OCRF - Power Balance Wrist Band
- Shop or donate at National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Shop for Awareness Items
- Ovarian Cancer National Alliance has Teal Awareness Ribbon Silly Bands
- Sign a petition for an oc awareness postage stamp OVCA Stamp
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
We're In This Together!
Go Teal in September and Spread the Word About the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
This is our 3rd annual ovarian cancer awareness email campaign and we are celebrating! Three years ago we set a goal of educating 10,000 women on the symptoms of oc, and we made it! Because of your help, we've reached over 13,000 women in the U.S. and around the world. Thank you for passing our message along to your friends and family.
Take a couple of minutes to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of OC through the postings below. And don't forget to pass this information on to your friends and family. During the month of September, It's All About Awareness blog is dedicated to increase awareness on ovarian cancer.
Ovarian and Breast Cancer - a BRCA Link
A sister's story...
Our lives changed when my sister called me early one evening. I had just arrived home and was caught up in the hectic time of getting in the door, bringing in groceries, my husband preparing dinner and my son completing homework. I actually asked my sister if I could call her back; which I did almost 20 minutes later.
She told me that she was going to be having surgery at the end of the week for an abdominal “mass”. I was totally shocked! As a nurse I immediately asked, what are your symptoms? Can you feel something? Do you feel sick? I had just seen my sister two months ago on vacation. She looked great. She said she did have some bloating, increased gas and some urinary frequency, but that was it. She said she just thought it was "part of getting older". What she actually recited were the symptoms she had seen on a billboard about ovarian cancer...we had no idea.
As sisters with a mom who died of breast cancer at the age of 34, we've always had routine mammograms since the age of 30, often thinking "will either one of us be diagnosed with breast cancer?" In our late 40’s I think we both felt we had dodged the "breast cancer diagnosis". We were well past our 30’s and 40’s, out- living our mom. What we did not know much about was the “genetic link” that can exist in families for breast cancer and that we could have an increased risk of ovarian cancer as well.
Knowing what we know now…we would have loved to have been aware of this information prior to a stage III C ovarian cancer diagnosis. The knowledge for closer screening for ovarian cancer as well as close screening for breast cancer came late. The option of having genetic testing to know more about our risks should not be overlooked. My sister was offered genetic testing after her diagnosis and it was recommended that I be tested as well - we are both BRCA 1 positive.
Talking with a genetic counselor is also important to help you with decisions and choices you may encounter. Prevention is so important! Taking an active role in your health information, your family history and discussing it with a doctor who listens is the key. Symptoms can be vague - but you know your body and if you feel something has changed don’t be afraid or be too busy to discuss it with your doctor or nurse practitioner. Do not settle for a "wait and see attitude". FORCE Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered is an organization with a wealth of information to increase your knowledge when making these types of decisions.
It's difficult for family members to have someone in their family go through chemotherapy. It can be and extraordinary experience and you look for ways to help. I found getting involved in ENACCT The Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials, was one way I could spread information to others who were going through or just starting their treatment. The treatments we have today for cancer went through clinical trials before they were approved, and it is important for individuals to know they have treatment options in clinical trials as well.
We are approaching three years this fall (2009) since my sister’s diagnosis, surgery and treatment. She is an amazing sister, wife, nurse anesthetist, aunt, friend, co-worker, daughter-in-law, daughter and sister-in-law. She always offers support to others and enjoys life. She's had some amazing doctors, genetic counselors, nurses and friends to help her through this journey...and it's a journey that continues. Faith, hope, love and knowledge, all gifts to share.
Our lives changed when my sister called me early one evening. I had just arrived home and was caught up in the hectic time of getting in the door, bringing in groceries, my husband preparing dinner and my son completing homework. I actually asked my sister if I could call her back; which I did almost 20 minutes later.
She told me that she was going to be having surgery at the end of the week for an abdominal “mass”. I was totally shocked! As a nurse I immediately asked, what are your symptoms? Can you feel something? Do you feel sick? I had just seen my sister two months ago on vacation. She looked great. She said she did have some bloating, increased gas and some urinary frequency, but that was it. She said she just thought it was "part of getting older". What she actually recited were the symptoms she had seen on a billboard about ovarian cancer...we had no idea.
As sisters with a mom who died of breast cancer at the age of 34, we've always had routine mammograms since the age of 30, often thinking "will either one of us be diagnosed with breast cancer?" In our late 40’s I think we both felt we had dodged the "breast cancer diagnosis". We were well past our 30’s and 40’s, out- living our mom. What we did not know much about was the “genetic link” that can exist in families for breast cancer and that we could have an increased risk of ovarian cancer as well.
Knowing what we know now…we would have loved to have been aware of this information prior to a stage III C ovarian cancer diagnosis. The knowledge for closer screening for ovarian cancer as well as close screening for breast cancer came late. The option of having genetic testing to know more about our risks should not be overlooked. My sister was offered genetic testing after her diagnosis and it was recommended that I be tested as well - we are both BRCA 1 positive.
While there currently is no early diagnostic test for ovarian cancer, knowing your genetic disposition, following CA125 test results for increased trending and having a transvaginal ultrasound can help in early detection.
Talking with a genetic counselor is also important to help you with decisions and choices you may encounter. Prevention is so important! Taking an active role in your health information, your family history and discussing it with a doctor who listens is the key. Symptoms can be vague - but you know your body and if you feel something has changed don’t be afraid or be too busy to discuss it with your doctor or nurse practitioner. Do not settle for a "wait and see attitude". FORCE Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered is an organization with a wealth of information to increase your knowledge when making these types of decisions.
It's difficult for family members to have someone in their family go through chemotherapy. It can be and extraordinary experience and you look for ways to help. I found getting involved in ENACCT The Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials, was one way I could spread information to others who were going through or just starting their treatment. The treatments we have today for cancer went through clinical trials before they were approved, and it is important for individuals to know they have treatment options in clinical trials as well.
We are approaching three years this fall (2009) since my sister’s diagnosis, surgery and treatment. She is an amazing sister, wife, nurse anesthetist, aunt, friend, co-worker, daughter-in-law, daughter and sister-in-law. She always offers support to others and enjoys life. She's had some amazing doctors, genetic counselors, nurses and friends to help her through this journey...and it's a journey that continues. Faith, hope, love and knowledge, all gifts to share.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
What Does Awareness Really Do?
Let's talk about cancer awareness and how it effects us. It's a little like the 'squeaky wheel' analogy. The more people hear about a problem, the more attention the problem gets. The more attention it gets, the more people want to fix it. When more people want to fix something, they will put a huge amount of time and money into fixing it. More time and money put towards fixing a problem will produce multiple solutions to that problem. And it's those solutions that become our treatment options when we are faced with a difficult diagnosis.
Sounds simple, doesn't it? That's why It's All About Awareness is focused on ovarian cancer (OC) this month. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - the more attention we give to OC, the more chances we will have to battle this disease!
Awareness and research - that's what it takes to make the advances we need! Take a look at these links for some recent advances - also check out the posting below for what you need to know about OC.
Sounds simple, doesn't it? That's why It's All About Awareness is focused on ovarian cancer (OC) this month. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - the more attention we give to OC, the more chances we will have to battle this disease!
Awareness and research - that's what it takes to make the advances we need! Take a look at these links for some recent advances - also check out the posting below for what you need to know about OC.
- Reolysin Vaccine for Treatment of OC - http://healthcare-research.suite101.com/article.cfm/reolysin_vaccine_for_treatment_of_ovarian_cancer
- WebMD's 7 Clues to Ovarian Cancer - http://www.webmd.com/ovarian-cancer/news/20090825/7-clues-to-ovarian-cancer
- WSJ's article on early detection - http://www.ocrf.org/images/pdfs/wallstreetjournal8.4.09.pdf
Monday, August 24, 2009
Ovarian Cancer Awareness - What You Should Know
Health issues are something we will all deal with one way or another. It's just a matter of time. There's so much information available about diabetes, heart disease, ADHD, cancers, the lists go on and on. All you have to do is turn on GMA, the Today Show, FOX News, or your local news, they all cover health topics. But typically you'll only find information on the diseases that are statistically "on the rise" or ones with a good advocate group. The information here is to bring you up to speed on a deadly cancer that affects women, young and old - Ovarian Cancer (OC).September is ovarian cancer awareness month. It was 1989 when I first heard about oc after the death of Gilda Radner. The media announced it everywhere - I heard a lot about her passing from oc, but nothing else on the disease. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I did a lot of research on oc over the past couple of years. I found that oc is in desperate need for research funding. And, just as important, in desperate need of awareness campaigns. The information below is combined from several oc sites and from two dear friends with first hand experience with this disease.
Remember, it's all about awareness!
What you should know about ovarian cancer:
- It is the 2nd most common type of gynecological cancer
- Symptoms of early stage ovarian cancer are vague and many times are dismissed by women and their doctors
- Detecting ovarian cancer in it's early stages improves the chances of a successful treatment
- Currently, there are not any early diagnostic tests available for oc
- Most ovarian cancers are detected in later stages of the disease
- You may be at a higher risk if you have a family history of breast, ovarian or colon cancer
- Your annual pap exam screens for cervical cancer, not ovarian or other gynecological cancers
Symptoms may include: pelvic and abdominal pain, urinary frequency and urgency, difficulty eating/feeling full quickly, unusual weight gain or loss, increased abdominal size and bloating. Other symptoms may include nausea, constipation or diarrhea, indigestion or gas, abnormal vaginal bleeding, fatigue and low back pain.
What you can do:
- Listen to your body and take action
- Know your family history
If you have symptoms that persist, talk to your gynecologist and request a CA125 blood test and a trans-vaginal ultrasound - don't take no for an answer!
Currently the most effective means of early detection is YOU!
For more information:
http://www.ocrf.org/
http://www.ovarian.org
http://http//www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_Can_ovarian_cancer_be_found_early_33.asp?rnav=cri
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