Women's Cancer Alliance

A newly diagnosed woman needs our help

2011-06-28T05:28:00.001-07:00

Good Morning Family - it is with great sadness that I share I was contacted yesterday by a caring family to advise that their neighbor was diagnosed with cancer. She is located in Las Vegas and on July 24th the caring neighbors will be hosting a bar-b-que fundraiser. I will be in the house!!!!!!!

We need nice gift items for the silent auction that night and I need as many of you as possible to send cards...gifts.....love and virtual hugs to Ru, a new diagnosed cancer patient.

I will be blogging about my journey with her and in the meantime PLEASE send her cards (just imagine if it were you and how nice a card would make her feel). In the beginning of August 2009, I reached out to my Internet family and asked everyone to send my mom a birthday card - her birthday was August 8th. She died on August 22nd and spent the last two weeks of her life knowing how much she was loved by all of the cards she received from strangers.

Please mail your cards, financial gifts and well wishes to:
Ms. Ru H.
9828 Pioneer Ave.
Las Vegas, Nevada 89117

Thank you,
Saideh Browne
Exec., Director
National Women's Cancer Alliance, Inc.

Exercise helps gold-medal gymnast Shannon Miller battle cancer

2011-05-03T05:25:00.001-07:00

Shannon Miller's competitive spirit and lifelong love for exercise are helping her fight the brave fight again. This time, beating cancer is her mission.

"A friend said to me, 'This cancer diagnosis is like being on the balance beam. You fall off. You get back up.' " The former Olympic gold-medal gymnast is back up after being diagnosed with a germ cell malignancy, a form of ovarian cancer, in December. She started nine weeks of chemotherapy March 9 after doctors removed a baseball-size cyst and an ovary. And she started an exercise program that she follows faithfully, even during treatment.

Experts say she is on the right track, assisting her treatment by exercising. Many of the 12 million cancer survivors in the U.S. would also benefit, they say. "There is a growing body of research showing exercise not only helps with the side effects of treatment but also decreases the recurrence risk and improves overall survival," said researcher Melinda Irwin, an associate professor of epidemiology and public health at Yale.

"My prognosis is good," said Miller, 34. She says her doctors have said they're hopeful that she and her husband, John Falconetti, will be able to have more children. Their son, Rocco, is 15 months old. The family lives in Jacksonville, Fla., near John's parents, who, along with friends, help with Rocco on treatment days.

Miller concedes that it isn't easy. She says there are many days she just wants to lie in bed, usually during the first week of a three-week treatment cycle. That's when she has five straight days of chemotherapy for five to six hours a day. The other two weeks, she has chemo one day a week. Nutrition can be a problem. She says she always has had a tendency to become dehydrated, and at one point, she ended up in the hospital because of dehydration after a round of chemo.

Exercise isn't always possible, but more often than not, she said, she finds time to

be on her exercise mat at home.

By Janice Lloyd for USA Today

Ovarian cancer screening reduces death rate only modestly

2010-12-15T03:50:00.000-08:00

Ovarian cancer is one of the most feared diseases because the tumor often produces no symptoms and the disease is often detected at an advanced stage. Despite vigorous research, there are no good screening tests that can be recommended for all women on a regular basis, such as there is with breast cancer and mammography. And that is unlikely to change anytime soon.

In a study reported Monday, researchers used a mathematical model to predict that death rates would fall by only about 11% from their current levels if women were to undergo regular ovarian-cancer screening with the best available technology. That technology is the CA 125 blood test followed by ultrasound imaging of the ovaries if the CA 125 test is abnormal.

The reason why screening with the current methods is underwhelming may be because there are different types of ovarian cancers. The authors of the study, from Duke University Medical Center, estimated that some ovarian cancers are slow-growing, spending about 24 months at Stage I and 12 months at Stage 2. A more aggressive phenotype is assumed to spend about eight months at Stage I and only five months at Stage 2 before advancing.

"If we assume ovarian cancers grow and spread at different rates, the best screening strategy available will only reduce the number of women dying from the cancer by 11%," the lead author of the paper, Dr. Laura Havrilesky, said in a news release. "This is partially because the slower growing cancers are more likely to be caught by a screening test."

It may be time to invest more effort in prevention and treatment of ovarian cancer since screening has shown such little value so far, the authors noted. However, in a commentary accompanying the study, experts pointed out that while routine screening is not recommended for everyone, women with a significant family history of the disease or who carry genes that increase the risk should talk to their doctors about the value of regular screening.

The study was published in the journal Cancer.
By Shari Roan, Los Angeles Times

Genetic factor identified in ovarian cancer

2010-07-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

Women who have a family history of ovarian cancer may want to consider cancer testing to determine their individual risk. A new study has found that the disease may be caused by a genetic variant that is passed along through succeeding generations.

A team of researchers from Yale University used blood tests on a group of patients being treated for ovarian cancer to look for genetic biomarkers. They found that 25 percent of these patients had a mutation in a certain gene. A total of 60 percent of those with a family history of cancer had the mutation.

READ MORE

Gospel at the Garden (NY) to benefit the National Women's Cancer Alliance, Inc.

2010-05-20T03:17:00.000-07:00

2010-04-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

Effective Against Ovarian Cancer - Green Tea
By Maciej Stys

Natural and Alternative medicine has been getting notoriety in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Tea is the most well-known as a potential remedy. Continuing research shows the effectiveness of green tea in the prevention of heart disease as well as other forms of cancer.
The first indication of tea effectiveness is in the markedly low incidence of major diseases in the Asian regions. Those who are living in Asia typically imbibe large quantities of green tea and statistics show that they have a significantly lower risk or heart ailments as well as cancer. Particularly Japanese men, as opposed to American men have statistically lower risk of lung cancer and heart ailments though as much as 75 percent of them smoke cigarettes.

Breast cancers as well as the various cancers in the digestive system also have low incidences in the people living in Asia. They also have lesser chances of having diabetes or even high blood pressure. Their copious consumption of tea could possibly be the reason.
Typically, green tea in Asia comes from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis. The main difference between green tea and black tea is in the processing. In the preparation of black tea, it is also fermented, unlike green tea. Because the green tea is not fermented, the anti-oxidants are left in their natural state, making their benefits more potent.

Anti-oxidants are critical in fighting the presence of free radicals inside our body. Whenever we process the food that we eat and turn it into energy, free radicals are produces. These free radicals can potentially damage the cells as well as our DNA. The damaged DNA can cause other major illnesses like cancer, heart ailments and even stroke.

A growing number of researches connect tea with minimizing the risks of various forms of cancer like gastrointestinal, prostate, bladder, esophageal and breast cancer. Up until recently green tea has not been observed as having any effect on the prevention of ovarian cancer.
But studies conducted on women with ages between 40 and 76 in a span of 15 years show the following results:
-There is a far less likelihood for women who imbibe tea regularly to acquire ovarian cancer
-The risk of acquiring ovarian cancer is related to the quantity of tea consumed. Research show that the risk decreases by as much as 18 percent for every additional cup of green tea a day to the two recommended.

There is really no reason why you should not try drinking green tea. It has no side-effects, its benefits are well known, and it is quite delicious. It can be taken hot or cold. It is even obtainable in tablet form, which makes taking larger doses possible

Who owns your genes? Judge rejects company’s patent on breast cancer genes, but issue is not settled yet

2010-04-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

Should a private company be allowed to patent a human gene?

That question lies at the heart of a landmark legal case that some are calling the Brown v. Board of Education of genetic science, a field whose advances are increasingly guiding the medical decisions of consumers and doctors.

A federal judge this week threw out a Utah company's patents on two genes linked to breast and ovarian cancer, siding with scientists and health advocates who argue that the firm cannot legitimately patent a product of nature.

The plaintiffs said the company's monopoly on the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 genes prevents competition that could lower testing costs — now about $3,000 — and means patients cannot independently verify information that can lead to drastic medical interventions, such as removing breasts to avoid cancer.

Scientists also say the patenting of human genes impedes research that could lead to better diagnostic tests and treatments.

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Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment

2010-03-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

The American Cancer Society estimates that over 21,500 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in one year, and over 14,000 women will die from ovarian cancer. You can learn more about ovarian cancer in the ovarian cancer overview.

Diagnosing ovarian cancer

Click here to comment on this article.In order to find out if cancer of the ovaries is present, the doctor may order one or more tests.

• Pelvic exam – This is typically done as part of an annual exam. The doctor presses on the abdomen to feel for the size and shape of organs and to check for tumors and fluid build-up. The ovaries are difficult to reach, so this test may not be conclusive. A pap test is part of a normal pelvic exam. The pap test is useful in diagnosing cervical cancer, but cannot detect ovarian cancer.

• Blood tests – The lab may test for CA-125, which is a substance found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells. A high level of CA-125 could mean ovarian cancer is present.

• Imaging – Tests including an ultrasound, CT, and MRI can help produce images of structures inside the body. This will allow the doctor to look for signs of a tumor.

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Aspirin, Other Pain Relievers Could Cut Risk Of Breast, Ovarian Cancer

2010-03-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

Regular use of aspirin and other analgesic pain relievers in postmenopausal women leads to lower estrogen levels, which could contribute to a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, according to Harvard researchers.

The researchers examined the association between aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and concentrations of estrogen in 740 women participants.

Average estrogen levels were more than 10 percent lower among women who regularly took aspirin and NSAIDs.

Levels in those who regularly took aspirin, NSAIDs and the painkiller acetaminophen were 15.2 percent lower than the participants who did not regularly take the drugs, the researchers said in a statement, adding that a trial is needed to determine if aspirin and other pain relievers could prevent certain cancers in women.

The study is published in the journal Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7018198258#ixzz0j9BGrDf6

SGO: Drug Combination Slows Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

2010-03-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO -- Combination chemotherapy resulted in a longer, progression-free survival (PFS) than did sequential therapy in a randomized clinical trial of patients with recurrent, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

Median PFS was almost 14 months with combination therapy, while sequential administration of docetaxel (Taxotere) and carboplatin was associated with a median PFS of about eight months.

Overall survival did not differ between treatment groups, Angeles Alvarez-Secord, MD, reported here at the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists meeting.

Because the trial did not directly compare the two strategies, implications and conclusions are limited, she added.

"Combination and sequential weekly docetaxel and carboplatin have activity in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer," said Alvarez-Secord, of Duke University. "Both regimens have a low incidence of moderate to severe neurotoxicity. Combination therapy may provide a PFS advantage over a planned sequential monotherapy."

Results of several randomized clinical trials suggested that combination therapy improved PFS and possibly overall survival compared with platinum monotherapy in women with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

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Some women with breast cancer may benefit by having a preventive mastectomy

2010-03-16T15:16:00.000-07:00

BREAST CANCER

Preventive mastectomies may cut risk of death for certain groups of patients.

THE QUESTION Women who have cancer in one breast sometimes have the other breast removed as a preventive measure. Does this improve their chances of living longer?

THIS STUDY analyzed data on 107,106 women, 18 to 90 years old, who had a mastectomy because of breast cancer, including 8,902 women who also had a preventive mastectomy on their other breast. About four years later, the difference in survival rates was less than 5 percentage points, with the benefit of a preventive mastectomy attributed almost entirely to women younger than 50 who had early-stage ER-negative cancer (meaning the tumor's growth was not fueled by estrogen). Among these women, 11.5 percent had died, compared with 16.3 percent of those who had not had a preventive mastectomy.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Women with breast cancer who are contemplating a preventive mastectomy. Studies have shown that the procedure greatly reduces the likelihood of developing breast cancer among women at high risk for the disease because of family history, mutations in certain genes or previous breast cancer.

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Rubbing Egg Over Body Does Not Cure Ovarian Cancer (and Other Lessons From Arrest of Hollywood Scam Artist)

2010-03-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

As scam artists go, Gina Marks is maddeningly persistent. The 37-year-old from Hollywood has been busted before for what Broward Sheriff's Office calls "gypsy" crimes. Last May she was convicted of felony fraud, but she received only probation, which paved the way for another arrest last week on charges that she swindled a woman out of $300,000.

The BSO release doesn't name the victim but says that it was a Coconut Creek woman who was in a "fragile mental state."

From the release:

BSO's Economic Crimes detectives say that over a period of about 19 months, Marks convinced the woman that she was cursed, that her family members were in danger, that she had cancer and that her Coconut Grove apartment was tainted by evil and negativity.

Marks directed the woman into numerous bizarre acts including rubbing an egg all over her body to remove her ovarian cancer, spitting in a jar, covering it with a black pillowcase and putting it under her bed, eating only red fruit, which represented blood, because the woman needed a "spiritual transfusion" and providing hair and urine samples.

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Vermillion, Quest Diagnostics Launch OVA1 Ovarian Cancer Test

2010-03-11T16:20:00.000-08:00

Vermillion this week launched its OVA1 triage ovarian cancer test as part of its effort to return to commercial viability.

OVA1 is being made available through Quest Diagnostics, who is launching the test along with Vermillion.

This week, Vermillion also announced the reformation of its scientific advisory board and told ProteoMonitor that it is working to get listed again on the Nasdaq exchange.

This week's developments are the latest steps by Vermillion as it emerges from Chapter 11 reorganization [See PM 01/08/10]. The launch of OVA1 is a milestone moment for Vermillion in its turnaround bid as well as in its transformation from its original business as a proteomics technology firm to a diagnostics company.

OVA1, comprising five protein biomarkers, is the first proteomic in vitro diagnostic multivariate index assay to be cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration [See PM 09/17/09].

OVA1 is aimed at enabling physicians to assess, prior to surgery, the likelihood that a woman's ovarian mass is malignant. According a joint statement from Vermillion and Quest, an analysis performed by third parties on behalf of Quest estimated that ovarian masses affect 1 million women in the US and lead to as many as 300,000 ovarian mass surgeries.

Clinical practice guidelines recommend patients with ovarian cancer to be under the care of a gynecological surgeon, but current pre-clinical tests for ovarian masses, such as CT scans and ultrasound, can be inconclusive about the evidence of cancer, Quest and Vermillion said. About one-third of initial surgeries for ovarian cancer are performed by gynecological surgeons.

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Doctors Get New Test to Help Determine If Ovarian Masses Are Cancer

2010-03-10T11:51:00.000-08:00

Doctors and hospitals are getting a new test that many think will help fight ovarian cancer, one of the deadliest cancers, by helping them to more quickly distinguish cancerous from benign growths.

The test, which is called OVA1 and will be available for general use Tuesday, was shown to correctly flag 92 percent of cancers, when used along with radiological imaging and a standard patient work-up, in a study of 27 hospitals, doctors' offices and clinics. Physicians using their usual detection methods but not OVA1 had previously found 72 percent of the cancers.

"It is an amazing move forward," said Cara Tenenbaum, vice president of policy for the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, a nonprofit patient advocacy group.

The test, though, has a serious downside: It generates a lot of false positives. Of the women flagged as likely having cancer, 64 percent didn't, as determined by biopsies done during surgery. False positives might prompt, in addition to the likely emotional suffering, women to make an out-of-town trip to have surgery under a specialist's care when it could have been done at a local hospital. The trial funded by Vermillion Inc., of Fremont, Calif., which developed the test, found that physicians' current methods, which generally included another blood test, an exam and imaging, had a false-alarm rate of only 40 percent.

Ovarian cancer, the ninth most common cancer among women, has a dismal 47 percent survival rate, up from 38 percent in the mid-to-late 1970s.

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Sipping green or black tea daily may prevent ovarian cancer

2010-03-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

A recent study conducted by the University of Washington in Stockholm claims that drinking black or green tea may prevent Ovarian Cancer in women.

The report says, “Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths. More women die of ovarian cancer as compared to other cancers of female reproductive system.”

The research was conducted on 2000 women from different professions and different age groups. The report claims that women who consume at least two cups of black tea a day face 50 percent less risk of Ovarian Cancer formation.
The study also found that at least one cup of green tea daily can cut down the risk of formation of ovarian cancer in women by 54 percent.

A nutritional epidemiologist at the American Cancer Society, Marji Mcullough said, “If these findings are real, they’d be important because ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women

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The Cruellest of Surprises

2010-02-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

NO ONE ever expects to get a cancer diagnosis.

Sue Melia, a mother-of-three, certainly didn’t. She’d suffered from what she thought was a sleep disorder that couldn’t be properly diagnosed and offhandedly mentioned a lump she had on her pelvis to her GP.

It was this consultation that set the roller-coaster wheels in motion. At 41, the Little Bay mother couldn’t see pregnancy as a cause for too much concern but followed her doctor’s instructions and had an ultrasound, where the technician set her warning bells blaring with questions like “Have you had your right ovary removed?”

“I completed chemotherapy in September 2007,” she said. “I am in remission. I am on a treadmill of a check-up every three months. I live in hope.”

On Teal Ribbon Day (tomorrow), Ovarian Cancer Australia will be raising vital funds for support services for women and families touched by ovarian cancer. Teal ribbons can be purchased for $2 from Napoleon Perdis concept stores and Ovarian Cancer Australia.

Shining light on genetic cancer risks

2010-02-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

NOMA — As Joi Morris knows, the truth can be scary.

However, Morris recently made learning the truth about heightened risks of breast and ovarian cancer caused by gene mutations a little easier through her book, "Positive Results: Making the Best Decisions When You're at High Risk for Breast or Ovarian Cancer." The book, co-authored by Dr. Ora Gordon, was inspired by Morris' own high-risk experience.

When Morris reached the same age at which her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, her doctor suggested she undergo genetic testing for mutations on her BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes — mutations which increase a person's risk for breast and ovarian cancers.

"For a while I wasn't sure it was something I wanted to do," Morris said. "It's one thing to know you're at high risk because your mother had breast cancer early in life and it's another to know you're at astronomically higher risk because you carry a genetic mutation."

Morris tested positive for a BRCA2 mutation, the same as her mother. While a woman's average risk of developing breast cancer during her life is 12 percent, a woman with a mutation on either gene has a likelihood of 50 to 87 percent. Mutations also increase the chance of developing cancer at a younger age and in more aggressive forms.

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EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW: Eight Is Enough Star Talks About Cancer Struggle

2010-02-19T12:05:00.000-08:00

Former child star Connie Newton Needham is successfully battling ovarian cancer and exclusively opened up to RadarOnline.com about the disease, what she is doing to help with early detection and her favorite times on the hit show Eight Is Enough.

Speaking for the first time publicly about her cancer, Connie had a darling short hair cut, but revealed that it was a wig and said has lost all of her hair as a result of her battle.

“I was diagnosed in May,” Connie said in her exclusive interview at Gendarmerie, a trendy spa in West Hollywood, and added her treatment has been successful and the cancer was not in her lymph nodes. “I’ve been doing great with it.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND READ MORE

Jean Kittson puts spotlight on ovarian cancer

2010-02-12T08:06:00.000-08:00

MOSMAN comedienne Jean Kittson will talk to anybody about ovarian cancer.

“I was even telling a taxi driver about it earlier today,” she said. “I don’t think he had any idea about its symptoms.”

This month Kittson will swap amusement for awareness as the face of Ovarian Cancer Month, which aims to raise recognition and much-needed funds for the disease which claims an Australian woman every 11 hours.

“Women’s bits are still a bit of a mystery and in between periods and pap smears and brazilians and visible panty lines, most of us get sick of talking about them and put them on the backburner,” she said. “But we’ve really got to talk about it.”

This year, 850 women will die from ovarian cancer and one in 70 women develop the disease. And, contrary to popular belief, a pap smear does not detect the disease of those who are diagnosed - 75 per cent are already in the advanced stages.

“A friend of mine, another comedienne (the late Ovarian Cancer Australia founding director Lynda Gibson) was diagnosed with the disease when she was in her 40s,” Kittson said.

“We were great friends, we lived together and worked together. But by the time she was diagnosed, it was already advanced.”

Kittson moved to Mosman 12 years ago, where she lives with her husband, cartoonist and third generation Mosmanite Patrick Cook, and daughters Victoria, 18, and Charlie, 11.

Her sense of humour she said, was inherited from her family who had a knack of turning the grimmest event into a side-splitting story.

Now she’s hoping to combine this irreverent approach with her role as ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Australia.

“Of course it’s a serious subject,” she said. “But even people suffering from it need a laugh sometimes.”

February 24 is Ovarian Cancer Australia’s Teal Ribbon Day. Details: ovariancancer.net.au

Kittson to Head Ovarian Cancer Awareness Drive

2010-02-12T07:57:00.000-08:00

Jean Kittson, a Mosman comedienne, will be heading an awareness drive in the Ovarian Cancer Month, which aims to raise recognition and much-needed funds for the disease which hits an Australian woman every 11 hours.

“Women’s bits are still a bit of a mystery and in between periods and pap smears and Brazilians and visible panty lines, most of us get sick of talking about them and put them on the backburner. But we’ve really got to talk about it”, she said.

“I had been to my gynecologist in the fall. I'd had a complete checkup. I thought (the) Pap smear would check everything. I didn't even know that it didn't cover ovarian cancer.”

While cervical cancer can be detected with a Pap smear and breast cancer can be detected with mammography, but there is no routine screening tool for ovarian cancer, which causes more deaths than any other cancer in the female reproductive system.

“It's just very hard to find”, said Dr. Daniel Metzinger, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Louisville's James Graham Brown Cancer Center.

“And once you get the cancer, it progresses rapidly, so we need something that can really detect it early”, he added.

According to the American Cancer Society report the figures between 2001 and 2005, show a decline. But it still takes thousands of lives.

Sara Campbell Fashion Preview to Benefit Ovarian Cancer

2010-02-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

Natick, MA, February 11, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Ovations for the Cure of Ovarian Cancer of Natick, MA, a national ovarian cancer organization, and local fashion designer Sara Campbell, who blends timeless and classic design elements with modern fashion sensibilities, join together to raise funds for ovarian cancer research, awareness and patient programs.

This fashion/trend preview and light luncheon, scheduled to take place Friday, March 12, 2010 from noon to 2 pm at the Sara Campbell boutique in Wellesley, MA, will feature Campbell’s 2010 Spring/Summer Collection. Local celebrities including, Beth Shelburne of NECN, Candy O’Terry at Magic 106.7 FM, Kathryn Tappen of NESN, Kelley Tuthill of WCVB-TV, and Naomi Kooker of Boston Common Magazine will model the designer’s latest fashions. Hair and make-up will be provided by Ovations supporter and local stylists, David Paul Salons of Sudbury.

“We are thrilled to have Sara Campbell and the celebrity models join us in our efforts to increase awareness of one of the most deadly women’s cancers,” said Lisa Tocci, Director of Operations at Ovations for the Cure. “This event will be a fun and unique way to share potentially life-saving information within the community and raise the necessary funds to help fight ovarian cancer.”

Sara Campbell believes in using her fashions as a voice, “I do not think it is a choice about whether or not to work towards a cure for women’s cancer. It is our responsibility as women. Ovarian cancer is one of the leading killers and unfortunately, it does not get the attention it deserves. For me, for my daughters, sisters, friends, and all women who live and breathe, it is time to get serious and learn about ovarian cancer. I am very excited about our event with Ovations for the Cure; I look forward to meeting all the women that believe in this cause and together we can make a difference.”

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New ovarian cancer drug tested

2010-02-11T07:45:00.000-08:00

The University of Kansas Cancer Center began running a Phase I clinical trial of the anti-ovarian cancer drug Nanotax. Nanotax is a breakthrough drug because, unlike other anti-cancer drugs, it is water-soluble.

Charles Decedue, Valentino Stella, Bala Subramaniam and Roger Rajewski worked in the Higuchi Biosciences Center at the University, developing Nanotax, Last year the American Cancer Society estimated that there were just under 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer and 14,600 deaths caused by it in the United States.

The clinical trial at the University comes nearly 15 year after Nanotax was first conceived. It is one of three active clinical trials for ovarian cancer treatment in Kansas, and it’s the only one still recruiting patients. The trial is classified as Phase I because it tests the drug in a small group.

Decedue said he wasn’t allowed to give out numbers because the clinical trial was not finalized, but he offered an optimistic analysis.

“The only thing I can tell you so far is that we have not seen any adverse effects to the drug or the procedure,” Decedue said. “That’s as good as it gets in a Phase I trial.”

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Friends of Liverpool ovarian cancer victim raised thousands of pounds for medics

2010-02-03T11:40:00.000-08:00

FRIENDS of an woman who lost her battle with cancer raised £10,000 in her memory.

Family and friends of Margaret Lloyd, of Anfield, recently held an event at the Dockers Club, hoping to raise money for the doctors and nurses who helped her through her illness.

But support for the event was overwhelming and the final total came to £10,000.

Margaret passed away in February, two years after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

The mum-of-two worked for 36 years at All Saints Catholic primary school in Anfield.

Her husband Tommy said: “Margaret was a kind, lovely lady who will never be replaced.”

The cash was presented to Liverpool women’s hospital and Macmillan cancer care.

A Greek spin on ovarian cancer awareness

2010-02-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

Tania Tiropanis is one of the 11th Hour Ambassadors for Ovarian Cancer Month Campaign
Every 11 hours an Australian woman will die from ovarian cancer. To mark Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in February comedian Jean Kittson and 11 Australian women teamed up with Ovarian Cancer Australia to help raise awareness of the disease and help generate vital funds for programmes that support women diagnosed with the disease, and their families.

There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer and while the disease is often considered a silent killer, scientific evidence shows that many women do experience symptoms that if acted on, could result in an earlier diagnosis and a better chance of beating the disease.

Jean Kittson, the 2010 Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Campaign Ambassador said, “Ovarian cancer affects someone’s friend, someone’s partner, someone’s sister, someone’s daughter and someone’s mother.

I’m delighted to be part of such an important health initiative for Australian women. Together, we can all learn the symptoms of ovarian cancer to save lives and at the same time raise vital funds to help women who have the disease.”

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Pelvic symptoms unlikely to mean ovarian cancer

2010-02-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

Several medical societies recommend the use of these and other symptoms to detect ovarian cancer early before it spreads, but the new study found no evidence that symptoms could speed up detection.

"We'd all like to find ways to diagnose this cancer earlier," Mary Anne Rossing, who led the investigation, told Reuters Health. "What this (study) suggests is that it's going to be hard to move the diagnosis of ovarian cancer forward."

Rossing, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington, and her colleagues asked some 800 women who had been treated for ovarian cancer about the symptoms they had before their diagnosis. They compared their answers to those of a control group of more than 1300 women without cancer.

About 60 to 70 percent of the cancer patients had experienced symptoms almost daily for more than at few weeks during the year leading up to their diagnosis. The symptoms were most frequent in patients diagnosed with late-stage cancers, and the majority of the women only began experiencing symptoms a few months before their diagnosis.

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Disarming Specialized Stem Cells Might Combat Deadly Ovarian Cancer

2010-01-28T12:30:00.000-08:00

Eliminating cancer stem cells (CSCs) within a tumor could hold the key to successful treatments for ovarian cancer, which has been notoriously difficult to detect and treat, according to new findings published this week in the journal Oncogene by Yale School of Medicine researchers.

We found that stopping the expression of two genes -- Lin28 and Oct4 -- reduces ovarian cancer cell growth and survival," said Yingqun Huang, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine.

Ovarian cancer has been challenging to treat because it tends to recur frequently and develop resistance to treatment. The poor outcome for women with ovarian cancer has been associated with subtle and nonspecific symptoms -- earning it the moniker the "disease that whispers."

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BlogTalkRadio Share Show Widget

2010-01-27T11:28:00.001-08:00

BlogTalkRadio Share Show Widget

2010-01-27T11:21:00.001-08:00

BlogTalkRadio Share Show Widget

2010-01-27T11:19:00.001-08:00

Kittson warns women on ovarian cancer

2010-01-26T09:36:00.000-08:00

Australian comedian and actress Jean Kittson has urged Australian women to learn the symptoms of ovarian cancer because, despite popular belief, a Pap smear won't detect it.

Kittson, the ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, is encouraging women of all ages to read up on the symptoms in a bid to help curb the high number of deaths from the disease.

"This year, 850 women will die from ovarian cancer, so that's one woman every 11 hours," Kittson told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

"So our message is, don't leave it till the last minute, don't leave it till the 11th hour.

"Please learn the symptoms... because that is the only thing that will save your life."

Kittson, who has two daughters and is the face of an Ovarian Cancer Australia awareness campaign beginning in February, said it was concerning so many women believed a Pap smear would detect the disease.

"It won't. There is no test for ovarian cancer at the moment and the only way you confirm diagnosis is when you have surgery, unfortunately," she said.

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Pageant winner talks about battle with cancer.

2010-01-21T09:47:00.000-08:00

Insecurities about talent and appearance keep many women from competing in pageants, but the 2008-09 Miss Lumbee not only lacked those reservations, she competed and won while battling cancer.

Allison Mitchell recently spoke at First United Methodist Church in Laurinburg about her perseverance in getting the Miss Lumbee crown less than three months after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

The 22-year old teacher said her diagnosis and treatment for the disease that annually claims the lives of more than 14,000 American women was a true ordeal.

"It is by the grace of God I am still here," Mitchell said.

She told the room of about 20 people at the church's mens' breakfast about the day doctors first realized something was wrong.

"I was at school one day and I passed out at," Mitchell said. "They took me to the hospital and I was in a trance with what was going on... I started getting nervous because I was loosing my breath. I couldn't breath on the way to the hospital."

TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Event Celebrates Life, Celebrates Chefs

2010-01-21T08:24:00.000-08:00

Washington D.C. – January 19, 2010. For the fifth year in a row, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance has teamed up with dozens of the most celebrated women chefs from Washington, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

The annual Gala highlights the best of their talents and raises funds for ovarian cancer in an effort to boost visibility of this devastating disease. Washington’s own Ris Lacoste of ris, Nora Pouillon of Restaurant Nora, and Laura Bonino of Comet Ping Pong are only a few of the chefs that have joined together with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance to continue the fight against ovarian cancer.
The “Turn up the Heat: A Celebration of Women Chefs” Gala takes place at the DC Ritz Carlton Hotel on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. News Anchor Wendy Reiger from NBC News 4 at 5 and Going Green will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Special guest speaker is ovarian cancer survivor, Gina DePalma, the James Beard Award-winning pastry chef of Babbo Ristorante and Enoteca of New York City and author of Dolce Italiano.

“Each year, this signature event has grown in popularity, providing us the opportunity to illuminate the seriousness of ovarian cancer while showcasing the positive impact that the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance is making within the ovarian cancer community,” states Karen Kaplan, CEO of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. “This annual Gala celebrates life and we are grateful to all those who share this delicious evening with us.”

Proceeds of the event will support the efforts to raise awareness, educate women and help improve the quality of life for women who have been touched by ovarian cancer.
The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance is the foremost advocate for women with ovarian cancer in the United States. To advance the interests of women with ovarian cancer, the organization advocates at a national level for increases in research funding for the development of an early detection test, improved health care practices, and life-saving treatment protocols. The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance educates health care professionals and raises public awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.

OMRF identifies new method that may improve treatment of ovarian cancers

2010-01-19T13:50:00.000-08:00

The problem with killing cancer is that it comes back. But new research from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation could pave the way for therapies that avoid this problem.

The pre-clinical work has already shown promise in killing ovarian cancer cells. Researchers hope the approach, which stems drug resistance, might also prove effective in treating other forms of cancers.

“When we use drugs to kill cancer, we almost never kill all of it,” said OMRF scientist Amit Maiti, Ph.D. “And when the cancer comes back, it’s resistant to the drug, which makes it harder to kill.”

In a paper published in the online edition of Pharmacogenics Journal, Maiti has identified genes that could be manipulated to keep cancer cells from surviving drug treatment. “If we could prevent cancers from becoming drug-resistant, it could improve treatment outcomes,” said Maiti.

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Abbott receives CE mark for ovarian cancer detection equipment

2010-01-15T11:39:00.000-08:00

Abbott has been granted conformite Europeene (CE) certification for its ovarian cancer detection test, it revealed this week.

The pharmaceutical company is now authorised to distribute its ARCHITECT human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) test in Europe - a piece of equipment that is capable of determining whether a pelvic mass has either malignant or benign properties.

It operates using a blood analysis to assist in the diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer and will run on Abbott's ARCHITECT system.

According to Abbott, it is the only automated HE4 test available in the world.

Michael Warmuth, senior vice-president of diagnostics the firm, commented: "Abbott's ARCHITECT HE4 test will aid physicians in determining the most appropriate treatment for their patients."

In similar news, the organisation announced earlier this week that it has also received the CE mark for its colorectal cancer test, the RealTime mS9 - a non-invasive DNA assay that detects the methylated form of Septin 9 in blood specimens.

Understanding Ovarian Cancer

2010-01-13T13:40:00.000-08:00

Ovarian Cancer is a women’s disease and it is on the rise. We as women have to take care of ourselves every single day. Even though no matter how much health food we eat and how much we exercise unfortunately, sometimes it’s not enough.

Ovaries are reproductive glands that produce the egg. There is one ovary on each side of the uterus in the pelvis. The egg travels through the fallopian tube and fertilizes into a baby. Ovarian Cancer begins in the ovaries. Many tumors can develop in the ovaries. Most of these are non cancerous, they can be removed by removing part of the ovary, the tumor or the ovary itself. If it is a cancerous tumor it can spread throughout the body and can be more complicated.

Your ovaries have three kinds of tissue:

Epithelial cells that cover the ovary.

Germs cells which are found in the ovary and develop into eggs that are released into the fallopian tube that are released every month.

Stromal cells which develops most of the female’s hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Tumors are named depending on which cells the tumor came from. It could be benign (no cancerous) and cancerous. There three ways to tell what kind of tumor it is by checking all three of tissues.

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Ovarian Cancer Study Tests Lead Time of Potential Biomarkers

2010-01-13T12:26:00.000-08:00

Teams of scientists around the world are working to develop ways to detect early signs of ovarian cancer in blood. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the disease, but as yet there are no proven effective biological markers or panels of biomarkers for early detection.

For the most promising markers to date, a critical issue is the question of lead time. That is, how long before the disease is diagnosed can the biomarkers distinguish individuals with and without the disease? A new report provides some answers and illustrates just how difficult it can be to find markers for this relatively rare and deadly disease.

In one of the first such studies, Dr. Garnet Anderson of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and her colleagues tested the lead times for six promising markers, using prediagnostic blood samples from 34 women with cancer and a matched comparison group. All were participants in a cancer prevention study called the Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial.

The analysis revealed changes in three markers several years before diagnosis, but the markers typically did not give a strong signal until less than a year before diagnosis. By the time they were diagnosed just a few months later, most women had advanced tumors, the researchers reported online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on December 30.

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-Time Cancer Survivor Inspires Others

2010-01-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

Dr. Gwen Collins, also known as Mama Gwen, is a three-time cancer survivor, beating ovarian cancer and breast cancer twice. She believes she's still alive for a reason. Along with her own children, she's been surrogate mother to countless others, fellow warriors in the battle against cancer.

“She's always, always there for you no matter the time of day. She can be sick and still be there for you,” said Latrina Baldwin, a friend of Mama Gwen’s.

“Breast cancer was my last cancer. And ovarian cancer was the first,” said Mama Gwen. “My sister -- my baby sister -- died from a third recurrence of ovarian cancer. My very good friend, we were friends since third grade -- Aaliyah Amadi -- died after a fourth recurrence.”

TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

Researchers make progress on early detection of ovarian cancer

2010-01-05T09:56:00.000-08:00

Seattle - Researchers have taken a small but potentially significant step toward early detection of ovarian cancer, a deadly disease often diagnosed too late for effective treatment.

Various cancer "biomarkers" show up in blood tests long before symptoms occur but aren't accurately predictive until later, when tumors probably have reached an advanced stage, scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found.

The study, published today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, was headed by Garnet Anderson and Nicole Urban of the Hutchinson center's Division of Public Health Sciences.

To Read More Click Here

Potency Of Platinum Chemotherapy Dramatically Boosted By Diabetes Drug

2009-12-22T10:38:00.000-08:00

A substantially used diabetes drug dramatically boosted the potency of platinum-based cancer drugs when administered together to a variety of cancer cell lines and to mice with tumors, scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute set forth.

Combining a platinum chemotherapy agent and the diabetes drug rosiglitazone halted or shrank mouse tumors as much as three times more effectively than either of the drugs accustomed unassisted, according to the article in the May issue of Cancer Apartment.

If pairing the drugs has the after all is said synergistic impact in humans, the researchers influence, it could revive control of ovarian, lung and other cancers routinely treated with platinum-based chemotherapy, to which tumors eventually become resistant. Moreover, the experiments suggest the conglomerate might extend the use of platinum drugs to other cancers where they haven’t once been shown to be effective.

READ MORE HERE

Recognizing The Most Common Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

2009-12-22T10:27:00.000-08:00

Being aware of the more common ovarian cancer symptoms can mean the difference between life and death. A recent Australian survey has revealed that 1 in 5 women cannot name one symptom of ovarian cancer. However, according to the American Cancer Society, detecting ovarian cancer in its early stages can increase a woman’s chance of surviving another 5 years to 93%. This demonstrates how important knowing what symptoms to look out for is so important.

One of the first signs that indicate the possible presence of cancer is pain in the ovaries. Ovarian Pain often begins as a dull ache that is barely noticeable. Over time, the pain intensifies sometimes to the point that is it hard to ignore. Unlike digestive issues, this type of pain remains constant and only worsens as time passes. This is easily one of the most common of all ovarian cancer symptoms, and serves as clear indication that something other than a bladder infection is at work.

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Screening Can Detect Early Ovarian Cancer

2009-12-21T10:50:00.000-08:00

Only about one-quarter of invasive ovarian cancers are detected in the early stages, when the disease is most treatable. Now, preliminary results from a large, continuing trial indicate that postmenopausal women who are screened for ovarian cancer either by transvaginal ultrasound scan or by a blood test followed by a scan are more likely to have their cancers detected at early stages, with almost half the cancers picked up before they had spread beyond the pelvis.

While the results suggest that widespread screening for ovarian cancer may be feasible, long a point of scientific controversy, the researchers warned that the benefits were still far from clear. Many of the women in the trial had false positive results on screening tests that led to unnecessary surgeries and complications, especially among those who had ultrasound scans alone. And there is still no evidence that screening reduces the death rate from ovarian cancer, the researchers said.

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New treatment for ovarian cancer patients

2009-12-18T06:42:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (WABC) -- When a young woman hears the words "You have cancer," she probably can't think beyond the fight for survival. But now, some women are taking steps to protect their hormones, and possibly their future fertility from chemo. An ovarian tissue transplant helped one young cancer survivor regain her womanhood.

Joseph Criscuolo is getting ready for his sixth birthday. His mom, Jennifer, is just grateful to be around for the party.

"I was first diagnosed 15 weeks after my child was born," Jennifer said.

She had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and endured seven rounds of chemo. Two years later, the cancer came back

"It was totally unbelievable," Criscuolo said.

Another round of rigorous treatment would force the 38-year-old into post-menopause. Jennifer decided to have one of her ovaries removed -- and frozen.

"Whether you want kids or you don't want kids, when you get better, you want your hormones back in place," she explained.

After she went into remission, Jennifer met Dr. Tamer Yalcinkaya of Wake Forest University. He performed a minimally invasive surgery to re-implant her ovarian tissue. Doctors sewed eight frozen pieces onto Jennifer's remaining ovary. It created a "pocket" for new eggs to grow.

"Even small pieces of ovary can produce follicles and can release eggs," Dr. Yalcinkaya, director of Wake Forest's Center for Reproductive Medicine, said.

Six months after surgery, Jennifer's body acted like it had before the cancer -- no menopause, no hormone replacements and normal monthly cycles.

"Most women would say, 'Why would you want that?'" Jennifer said. "But it's nice to have my hormones functioning again."

Doctors say there's a chance Jennifer could get pregnant. She's hopeful, but is satisfied with feeling like herself again.

"It's my right to go through all the different stages of womanhood, so I felt like I deserved that," she said.

Looking forward to the future, and enjoying the journey.

Only two dozen of these procedures have been performed in the world, resulting in five births. Doctors don't know how long after the transplant the ovaries will function. Doctors say women with certain cancers such as leukemia are not good candidates because there's a risk of restarting the disease after the transplant.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

2009-12-16T11:03:00.000-08:00

Ovarian cancer represents about 25% of all female genital tract malignancies. However, there are more deaths from ovarian cancer each year in the United States than from endometrial cancer and cervical cancer combined. The lifetime risk of developing spontaneous ovarian cancer is about 1.7%. Epithelial ovarian cancer was expected cause 15,520 deaths in 2008. Mean age at diagnosis is 60. There has been a significant improvement in the five year survival rate for patients with ovarian cancer. This is likely a combination of better tumor debulking surgeries and better chemotherapeutic options.

Most patients with epithelial ovarian cancer do not have signs or symptoms until disease spreads to the upper abdomen. 70% of patients present with advanced disease. Symptoms for early stage ovarian cancer can include nonspecific pelvic discomfort, urinary frequency and constipation which are caused by an enlarging pelvic mass. With advanced disease, patients experience abdominal pain, bloating, anorexia, nausea and constipation.

The best tumor marker for ovarian cancer is CA 125. Minor elevations in CA 125 can also be seen in endometriosis, benign tumors, fibroids and in pregnant and postpartum women. In addition, moderate elevation of CA 125 can be seen in other adnocarcinoma such as breast and endometrial cancer. The sensitivity of CA 125 is 70% to 80% and the specificity is 98.6% to 99.4%. However, in the average risk population with low prevalence of ovarian cancer, the false positive can be unacceptably high.

The National Cancer Institute recommends screening for ovarian cancer in women with known genetic syndromes associated with this disease and for women with strong family history. Routine screening of women without family history of ovarian cancer is not recommended. The known genetic syndromes include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome associated with BRCA 1, BRCA 2 and Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer Syndrome (HNPCC). The absolute risk of ovarian cancer in the presence of either BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation ranges from 16% to 60%. For patients with HNPCC syndrome, the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 9% to 12%.

Epithelial ovarian cancer accounts for about 90% of ovarian cancers. Common histologies include serous, mucinous, endometroid, transitiona and clear cell types. Germ cell tumors include dysgerminoma, endodermal sinus tumor, malignant teratoma embryonal carcinoma or primary choriocarcinoma. Stromal tumors include granulose tumor or Sertoli-Leydig tumor.

Upon initial presentation, surgery is used for confirmation and staging of ovarian cancer. Stage I disease is confined to one or both ovaries. Stage II involves one or both ovaries with extension to the pelvic viscera. Stage III is associated with implants on the abdominopelvic wall or the serosal surface of the liver or involves small bowel or omentum. Stage IV disease involves distant metastasis. The 5 year survival for stage IA disease and grade 1 or 2 histology is greater than 90%. For high risk stage I disease and stage II disease, 5 year survival is 80%. For patients with stage III disease after optimal debulking, 5 year survival is 20% to 30%. This reduces to be less than 10% for stage III patients with suboptimal debulking and stage IV disease.

Stage I ovarian cancer with favorable prognostic features can be treated with surgery alone. For women with high risk, early stage cancer (Stage I grade 3 or stage II disease), adjuvant chemotherapy with platinum based agents show an 11% improvement in progression free survival and 8% improvement in overall survival. For stage III and IV disease, the current standard of care include maximal attempt at surgical cytoreduction followed by chemotherapy with platinum based agents.

Optimal debulking is an important part in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Retrospective data have shown that survival is better for women who receive chemotherapy in the presence of low volume disease. In the setting where optimal surgical cytoreduction cannot be achieved, an alternative approach is for the patient to receive chemotherapy up front. For patients who have a partial response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, it may be appropriate to attempt surgical removal of macroscopic disease at that time.

As for the standard of care in chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer, studies have shown that paclitaxel/cisplatin combination is superior to cyclophosphamide/cisplatin combination. Later studies showed that carboplatin/paclitaxel is at least as effective as cisplatin/paclitaxel.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is an appealing approach for treating a disease that is largely confined in the peritoneal space. GOG 172 which was a phase III clinical trials demonstrated that this regional approach resulted in superior progression free survival and overall survival when compared with the intravenous approach alone. The disadvantage of this approach includes local toxicity, and requirement for intraperitoneal catheter placement.

Because of the high recurrence rate in patients with advanced ovarian cancer, the issue of whether consolidation chemotherapy may improve time to progression and overall survival was examined in a phase III trial comparing 3 and 12 cycles of taxol. Progression free survival favored the 12 cycle arm. However, overall survival was not different between the two arms. Therefore, the oncologist needs to discuss with the patient and allow them to decide whether the improved progression free survival justifies toxicities including peripheral neuropathy and alopecia.

For many patients with advanced ovarian cancer who have an initial treatment response, disease relapses at a later time. The treatment of patients with recurrent disease or resistant disease needs to be individualized. For people with long treatment free interval, similar drugs many be reused. There are also a number of single agent drugs with activity in ovarian cancer. These include altretamine, bevacizumab, docetaxel, etoposide, gemcitabine, liposomal doxorubicin, paclitaxel, tamoxifen, topotecan and vinorelbine.

Radiation can also play a role in the palliation of some patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. Symptoms such as pain from growing pelvic mass or bone metastasis can be palliated. Very rarely cerebral metastasis can develop which can also be treated with radiation.

The best treatment of ovarian cancer needs a team approach between the primary care physician, gynecological oncology surgeon, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. As more chemotherapeutic agents become available and as we further understand the biology of epithelial ovarian cancer, we hope to further improve the overall survival and quality of life of our patients.

Gigi Q. Chen, MD, practices at Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology at the California Cancer Research and Treatment Center at Pleasant Hill, California. Her facility specializes in comprehensive, cutting-edge treatment of all forms of cancer through clinical trials, chemotherapy, biological treatments, diagnostic imaging, and radiation.

Better Ovarian Cancer Treatment Found?

2009-12-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

BOSTON -- There is promising new research on one of the deadliest cancers.

As NewsCenter 5's Heather Unurh reported Tuesday, local researchers have made a key discovery that could lead to better treatment of ovarian cancer.

"I had stage 4 ovarian (cancer) which had spread through the entire abdominal area, to some other organs, and my lung as well," said Kim Lohnes, of Action, Mass.

In March, Lohnes was forced to fight a papillary serous tumor. It's the most common, most deadly type of ovarian cancer.

"Patients will feel bloating, pain, some abdominal discomfort. And usually when they're feeling that the tumors have already spread through the abdomen," said Dr. Michael Birrer, the director of medical gynecologic oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center.

The aggressive, often large tumors, are difficult to treat even with standard treatment.

"All patients with ovarian cancer, historically and today. essentially are treated the same. They all get surgery and combination chemotherapy," Birrer said.

But Birrer is excited about a key discovery his research team found that could lead to better treatments.

"We should in the near future be able to tailor treatments specifically to the patient's tumor," he said.

The study, published in the Cancer Cell, explains how researchers dissected serous tumors in 53 Boston-area patients, and found an elevated number of the gene, MAGP2. This over expressive gene, not previously associated with any type of cancer, could explain why these tumors spread so rapidly. It's discovery could one day improve treatment options.

"We think MAGP2 may be a target that we can develop drugs to," Birrer said.

"To discover those things earlier on, to take preventative measures once your identified with one of those biomarkers, to prevent the entire thing in the first place," said Lohnes.

With a Blood Sample & 20 Minutes, Nanosensors Could Detect Cancer

2009-12-15T08:03:00.000-08:00

In the not too distant future, testing for certain cancers may be completed in less time than it takes to watch an episode of Scrubs. A new portable device, expected to be about the size of a paperback book, works by detecting biomarkers in the blood, substances that suggest that a patient is diseased. The sensor, which uses nanotechnology, is so accurate that it could pick up a grain of salt in a swimming pool, claim the researchers [Telegraph]. With just a small amount of blood and 20 minutes, doctors can have an electronic read out of biomarker concentrations at their fingertips. The research, led by Mark Reed at Yale University, may lead to quick, easy, and low-cost cancer tests.

Reed says the technology would be ideal for measuring lung cancer biomarkers in a phlegm sample, or colon or ovarian cancer biomarkers in a blood sample, making their technology the first to measure biomarkers from normal samples of bodily fluids. Previous technologies work in much the same way, but can only detect biomarkers in purified solutions, not the real thing — meaning fluid samples from patients [U.S. News and World Report]. The applications aren’t limited to cancer biomarker measurements; the researchers say they could also measure cardiovascular disease biomarkers in small blood samples. The scientists have published their research in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

Talcum Powder Lawsuit Filed Over Link to Ovarian Cancer

2009-12-14T13:26:00.000-08:00

A lawsuit has been filed against Johnson & Johnson by a woman who claims that the company failed to warn consumers that the use of talcum powder in the genital area can increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

The talcum powder cancer lawsuit was filed by Deane Berg, 52, in the U.S. District Court in South Dakota. According to a report in the Argus Leader, Berg alleges that her daily use of Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder for more than 30 years led to her developing ovarian cancer in 2006. The complaint also names two mining companies who sold the mineral without warning that there was a risk.

A 2008 Harvard University study determined that women who applied talcum powder to their genitals daily faced a 41% increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Studies since 1982 have been inconclusive on whether talcum powder is a carcinogen, with some study results showing a correlation and others appearing to disprove such links. The American Cancer Society has said that none of the studies have been conclusive, and advises women to use cornstarch-based powders as a precaution.

The National Cancer Institute and some state health departments warn that the vaginal use of talcum powder could increase ovarian cancer risk.

The product liability lawsuit charges Johnson & Johnson, as well as Luzenac America and Rio Tinto Materials, with negligence and failure to warn.

Anti-Cancer Foods, Do they Work?

2009-12-14T07:44:00.000-08:00

The short answer to this question is—drum roll, please—yes. They really do. While studies are ongoing, and in many cases experts still don’t know exactly how these superfoods work, there’s strong evidence that certain fruits and vegetables rich in plant-based nutrients can both prevent tumors from starting and halt their growth. Here, the top foods to work into the family diet if you’d like to cut cancer risk or help those with cancer recover. And who wouldn’t?
Blueberries, açai berries, raspberries, and cranberries

The rich, dark colors of blueberries, Brazilian açai berries, raspberries and cranberries come from phytochemicals that protect against numerous types of cancer. Most recently, researchers at the University of Florida found that the active ingredient in açai berries destroyed cancer cells when tested in cell cultures. And blueberries and muscadine grapes contain compounds that recent research shows cause cancer cells in the liver to self-destruct. In studies particularly important to women, cranberries have recently been discovered to be an important weapon in the fight against deadly ovarian cancer. Studies reported at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society found that ovarian cancer cells that were becoming resistant to platinum chemotherapy—the standard of care for ovarian cancer—became six times more sensitive when exposed to a compound in cranberries.

The anti-cancer properties of all these berries are so strong that researchers have developing concentrated supplements and other products such as purees and concentrates.
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Soy May Lessen Risk of Endometrial, Ovarian Cancers

2009-12-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

Women who eat more soy-based foods than average may have less risk for certain cancers in the ovaries and the lining of the uterus, according to the combined findings of a few studies.

The uterine lining cancers - also known as endometrial cancer - and the ovarian cancer are all known to be affected by hormones such as estrogen, which are mimicked by compounds in soy. While some soy compounds that act like estrogen are linked to a higher rate of breast cancer, studies have suggested the opposite for endometrial and ovarian cancer.The new report, in BJOG, An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, hints that odds of developing these cancers may be 40 percent lower among women who eat the highest amounts of soy-based foods.One of the authors of the new analysis, Dr. Kwon Myung, at the National Cancer Center in Goyang, Korea, told Reuters Health that the data is too preliminary to draw any firm conclusions.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 21,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 14,000 women will die of it in 2009. About 42,000 women will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer, according to the Institute, and about 8,000 will die of it.

The seven studies Myung's team reviewed - they rejected others that were of poorer quality -- included more than 169,000 women, of whom 3,516 had one of the two cancers. Most of the studies evaluated the intake of soy or soy components from foods such as legumes, soy curd, or soy protein.
Still, Myung said confirmation of the findings would require "a higher level of evidence," and scientists have yet to determine the optimal amount of soy-based foods.SOURCE: BJOG, An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, December 2009

Drug company contributes $9 million to B.C.'s fight against cancer

2009-12-04T09:52:00.001-08:00

VANCOUVER — Pfizer Canada is giving $9 million dollars to B.C. health organizations for research into new treatments for breast, ovarian and prostate cancer, the pharmaceutical company announced today.

In a press conference at the B.C. Cancer Agency Research Centre, health minister Kevin Falcon said Pfizer will collaborate with the B.C. Cancer Agency and the Vancouver Prostate Centre at Vancouver General Hospital to identify new biomarkers for cancer detection and new treatment targets.

The “investment” by Pfizer is said to be the largest it’s made in the public research sector in B.C., Falcon said.

“While British Columbia has some of the best cancer survival outcomes and lowest incidence rates in Canada, we are committed to building on our successes through investments and innovations in prevention, treatment and research,” he said.

Paul Levesque, president of Pfizer Canada, said in a news release: “This investment is a major step in the fight to control cancer in tumour areas that kill thousands of British Columbians and Canadians every year.

Pfizer is excited about the opportunity to collaborate with The B.C. Cancer Agency and the Vancouver Prostate Centre, as they are outstanding translational research centres with international reputations.

Overall, British Columbia’s research climate, capacity and expertise are why Pfizer has brought close to $25 million of additional investment to the province since 2007.”

In breast cancer research, Dr. Samuel Aparicio is using genetic sequencing.

The cancer agency’s tumour bank with 4,000 frozen specimens plays a critical part in such research.

Aparicio said in an email that the money will be used to pursue “projects of mutual scientific interest” and that “furthers our research in the genomic causes of breast and ovarian cancer, including the next generation sequencing of cancers and searching for new therapeutic targets and biomarkers.

“All of the results from our work will be published and the data put into the public domain once published,” he said.

In prostate cancer, Dr. Martin Gleave and his co-researchers have developed an early drug discovery platform to evaluate new drugs. The research will be conducted through the Translational Research Initiative for Accelerated Discovery and Development (PC-TRIADD), directed by Gleave.

“This partnership with one of the world’s major pharmaceutical companies supports and accelerates one of our key areas of focus, which is to identify why prostate cancer becomes hormone-resistant and to use this information to develop new treatments that improve the quality and longevity of life for patients,” said Gleave.

Research in ovarian cancer will focus on identifying new biomarkers for diagnostic purposes as well as therapeutic targets for more personalized approaches in treatment. Dr. David Huntsman, director of ovarian cancer research at BCCA and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, said: “Research collaborations with experienced industry partners are vital to translating our discoveries into effective medicines for patients.”

Ovarian Cancer Treatment

2009-12-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

Like all cancers, there is no permanent and full cure for cancer. After entering the period of remission, there are always risks of going into relapse and battling the few cells that were not affected by therapy. No one method works fully on ovarian cancer and so it requires a combination of varied ways to achieve a successful ovarian cancer treatment. These methods are of three kinds, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Along with medicines, these three can be used during different stages of cancer to produce results.

Close to every patient that suffers from ovarian cancer will undergo surgery during the process of treatment. Depending on which stage the cancer stands, surgery can be either limited to removing as many cells as possible to complete removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. This is known as a hysterectomy and gives a full chance of recovery with very little risk of relapse due to guaranteed removal of all tumorous tissue in the body. However, if the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries and uterus, then more invasive surgery would be required with a heavy dosage of drugs to ensure that no cells remain in the body. The removal of the womb and the lymph nodes of the body which have been affected by cancer is known as an oophorectomy. It is undertaken when trying to remove as much cancerous tissue from the body as possible. This form of ovarian cancer treatment works best with younger women and middle aged ones since their bodies can take heavy surgery without much trauma.

The next form of ovarian cancer treatment is using chemotherapy. This uses heavy dosage of medicines to shrink the amount of cancerous cells present in the body. After which, surgery can be used to remove the remaining parts of the cancer. However, chemotherapy is known to fully cure the germ cell kind of ovarian cancer, which is quite rare. It affects only 5-10% of the women and is easier to cure. Chemotherapy is an effective form of treatment for the patients with stage II and III cancer. It must be noted that it has many side effects, the more noticeable of which are hair loss, nausea and a constant feeling of fatigue coupled with vomiting. This is a very common treatment for all kind of cancers and is suggested to those who can withstand the treatment as well as cope with the after effects of the dosage. Chemotherapy is taken up as a last resort when a patient enters into relapse with worse symptoms than the previous time.

The next kind of treatment that is used only in the very advanced stages is known as radiation therapy. As an ovarian cancer treatment procedure, it has till not received much popularity or widespread use. Only stage IV patients have radiation therapy, that too in small dosages so as not to cause functioning problems in the body. This literally burns out the cancerous tissue from the body but can be harmful to other kinds of body tissue as well. Thus it is used in moderation and is combined with surgery and a milder chemotherapy routine.

Shop Bed-Stuy with the Women's Cancer Alliance

2009-12-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

Hispanic Women and Breast Cancer

2009-12-03T11:57:00.001-08:00

Specific Causes of Ovarian Cancer Still Remain a Mystery

2009-12-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

Ovarian cancer is one of the many cancers that affect women and it is just as deadly as other forms of cancer. The name itself tells you that the ovaries are involved in the cancer and is often where it starts.

The ovaries are responsible for producing the egg cells released in the female body at least once a month. If the egg isn’t fertilized by a sperm cell then it will be flushed from the body during the menstruation period. However, many question why cancer can occur in the ovaries and what causes it to happen.

The specific cause of this cancer isn’t yet known, but there are some factors to consider that can determine a woman’s risk for it’s development. For example, a woman who had an early menstruation and menopause is at greater risk of having this problem.

Those who are also taking hormonal replacement therapy to maintain the aspects of youth and be active are also at greater risk. Often people believe hormone replacement therapy can slow down the effects of aging in women, but it can also increase the risk of developing problematic ovaries.

However, there are some factors that affect your chance of getting ovarian cancer that you can control by simply leading a healthy life. The most important part of being healthy is to quit smoking because it is one of the leading causes. Often women today lead a busy life and are under a lot of stress and pressure.

This is why it is hard for many women to quit smoking since it is good at removing stress. However, there are complications that come from smoking and one of them is cancer of ovaries. On the other hand, women who have had their menopause stage and are obese can also increase their risk. Overweight is an unhealthy issue to begin with and it is easy to see why the effects of being overweight can lead to a woman developing health issues.

In some cases, women are likely to avoid ovarian cancer by taking birth control pills and those who have many children at an early age. Women who have undergone a hysterectomy can also avoid this type of cancer. You may have noticed that most of the processes associated with preventing ovarian cancer have to do with giving birth and becoming a mother. This makes many women consider getting married and having kids in order to avoid the risk of ovarian cancer. However, should you do this? Many women choose to remain single and don’t choose to listen to this information.

The causes of ovarian cancer are varied and there is no proven exact cause for this. Therefore, women should be careful and aware of the possibilities. It is often recommended that women become more aware of what they can do to lead a healthy life through exercise and avoiding as much weight gain as possible.

Gaining weight is the worst thing you can do because it can lead to a number of other health problems in addition to ovarian cancer such as diabetes and hypertension. It is best that women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer as early as possible. Diagnosis of ovarian cancer is often done through a blood test that will look for the presence of CA 125 a protein marker that is high in those with ovarian cancer.

Thinking of causes of ovarian cancer can be difficult but you have to know that Knife Is Not Your Only Option, Chemo Is Not The Best Treatment. Your mindset plays a huge role in behavior of your body. To find out more please follow this link: Ovarian.CancerMindset.com to Recommended Reading section.

South Bend doctor excited about test for ovarian cancer risk

2009-12-03T10:22:00.001-08:00

SOUTH BEND — A local physician believes a recent breakthrough in ovarian cancer research could help predict which women are at a greater risk.

Michael Method, M.D., of Michiana Hematology Oncology, said the OVA1 test is the first blood test that can help physicians forecast such a risk, thus helping the patient avoid unnecessary surgery and sending them straight to a gynecology oncologist, such as Method, instead.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved OVA1 in September, and Method expects the test to be available to the public soon.

Method calls the discovery the most significant advance in more than 20 years when it comes to the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. The disease is the second most common form of cancer found in women, behind breast cancer, and is difficult to detect.

"Ovarian cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer because the symptoms can be so vague that women don't always recognize or report them during the early stages of disease development when treatment is so effective," said Method, who co-founded the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition in 1995 and serves as its medical adviser.

In some cases, Method said, women can have a pelvic mass go undetected for six to nine months.

Typically, a family physician or gynecologist treating a patient with an ovarian cyst, mass or undiagnosed internal problems will refer that patient to a surgeon, who will perform surgery, Method said.

Although surgery performed by a general surgeon can reveal many things, the patient is often referred for a second opinion to a gynecological oncologist, Method said.

"The test is a way of telling them they need to go to a specialist," he said.

The test — developed by Vermillion Inc., of Fremont, Calif. — measures the levels of five proteins in blood samples from women with a known ovarian mass.

"This is a big breakthrough," said Method, who runs his practice with Dr. Michael Rodriguez. "It is a really big deal."

The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance said it welcomes any test that helps women get diagnosed sooner and referred to a specialist, but it added in a statement that there is not a definite test for ovarian cancer, including OVA1. The alliance believes the new test should be combined with other tools to determine the likelihood that a pelvic mass is malignant.

"This is basically a triage test; it's not an early-detection test. It tells you the likelihood," said Karen Tenenbaum, vice president of policy and political affairs at the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

About 20 percent of ovarian cancers are diagnosed early, as compared to breast cancer, which is diagnosed at a localized rate of more than 60 percent of the time, Method said.

Method said the location of ovarian cancer deep within the abdomen makes it hard for women to find it during a self-examination.

Method said of the 22,000 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, 15,000 will die

Researchers make breakthrough in cancer battle

2009-12-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

A discovery by researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is convincing cancer cells to “commit suicide” while leaving healthy cells alone.

The breakthrough is the latest step toward treating cancer patients without toxic side effects and, eventually, creating a cancer preventative.Dr. Doris Mangiaracina Benbrook at OUHSC said the compound – which has its roots in vitamin A – has already shown its effectiveness against cancer in animals; next summer, the clinical trials with humans will begin.

“Our cells have a program in them that is a natural way the body uses to kill cells,” Benbrook said. “We’re targeting that natural program to cause a cell to commit suicide. It’s a genetic program in the cell.”
Benbrook compared the process to the way newly born babies get rid of the natural webbing on their fingers and toes – the genetic program causes the webbing to be lost.

“It’s a program in all of our cells that, at any time, can be activated,” she said. “The cell has a whole set of suicide factors, and it also has a whole set of survival factors. So it’s the balance that keeps the cell alive. What our drug does is turn down the survival factors so it allows the cell suicide to occur.”
Benbrook’s discovery means that people who have cancer may receive more effective treatment. Many cancers are resistant to the latest chemotherapy drugs. With Benbrook’s compound, that resistance can be reversed so the cancerous cells can be killed. Her compound has shown no side effects in animal studies, and it can be taken orally. Studies began on ovarian cancer, but the compound has since had success against many other types of cancer, she said.

Benbrook developed and patented the synthetic vitamin A-like compound, called SHetA2, in conjunction with Darrell Berlin, a chemist at Oklahoma State University. They went through several generations of the drug until it no longer resembled vitamin A nor had many of the toxicities associated with the vitamin.

But demonstrating efficacy in animals is far different than proving a drug’s prowess in humans, Benbrook said. She has been planning for the unforeseen, however.
“It’s very easy to cure cancer in animals,” Benbrook said. “It’s not until you get into clinical trials that you come across stumbling blocks. That’s why we’ve been working on second-generation compounds so that if we find unacceptable toxicity or an issue with the way it’s metabolized, it can work in a similar way but avoid potential problems.”

The National Cancer Institute has demonstrated its belief in Benbrook’s compound by investing millions of dollars toward clinical trials. Those trials will focus on people with cancer and those who are at high risk for developing it.

That may lead to the next step of using the compound to prevent cancer. Because of cost and time, it will be more feasible to treat cancer first, Benbrook said. But her long-term goal is to create a pill to be taken like a multivitamin to prevent cancer.

“I’d rather prevent cancer in the first place, but to come up with a way to treat cancer, particularly without all the toxic side effects, is the ideal that will be wonderful to achieve,” she said.

That’s good news to Donna Bacon of Oklahoma City, who is one of the rare few who have beaten ovarian cancer after being diagnosed at age 64. But she wonders about her daughter and what family genes may yet be unknown, as well as the ongoing rampage of cancer in Oklahoma.

“I’ve watched so many women with stage 3 or 4 ovarian cancer who are no longer with us,” Bacon said. “It really is heartbreaking to see this happening.”

Blood screening for ovarian cancer could be harmful

2009-12-02T10:07:00.000-08:00

Every year, more than 20,000 women find out they have ovarian cancer. For almost two-thirds of them, it's a deadly diagnosis.

But unlike other cancers, some doctors say a blood screening for ovarian cancer may do more harm than good.

Amy Brannock's a musician, an artist and a two-time ovarian cancer survivor.

“I actually went to the emergency room thinking I had appendicitis, and that was when they did a scan and found a tumor,” says Amy.

She had a hysterectomy and chemo.

Finally, the standard blood test for ovarian cancer – CA-125 - determined she beat it.

“So I thought, 'ok, we've got it treated. I'm good to go,'” she says.

For three years, Amy went on with her life thinking she was cancer-free, but all along, the test was lying.

“Amy's CA-125 has been normal just like any normal person,” says Dr. Daniel Clarke-Pearson, gynecologic oncologist at UNC Health Care in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

It wasn't until she felt a lump in her neck that her doctors realized the cancer was back with a vengeance.

Typically, doctors preach about yearly cancer screening, but according to his study in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Clarke-Pearson says the average woman should not be tested for ovarian cancer.

“I say don't get tested because it leads to a lot of unnecessary surgery, and on one hand, the testing could lead to a false sense of security,” he says.

The standard blood test misses up to 50% of early ovarian cancers.

Abnormal ultrasound readings are also incorrect up to 90% of the time.

“That's what's so insidious about this particular cancer. It's so sneaky,” says Amy.

Amy's cancer is incurable, but with regular treatment, she's striving for many more years of music and memories.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer are often hard to spot, but they include pelvic or stomach pain, bloating, feeling full soon after eating and the urgent need to go to the bathroom.

RESEARCH SUMMARY
OVARIAN CANCER: NO GOOD TEST?

BACKGROUND: According to the American Cancer Society, about 21,550 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed each year. More than 14,000 women die from the cancer each year. Ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cancer in women (not counting skin cancer). It ranks as the fifth cause of cancer death in women. A woman's risk of getting invasive ovarian cancer in her lifetime is about 1 in 71.

SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of ovarian cancer may be vague and may mimic those of other conditions. For instance, many cases of ovarian cancer are mistaken for digestive or bladder disorders. Experts say the key is to notice persistent or worsening signs and symptoms. With digestive disorders, symptoms tend to come and go. With ovarian cancer, symptoms are typically constant and gradually worsen. Recent research suggests a woman with ovarian cancer is more likely to experience symptoms such as:
• Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating
• Pelvic discomfort or pain
• Urinary urgency

SCREENING: NO GOOD OPTIONS? Doctors typically do not recommend screening for ovarian cancer for most healthy women. Several screening tests are commercially available, but according to the Mayo Clinic and leading experts, none has been proven to lead to an early diagnosis that improves outcome. These tests may also lead to false-positives, which may subject women to unnecessary procedures. Some common tests include:
• Pelvic Exam: A doctor will examine the patient's vagina, uterus, rectum and pelvis, including the ovaries, for masses or growths.
• Ultrasound: This method uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. However, if a mass is found, ultrasound can't reliably distinguish a cancerous growth from a non-cancerous growth.
• CA 125: This is a protein that your body makes in response to many different conditions. Many women with ovarian cancer have high levels of CA 125 in their blood. However, other conditions may cause elevated levels. Many women with early-stage ovarian cancer may have normal CA 125 levels. Because of this, the CA 125 test isn't used for routine screening in women who are not at high risk for ovarian cancer.

HRT Drugs Promote Ovarian Cancer

2009-11-30T08:43:00.000-08:00

Women who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may increase not just their risk of breast cancer but also of ovarian cancer, even when they remain on the drugs fewer than four years, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

In 2002, the landmark Women's Health Initiative study was prematurely halted when researchers discovered that HRT drastically increased patients' risk of breast cancer, to an extent that continuing the experiment was no longer ethical. Since then, HRT has fallen out of favor as a way to avoid the symptoms of menopause, and breast cancer rates have dropped correspondingly.

Prior research also showed that long-term use of HRT might increase a woman's risk of ovarian cancer, but suggested that the risk only developed after long-term use. In the current study, researchers examined the medical records of nearly all Danish women between the ages of 50 and 79, or 909,946, between the years of 1995 and 2005. They found that current users of HRT had a 38 percent higher risk of developing ovarian cancer than women who had never used HRT, and a 44 percent higher risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer, the most common form of the disease. This would translate into one extra case of ovarian cancer for every 8,300 women taking HRT.

HRT was responsible for one in 20 ovarian cancer cases in Denmark during the study period, the researchers said.

The new study does not change the recommendations for HRT, the researchers noted.

"The bottom line is, we're already telling women, 'Don't use it,' " said Debbie Saslow of the American Cancer Society, who was not involved in the study. "If you need to use it, use it for the lowest dose and the shortest amount of time, but try not to use it."

Many women seeking to avoid the symptoms of menopause but frightened of HRT are now turning to products marketed as "bio-identical hormones," derived from plant ingredients instead of from animal hormones. Saslow warned that there is no evidence that these therapies are any safer than conventional HRT, however.

New federal law will prohibit discrimination in hiring and health insurance based on genetics and family history

2009-11-27T07:40:00.000-08:00

Janet Cunningham has a strong family history of ovarian and breast cancer, and her sister has already tested positive for the genetic marker that puts her at heightened risk for the disease.

Now Cunningham wants to know whether she, too, has the marker. But if she tests positive, does that mean she and her three daughters could not get health insurance?

Not anymore.

A federal law, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, or GINA, goes into effect Dec. 7, prohibiting insurance companies from using family medical histories or genetic testing to deny medical insurance or set rates.

The federal law will expand on a Texas law that prohibits use of genetic test results in determining large group medical insurance coverage and in hiring. The federal law further prohibits the use of family medical histories and expands protection to those who have individual insurance and smaller group plans.

For Cunningham, 48, of Fort Worth, that means her mother’s death from ovarian cancer and her sister’s fight with ovarian, breast and now uterine cancer cannot be used against her or her children.

"I want to know now — I’ve got three girls," Cunningham said recently, as she had blood drawn at the JPS Health Center for Women in Fort Worth. JPS provides the testing with support from the Susan B. Komen for the Cure Foundation, Moncrief Cancer Resources and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

"I knew right away I would do it."

Another provision in the federal law, which prohibits employers from using genetic information or family medical history in hiring, went into effect Saturday. The new law does not apply to life, disability or long-term care insurance plans.

Consumer benefits

Cunningham is being tested for the BRCA1 gene, a marker that would put her at risk for ovarian, breast and some other cancers. Her blood samples were collected at JPS and then sent to Utah, to the only company in the country that performs the genetic test.

If she is positive, then her three daughters will also be tested. If she is negative, they, too, will be negative.

Linda Robinson, a genetic counselor supervisor with UT Southwestern Medical Center, said the new law could encourage people to be tested for known markers that put them at increased risk for certain cancers. Although there have been no documented cases where insurance has been denied because of a genetic test, many people are worried that the information will be used against them, she said.

"We’re not seeing patients denied because they’ve had a genetic test," Robinson said. "It’s definitely been a concern, though, over the last nine to10 years."

The hiring provisions are also important for those with a family history of disease, she said.

"We don’t want somebody to say, 'Oh, you can’t have a job because you might get sick in 20 years,’ " Robinson said.

The test generally costs about $3,000, and about $500 for subsequent tests of family members, Robinson said. JPS offers the tests for those at risk who are enrolled in its health plan, and private insurance may also cover the cost.

Robinson believes that the new law will grow in importance as genetic testing advances.

"This is a very forward-thinking law," she said. "Everybody is at risk to some disease based on your genes, and as the technology is moving forward, it’s not just a predisposition to cancer anymore. It’s a predisposition to diabetes, heart disease.

"I think this law will really ease concerns about discrimination that is keeping people from getting these genetic tests."

Business impact

For some local businesses, the new provision for health insurance will mean a shift in how they set up their group medical plans.

Some North Texas companies now use health risk assessment forms, including family histories, in determining whether employees are eligible for group insurance, particularly top-tier plans. Those companies are now working to revise their programs to exclude that information, said Dallas attorney Robert Gully, who works with employers and group health plans.

That doesn’t mean someone who already has the illness won’t face problems — the law does not prohibit use of the individual’s own medical history. But it does mean that a grandfather’s heart disease or aunt’s cancer will not be used against a person in obtaining insurance or in hiring.

"If someone has a disease or disorder, they can take that into account," Gully said. "For individuals that may have hereditary issues, this will make it easier for them to get health insurance."

Some companies are now rewriting their health assessments to remove questions about family history; others are simply notifying workers that the responses are voluntary.

"It would be best if the assessment didn’t have anything to do with family," Gully said.

Ovarian Cancer Research

2009-11-26T15:50:00.000-08:00

Ovarian cancer is a wordless torpedo and is a single of a deadliest threats to womens health. The American Cancer Society says which about 20,180 American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year alone. Every lady faces a risk of 1:57 risk of removing ovarian cancer in her lifetime.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer have been not obvious until a cancer becomes drawn out and critical, which explains because thousands of women die of this dreaded mildew each year. Although ovarian cancer is treatable, in most instances, it is rescued late causing complications and genocide to ovarian cancer patients.

Since to date there is no certain and in effect approach to diagnose or acknowledge ovarian cancer in a early stage, specialists, investigate groups and cancer advocacy groups and a supervision organizations have been you do each ovarian cancer investigate work they can to eventually strew light in to a gray areas of this lethal disease. Some organizations yield grants for those peaceful and meddlesome to control an ovarian cancer research.

Among a most distinguished organizations which foster recognition on ovarian cancer is a Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. It was shaped in 1997 by 7 ovarian cancer advocacy groups who assimilated forces to make firm efforts to foster ovarian cancer education.

Ovarian cancer investigate teams examine in to multiform areas of ovarian cancer together with a symptoms (both in a early and a latter stage), stages, risk factors, prevention, risk reduction, and treatment, with a target of augmenting recognition on this cancer. Knowledge on a pronounced areas can be a womans biggest insurance opposite this cancer.

However detached from a actuality which there have been most report gaps which still need to be filled, ovarian cancer researches have been conducted in reply to this cancers tall mankind rate. In a United States, ovarian cancer is a fifth between a gynecologic cancers which place women during a margin of death. Over 50% of all women diagnosed with a mildew have been about to die inside of a duration of 5 years, researches show. It is with this actuality which ovarian cancer investigate groups have been exerting their most appropriate bid to expose dark truths about ovarian cancer.

Most ovarian cancer researches exhibit which women with ovarian cancer expose a following symptoms: determined and baffling gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, digestive disturbances, bloating or flourishing of a abdomen, suffering in a intestinal and pelvic area, fatigue, visit urinating, and aberrant draining during a postmenopausal stage.

A recent ovarian cancer investigate conducted by University of California shows which more than one-third of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have shown a symptoms during slightest 4 months prior to they have been diagnosed with a cancer; hence, theres a great possibility which ovarian cancer can be diagnosed earlier.

Researchers explained which a reason because a cancer is rescued customarily when a already in a modernized state is which doctors do not perform tests which could presumably diagnose a cancer immediately. Doctors would customarily have a patients bear intestinal imaging and a little gastrointestinal procedures, which they contend re not which in effect in diagnosing this disease.

Other ovarian cancer investigate functions have been endangered about mending diagnosis of ovarian cancer and preventing this disease. Many clinical studies have been conducted to delicately investigate a drug intensity in preventing high-risk women from building ovarian cancer and in treating those in a early and latter stages of a cancer.

Watching Out for Ovarian Cancer

2009-11-26T15:43:00.000-08:00

Ovarian Cancer
One of the cancers that are among the deadliest is ovarian cancer. It is rare, but it is among the most deadly, with a low survival rate in the final two stages. This is because it is a relatively silent killer that often progresses beyond any hope of healing before it is discovered. New tests are allowing doctors to catch this disease earlier, improving chances of survival, but it is still a little-known menace that affects women.

Ovarian cancer initially attacks the ovaries. As with most cancers, the exact cause of the cancer is not completely known. However, it does start in the ovaries. If caught soon enough, the ovaries can usually be removed, with a very god chance of success.

The Four Stages of Ovarian Cancer
The key, however, is catching the cancer early. It needs to be caught in its first or second stage for the best chance of survival. And therein lies the problem. Most of the time, the cancer is not found until it is in the third or fourth stage. These stages are pretty much too late for most people. The fourth stage especially, as by this time the cancer has probably spread throughout the body. This cancer cannot be detected by a pap smear. Therefore, it is important that you inform your doctor of a family history of ovarian cancer (genetics is the main indicator and cause) and any other irregularities. Even though improved tests can help detect the cancer earlier than before, it is important that your physician be on the look out for indicators.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer include irregular menstrual cycles (although many women have these anyway, but someone prone to cancer will find that birth control does not properly regulate it), frequent nausea and fever, and vaginal bleeding. A frequent need to use the bathroom is another indication of the possibility of ovarian cancer. All of these things need to be discussed with your doctor so that she or he knows what the possibilities might be.

Reducing the Risk of ovarian Cancer
Behaviors that are thought to reduce the risk (although nothing can completely eradicate the risk of ovarian cancer) include healthy diet and exercise, oral contraceptives, breastfeeding, and having at least one full-term pregnancy. Of course, none of these behaviors are complete protection against any illness, including cancer, but it can help you reduce your chance of developing it. Surgical procedures are also thought to help. Things like having your tubes “tied” and also the removal of the ovaries can reduce your risk as well. Although, interestingly enough, even removing your ovaries does not completely eliminate your chances of developing ovarian cancer (even though it helps significantly).

By understanding your family history and taking care to live a healthy lifestyle, you can probably avoid ovarian cancer. It is a rare cancer, but more deadly perhaps because of that rarity. Most women are not likely to get it, but it is a good idea to be on your guard, especially if there is a history of ovarian cancer in your family.

Media conservatives fearmonger that nonbinding health guidelines foreshadow government rationing

2009-11-19T07:30:00.000-08:00

Media conservatives fearmonger that nonbinding health guidelines foreshadow government rationing
November 18, 2009 3:31 pm ET — 5 Comments
Responding to a task force recommending that fewer women younger than 50 receive regular mammograms, media conservatives have relentlessly fearmongered that the recommendations represent a precursor to government rationing under health care reform, with Rush Limbaugh claiming, "You might even say that we've got death panels going on here." But their fearmongering is undermined by the fact that the recommendations are not legally binding on health care providers or insurers; moreover, the fact that the task force has previously issued recommendations against certain preventive screenings during the Bush administration belies the claim that this is in any way related to health care reform.

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Media conservatives fearmonger: Task force recommendations are part of government rationing under health care reform
On Beck, Fox's Ablow claims, "You think ... this health care plan isn't gonna start monkeying around with what kind of preventive care is necessary to save some money? Of course they are." Discussing the task force findings on Glenn Beck's radio show, Fox News contributor Keith Ablow stated, "You think that socialized medicine, that this health care plan isn't gonna start monkeying around with what kind of preventive care is necessary to save some money? Of course they are." Beck then declared it "[b]ullcrap" that this was not rationing.

From the November 17 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Glenn Beck Program:

ABLOW: Then, look, here's another example. You know, they now raised the breast cancer age where you're supposed to get mammograms -- you think this is disconnected -- to 50. Don't do it at 40, do it at 50. You think that socialized medicine, that this health care plan isn't gonna start monkeying around with what kind of preventive care is necessary to save some money? Of course they are.

BECK: They're denying now that this is -- has anything to do with rationing. Bullcrap.

ABLOW: Baloney. Of course it does. Listen, ask -- I talked to three doctors today, "Hey, just out of curiosity, guys, are your wives gonna start going in, still, even though they're 42, 44, and 46?" "Oh, yeah, they are. Yeah. Even if we heave to pay for it," they say.

BECK: And you will.

Limbaugh: "Hello, Obamacare! Here you have a government panel upping the age of mammograms to 50. This is the beginning of rationed care." Discussing the task force's decision on his November 17 radio program, Rush Limbaugh stated, "Hello, Obamacare! Here you have a government panel upping the age of mammograms to 50. This is the beginning of rationed care. Obamacare. And he's out there, ladies and gentlemen, talking about the poor discrimination that women face, brutes of men they have to deal with in the United States."

Limbaugh: "You might even say that we've got death panels going on here." During the November 18 edition of his radio show, Limbaugh again discussed the recommendations and stated, "You might even say that we've got death panels going on here."

Hannity: "[T]his is where the greatest danger lies with government health care." Responding to a caller to his November 17 radio show who discussed reports of the task force's recommendations, Sean Hannity stated, "I've said many, many times on this program that, you know -- look at what the government rationing body in Great Britain did for women with advanced breast cancer. They were denied the drugs that could possibly save their lives. Because, why? The government couldn't afford it. And this is the real -- this is where the greatest danger lies with government health care."

Fox's Siegel: Task force recommendations "absolutely" about health care reform. During the November 17 edition of Fox News' The Live Desk, co-host Martha MacCallum asked Fox News contributor Dr. Marc Siegel, "You hinted at something that I want to just close with here. Are you suggesting that there's a link between health care reform and the battle to bring down costs overall and the decision to tell women not to get mammograms?" Siegel responded, "Well, absolutely," and, "[T]his kind of health reform is not what we need. We have the technology and quality of care in the United States. We don't need to see it sacrificed."

Rationing claim undermined: Task force recommendations not legally binding
Task force did not recommend blanket ban on mammograms for women under 50. The task force issued a grade C recommendation "against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years" and stated that "[t]he decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take into account patient context, including the patient's values regarding specific benefits and harms." As a grade C recommendation, clinicians are counseled to "[o]ffer or provide this service only if other considerations support the offering or providing the service in an individual patient."

Task force encouraged policymakers to include additional considerations and "individualize decision making to the specific patient or situation." In publishing its updated recommendations in The Annals of Internal Medicine, the task force acknowledged that other considerations should be included in determining what preventive treatment to provide, stating, "The USPSTF recognizes that clinical or policy decisions involve more considerations than this body of evidence alone. Clinicians and policymakers should understand the evidence but individualize decision making to the specific patient or situation."

NBC's Snyderman: "It's important to remember that these new recommendations from this independent task force are just that -- they're recommendations." In a Nightly News report on the task force recommendations, NBC chief medical correspondent Dr. Nancy Snyderman stated, "It's important to remember that these new recommendations from this independent task force are just that -- they're recommendations. They don't mandate any changes in who should get mammograms and when." [NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams, 11/17/09]

Task force previously recommended against certain preventive cancer screenings under Bush, undermining efforts to connect guidelines to Obama
Task force previously recommended against screening for ovarian cancer. In 2004, the task force recommended against routine screening for ovarian cancer.

Task force previously recommended against screening for testicular cancer. In 2004, the task force recommended against routine screening for testicular cancer in "asymptomatic adolescent and adult males."

Task force previously recommended against screening for bladder cancer. In 2004, the task force issued recommendations against bladder cancer screening for adults.

Task force previously recommended against screening for carotid artery stenosis. In 2007, the task force recommended against screening the general adult population for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.

Task force previously recommended against screening for hemochromatosis. In 2006, the task force recommended against screening the asymptomatic general population for hereditary hemochromatosis.

Task force previously recommended against screening for peripheral arterial disease. In 2005, the task force recommended against routine screening of peripheral arterial disease

Advocate for Early Mammograms

2009-11-17T08:21:00.000-08:00

Great Updates!

2009-11-16T06:10:00.001-08:00

Good Morning Community - I am so excited about the week ahead of me. I am working with the Foundation Center in NYC on an amazing program for our organization and I am also taking the first steps to produce the first ever women's cancer summit in NYC!!

It is my prayer that this can be replicated in cities across the country...for for now, we're starting in New York.

Please stay connected with us and share any information or resources you have with other community members - this is an open community and not the Saideh show :)

Have a great week!

Mom's Lemonade Fund launched to battle ovarian cancer

2009-11-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

The Hogan and Mahfet families along with many friends, business leaders and extended family came together Oct. 22 at the Hoskins Center at Memorial Health to officially kick off Mom's Lemonade Fund.

The fund was established in August by the families of Ellen Hogan and Mary Anne Mahfet to honor them and women like them struggling with ovarian cancer. This cancer has unfortunately been a part of the Hogan and Mahfet families for too many years.

"My mother-in-law, Ellen Hogan battled it for four years and died in 1993," said Maryanne Mahfet Hogan. "Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but see her everyday in the beautiful faces of her grandchildren."

Seven years later in 2000, Maryanne and Danny Mahfet's mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and battled it for five years before she passed away.

"My mother's greatest joy in her last year was being at the hospital the day our first child was born," recalled Danny Mahfet.

Although these two remarkable women never met, they were kindred spirits - they were mothers, wives, grandmothers and friends who were always positive, smiling, and helping others. Even in the face of adversity, they were two women who took the lemons that life gave them, and made lemonade.

"Our mothers' strength has led us to creating Mom's Lemonade Fund to help women and their families battling Ovarian Cancer. Just as they were there for friends and family in their time of need, we want to continue that legacy," said Mary Kathryn Moss.

The mission of Mom's Lemonade Fund is to raise awareness of ovarian cancer, assist with frontline emotional and medical needs and to provide comfort care items for patients, their family members and caregivers battling the disease. As the fund grows, donations may be used on a greater level to support a broad range of needs including equipment, research, and educational programming.

Australian scientists plan to regrow breasts after cancer

2009-11-12T07:54:00.000-08:00

SYDNEY, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Australian scientists have developed a surgical technique that may allow cancer-suffering women to regrow their breasts after having a mastectomy, with human trials planned to start within three to six months.

The procedure involves inserting a breast-shaped chamber, containing a sample of the woman's fat tissue, under the chest skin. A blood vessel is then connected to the fat tissue allowing it to grow to fill the chamber within six to eight months.

The Melbourne-based Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery, which pioneered the procedure, said on Thursday that it hopes to develop a biodegradable chamber within 24 months, which would mean the chamber would dissolve once filled.

"We have tested it in several animal models so we have done enough testing preclinical to be confident now to take the step with human trials," said Dr Phillip Marzella, the institute's chief operating officer.

"We are starting what is called a prototype trial in the next three to six months -- a proof of principle trial with about five to six women just to demonstrate that the body can regrow its own fat supply in the breast," Marzella told local radio.

Marzella said the procedure relies on the body's own behaviour of filling internal voids, but a gel-like substance can also be injected to stimulate fat growth.

"Nature abhors a vacuum, so the chamber itself, because it is empty, it tends to be filled in by the body," he said.

The women in the trial have had a mastectomy or partial mastectomy, but there remains a defect or asymmetry issue with their breasts. The trial will not seek to grow a whole breast, but grow fat in the defected area to prove the procedure is viable, said an Institute report on the procedure.

The regenerative procedure could offer women an alternative to traditional breast reconstruction and implants following a mastectomy, Marzella said, adding the procedure could also be used to help restore other damaged body parts.

"We are hoping to move on to other organs using the same principle -- a chamber that protects and contains cells as they grow and as they restore their normal function," he said.

Australia's National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre said the new procedure, if successful, would be in an important step forward in dealing with breast cancer.

"It is a real exciting concept in terms of tissue engineering for women who have had a mastectomy," said Dr Helen Zorbas from the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre. (Reporting by Michael Perry; Editing by Sugita Katyal)

Danvers cancer survivor overcomes challenges again

2009-11-06T08:17:00.000-08:00

Neither rain nor ankle-deep water was tough enough to stop Dorothy Dolan from completing a half-mile marathon for Ovarian Cancer.

Dolan is a survivor, a 10-year-surviver of ovarian cancer and colon cancer.

“October was my 10th anniversary in remission,” said Dolan, director of advancement operations at St. John’s Prep, who had challenged herself to complete the race held in Newport Oct. 18. She thought she was prepared for almost everything, but she hadn’t anticipated the Nor’easter that made the walk particularly challenging.

“The water was coming up over our ankles,” said Dolan, who walked with her children, Amy and Andrew LeBlanc, and her siblings and other family — 10 in all. “The wind was blowing us backwards. Ten years ago, under similar rough conditions, with my children and family supporting me, I survived two primary cancers along with the treatments that go with it.”

Dolan, a Danvers native, had moved to Schaumberg, Ill., in the 1980s to pursue an incredible business opportunity. She ran the U.S. branch of a very large corporation that manufactured and assembled video monitors for computers, she revealed in a story in the Danvers Herald in 2000. When the European company went bankrupt, Dolan bought the U.S. branch and continued to run it. She also chaired a $3 million campaign for her parish.

She was doing well until she was suddenly diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the kind of cancer that ended her mother’s life. Dolan was hit with a double whammy, however; she was also diagnosed with colon cancer. Then a single mom, with young children, fighting the disease would have almost been impossible without the support of her family back East. For the six months of chemotherapy, family members flew to Schaumberg to be with her.

Dolan was determined to fight, not only for herself but also for her young children.

“I wanted to show my kids this is what cancer is,” said Dolan in the original story. “We said it aloud. I didn’t want to wear a wig, just a hat. This was cancer but this was still mom. My responsibility (before) was to protect them. After I got sick, it was to prepare them.”

It was also a time for reflection, Dolan had said. Often she thought of something she had read at her mom’s funeral that helped her make her next decision: “Hope is hearing the music of the future and faith is dancing to it today.”

Dolan left her successful business and came home, home to her family and her roots. A year after returning, she became the first development person at St. Mary’s School. She later went to work at the Prep.

“My kids and I have grown from this experience, and we all realized that once we made it through these tough times, there is nothing we can’t achieve together,” said Dolan after the completion of the half-marathon. “I’ve had 10 extra years of being with them — graduations, proms, award ceremonies, holidays, vacations and many other special times. Life is good.”

So Dolan decided the 10th anniversary had to be special, something that would recall a difficult time in her life but one that ended on a positive note. After training for 12 weeks for the half-marathon, and with family support, Dorothy Dolan went the distance, overcoming challenging obstacles once again.

“My father, Jack Dolan of Danvers, and my aunt, Nancy Dolan, were at the finish line,” Dolan said, thinking back on the horrendous day. “My father wasn’t sure whether we were all crazy to be doing this or to be proud of us.

“For my next anniversary, I’m going to a spa.”

Benefit for Newmarket cancer victim aims to raise awareness

2009-11-06T07:42:00.000-08:00

NEWMARKET — Diagnosed in May of 2005 with ovarian cancer, Leigh Moulton has undergone surgeries, medical trials and chemotherapy to eradicate the disease from her body. However the cancer recently made its third recurrence and she required another surgical procedure during the month of October to remove tumors.

In addition to undergoing each of the procedures, the Barrington resident has to deal with travelling to Boston to receive treatments at least once or twice a week in a car with over 200,000 miles on it.

Love for Leigh
What: Friends for Leigh Cancer Benefit

Where: Newmarket American Legion, 151 Main St.

When: Saturday, Nov. 7 from 6 p.m. to 12

Cost: $15 per person or $25 per couple

Info: friendsforleigh@gmail.com
The accumulated strain of medical bills, medication costs, gas, tolls and the price of parking has begun to have an effect on Moulton, who has been out of work since September of last year.

In an effort to provide some stability and ease her financial burden, a group of close knit friends have come together to organize the Friends for Leigh Cancer Benefit being held at the Newmarket American Legion on Nov. 7. There will be a DJ, dancing, karaoke, raffles, food, beverages and games.

In order to spread the word to as many people as possible, organizers Casey Todd of Barrington, and Sam Newton of Epping, created a Facebook page for the event that was met with an overwhelming response.

"We've received checks from people who don't even know Leigh, and we're getting responses from people she went to high school with and hasn't seen in years," said Todd.

A former service worker who spent nine years helping developmentally challenged adults and currently spends 10 hours a week as a case manager for children with mental health deficiencies, Moulton had to come to terms with receiving the kind of support and care she is used to doling out.

"Leigh is someone who is always on the other side, helping everyone and everything out," said Newton. "This is our chance to do for her what she would do for anyone."

"I can't begin to comprehend the amount of people, and the kindness and generosity they're showing me," said Moulton.

The constant cycle of surgeries, treatments and hospital visits have only served to make Moulton into a more determined person who is looking to live each day to the fullest.

"This cancer has changed me in a way that I am going to live each day and try every new thing I can possibly imagine," she said. "I've decided to wake up each morning that I feel well and say to myself, 'You're healthy today so get out and live.'"

Moulton has also found comfort, solace and even inspiration from a very special friend named Zoey.

Given only three months to live after being diagnosed with cancer 2½ years ago, the 11-year old golden retriever has become a genuine partner in the daily struggle each of them faces.

"Even though I know she's just a dog, she's been another inspiration to keep me going," said Moulton. "It kind of makes you proud to go for walks with her, and know that you both have cancer and you both just keep on walking and keep on going."

Aside from the money raised at the event, Moulton hopes to heighten the awareness for ovarian cancer.

"You don't see a lot of information out there about ovarian cancer, and by the time people are diagnosed they're usually at a stage that's too late," she said.

Moulton stressed the importance of self-advocating and pushing for tests.

"For anyone who's had a history of it in their families, it's even more crucial to get tested," she said.

"Putting all of the monetary donations aside, I think one of the best benefits for Leigh is that she's going to see all of the support that is out there for her," said Newton.

"Knowing there's that many people behind you," said Moulton, "you really don't just want to turn it in and quit. You want to be able to fight and be an example for someone who's going through this and may be struggling to find that motivation to keep fighting with everything they've got."

The event will also serve as a bone-marrow drive to benefit http://helpgiovanniguglielmo.org.

Donations for Locks of Love will also be collected.

MabCure Inc. (OTCBB: MBCI) Unknown Enterprise Revolutionizing the Attack on Cancer

2009-11-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

“This tiny company has developed a new way to spot cancer cells so far in advance, the cure rate may be as high as 90 to 95%”

New York, NY - MabCure did a pilot study looking at 13 patients with ovarian cancer—half of which went through chemotherapy. They examined the blood of these patients with the antibodies they discovered. The objective was to see if their antibodies could successfully find and “mark” any remaining cancer cells in the blood. However, according to the standard existing detection methods, these patients were in remission since they found no cancer cells left in their systems. The result stunned even skeptics. MabCure’s antibody detected cancer cells remaining in the blood of all 13 patients. Every other test had missed them. This proves that their antibody was highly sensitive, extremely specific and accurate.

Another Study Confirmed Their Theory - 100% Accurate

MabCure then tested 30 patients with melanoma. One of their antibodies, designed specifically to find these particular cells, did so in 30 out of 30 patients. It correctly identified 100% of the different melanoma cells. They did what no other medical technology in the world could do.

Doctors are helpless when it comes to the very early detection of cancer. Using current methods, by the time they recognize the presence of cancer, depending on the kind it is, it is often too late. But when detected early, the survival rate skyrockets. This illness is only destructive if it progresses. The National Cancer Institute says, “Unfortunately, many cancers have no symptoms at early stages and are not detected until it is too late.”

MabCure is delivering on this need. The technology MabCure developed spots these problems earlier than an technology doctors have at their disposal today. Consider…

• The New England Journal of Medicine says early detection is the key. “Patients whose cancers are detected in an early, localized stage have a 90% chance of surviving…”

• The Family Doctor Organization reveals that curing it can be easy. “If the tumor is found when it is still very small, curing the illness can be easy…”

• The University of Texas Anderson Cancer Center says you live a lot longer: “Early detection of cancer can greatly increase survival rates because it identifies cancer when it’s most treatable.”

• The World Health Organization (WHO) says your odds dramatically go up: “Finding cancer early greatly increases the chances for successful treatment…”

• Focus On Healthy Aging reports great news: “…raise your chances of a cure with early detection…”

• The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center says it can save your life: “Early detection of cancer saves lives…”

Becoming a Major Player in a Multi-Billion Dollar Market

MabCure Can Become a Major Player In a Market That’s Estimated to Hit $22 Billion in Sales by 2010.

Just two years ago, the therapeutic antibodies market enjoyed industry-wide sales of $7.3 billion. This market is expected to grow by 30% annually and reach $22 billion by 2010. Cancer dominates this market because the rewards of success dwarf most other ventures on the planet. Chemistry World magazine correctly says, “Cancer is a huge market.” It is an unfortunate fact, but a fact nonetheless.

Disclosure: All material herein was prepared by Keros Capital Inc. (Keros) based upon information believed to be reliable. The information contained herein is not guaranteed by Keros to be accurate, and should not be considered to be all-inclusive. The companies that are discussed in this opinion have not approved the statements made in this opinion. This opinion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. Keros is not a licensed broker, broker dealer, market maker, investment banker, investment advisor, analyst or underwriter. Please consult a broker before purchasing or selling any securities viewed on http://www.keroscapital.com or mentioned herein. Keros has been compensated seven thousand five hundred dollars for this advertising effort. Keros may receive additional compensation for future advertisements. Keros affiliates, officers, directors and employees may own shares and may buy and sell additional shares of the company mentioned herein and may profit in the event those shares rise in value. Keros will not advise as to when it decides to sell and does not and will not offer any opinion as to when others should sell; each investor must make that decision based on his or her judgment of the market. Copyright 2007 by Keros Capital. All rights reserved. This publication or part thereof may not be duplicated or reprinted without the written permission of the Publisher. Facsimile including photocopy(s) is strictly forbidden, except for facsimile correspondence between Keros Capital. If this publication contravenes any securities laws and/or regulations, the securities regulations of the country will prevail. In this event, this publication must be discarded immediately. Anyone not wishing to receive future Keros Capital Investor Reports should email us at opt-out@keroscapital.com

Contact Information:
MabCure Inc.
Jim Mav
Tel: 908-464-1747

Beyond Breast Cancer

2009-11-04T08:33:00.000-08:00

All October long, I saw pink ribbons and merchandise touting breast cancer awareness everywhere I went. On bags of pink M&Ms in the grocery store; on lapels; on the Google home page every time I opened my Internet browser. By now, is there any American who's NOT aware of the disease and the stated importance of early detection?

During this same period, I've been dealing with my mother's stage 3-C ovarian cancer. Dubbed "the silent killer" because it often goes unnoticed until it has progressed, ovarian cancer will touch one in 71 women in her lifetime. (The risk of breast cancer is 1 in 8.) Unlike breast cancer, is difficult to detect early, when it is most treatable. Even at later stages, it is very treatable, though almost always fatal in time.

My mother turned 90 on October 31, five days after her total hysterectomy and tumor "debulking" surgery-a goal she was determined to reach when diagnosed last spring. It chilled me to realize she'd probably had the disease for some time. I later learned that though she had had regular medical checkups, her physician hadn't offered her an internal exam in more than 20 years. And so many of her symptoms could so easily be attributed to something else - upset stomach and heartburn to indigestion, shooting pain near her buttocks to a pinched spinal nerve, bloated ankles to water retention from other medications she was taking-that it is perhaps no wonder she waited until she was disabled by pain, fatigue, and bloating to go to the emergency room.

The good news is that the chemotherapy drugs used to treat ovarian cancer are some of the more easily tolerated, especially with today's anti-nausea medications. It wasn't easy to watch my mother lose her full head of silver hair, but it was very heartening to see her rally a few days after each round, enjoying her Netflix, cooking (and eating) dinner, and arguing as usual with my father.

Ovarian Cancer: The Basics

At 89, my mom was older than the median diagnosis, 63. Ovarian cancer is usually a disease of middle to old age (80 percent of those diagnosed with it are between 45 and 84). Some 62 percent of cases are diagnosed after the cancer has already metastasized; at that stage the relative five-year survival rate is a meager 28 percent (the 15 percent of patients whose cancer is caught before it's spread have an impressive 94 percent five-year survival rate). It strikes White and Black women the most, although the five-year relative survival rates by race are about 46 percent for White women and only about 37 percent for Black women. There were some 14,600 deaths due to ovarian cancer in 2009 (compared with 40,000 for breast cancer and 4,000 for cervical cancer).

All of these facts are easily accessible on the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) website (http://www.cancer.gov) and elsewhere, but because it's not the media darling breast cancer is, you have to seek this information out.

Cervical cancer, which affects "only" one in 145 women, has a much higher profile because methods of early detection (the annual Pap smear) have been developed and implemented into standard reproductive health care. Moreover, there's now a preventative vaccine that, while still controversial, can be given to girls and young women to prevent infection with the most common virus that causes cervical cancer.

Psychological Impacts

Besides being potentially fatal, later-stage ovarian cancer is particularly devastating because its treatment typically involves not only chemotherapy but the removal of ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus, uniquely female organs that are part of our gender identity. Removal of the reproductive organs all causes hormonal changes, bringing on instant menopause with all its unpleasant symptoms in younger women with the disease. Major abdominal surgery takes several months to fully heal and, as one hysterectomy patient told me, "you don't feel up to par for about a year."

For those who have not had but wanted children (or more children), the loss of these reproductive organs is especially heartbreaking. (Fortunately, if the disease is caught earlier, fertility can often be preserved.)

It may sound a little cheesy, but knowing my mother's womb - which she no longer "needed," but which was my first home before I could remember - would no longer be part of her greatly saddened me. And I'm not even the patient.

Ribbon Needed

I don't know what color ribbon ovarian cancer awareness should adopt, but I do know it needs to be better promoted.

Few reliable methods of early detection, much less prevention, yet exist for ovarian cancer. So women need to know about symptoms that can be signs of the disease (I'm quoting the NIC here):

Pressure or pain in the abdomen, pelvis, back, or legs
A swollen or bloated abdomen
Nausea, indigestion, gas, constipation, or diarrhea
Feeling very tired all the time]
More research on identifying ovarian cancer early is needed, as are more effective, less invasive treatments.

Now that I have a relative with ovarian cancer, I realize that means I'm at greater than average risk for the disease. I want some way to protect myself and pre-empt an untimely death. The breast cancer cause is a very urgent one, but let's not let it crowd out other women's health problems that also require our attention.

Lawsuit against gene patents can proceed: judge

2009-11-03T12:33:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A lawsuit challenging patents on two human genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer can move forward, a U.S. federal judge ruled on Monday.

A lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union challenged patents held by Myriad Genetics and the University of Utah Research Foundation on grounds that genes are "products of nature" and cannot be patented.

U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet declined to dismiss the case, ruling its outcome could have implications for "the health of millions of women facing the specter of breast cancer" as well as the "future course of biomedical research."

A spokeswoman at the U.S. Attorney's office in New York, which represents the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and a lawyer for Myriad Genetics had no immediate comment.

The University of Utah Research Foundation also had no immediate comment.

The lawsuit was brought in Manhattan federal court in May on behalf of women's health groups, geneticists and scientific associations representing approximately 150,000 researchers, pathologists and laboratory professionals, the ACLU said.

AEterna Zentaris Announces Positive Preliminary Results for Phase 2 Study with LHRH-Receptor Targeted Cytotoxic Conjugate AEZS-108 in Ovarian Cancer

2009-11-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

AEterna Zentaris Announces Positive Preliminary Results for Phase 2 Study with
LHRH-Receptor Targeted Cytotoxic Conjugate AEZS-108 in Ovarian Cancer

Preliminary evaluation after completion of treatment phase shows that
primary efficacy endpoint has been met for patients with advanced-stage
platinum-resistant, taxane-pretreated ovarian cancer.

QUEBEC CITY, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - AEterna Zentaris Inc. (TSX: AEZ;
Nasdaq: AEZS) (the "Company"), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on
endocrine therapy and oncology, today announced positive efficacy data from a
Phase 2 study with its targeted cytotoxic peptide conjugate, AEZS-108
(formerly AN-152), in patients with platinum-resistant and taxane-pretreated
ovarian cancer. In a personalized healthcare approach, the study selected
patients with tumors expressing LHRH receptors, the key element in the
targeting mechanism of AEZS-108. Under coordination by Prof. Gunter Emons, MD,
Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the University of
Gottingen, Germany, this open-label, multi-center and multi-national Phase 2
study 'AGO-GYN-5' is being conducted by the German AGO Study Group
(Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynakologische Onkologie / Gynaecological Oncology
Working Group; www.ago-ovar.de), in cooperation with clinical sites in Europe.

Preliminary Results

All 43 patients with LHRH-receptor positive ovarian cancer who entered study
AGO-GYN-5 have completed their study treatment. A preliminary evaluation shows
that the study met its primary efficacy endpoint of 5 or more responders in 41
evaluable patients.
Responders, as well as patients with stable disease after completion of
treatment with AEZS-108, will now be followed to assess the duration of
progression-free survival and, ultimately, overall survival. More detailed
analyses, which will also include efficacy data from post-treatment follow-up
of the ovarian cancer patients, are currently in preparation and will be
presented at forthcoming scientific conferences.
Juergen Engel, Ph.D., AEterna Zentaris President and Chief Executive Officer
stated, "We are pleased with the progress of this project. The successful
completion of the recruitment and treatment phase and the apparent activity in
this difficult group of cancer patients is encouraging. This is the basis we
were looking for, in order to take the next steps in the further development
of AEZS-108 in gynaecological cancers and possibly also in prostate cancer."

About the AEZS-108 Phase 2 Program

AEZS-108 represents a new targeting concept in oncology using a cytotoxic
peptide conjugate which is a hybrid molecule composed of a synthetic peptide
carrier and a well-known cytotoxic agent, doxorubicin. The design of this
product allows for the specific binding and selective uptake of the cytotoxic
conjugate by LHRH-receptor-positive tumors. The binding of AEZS-108 to
cancerous cells that express these receptors results in its accumulation and
preferential uptake in the malignant tissue.
In a Phase 2 study program entitled, "The antitumoral activity and safety of
AEZS-108 (AN-152), a LHRH agonist linked doxorubicin in women with
LHRH-receptor positive gynaecological tumors", patients with tumors expressing
LHRH receptors are administered an intravenous infusion of 267 mg/m2 of
AEZS-108 over a period of 2 hours, every Day 1 of a 21-day (3-week) cycle. The
proposed duration of the study treatment is 6, 3-week cycles. Study AGO-GYN-5
is performed with 14 centers of the German Gynaecological Oncology Working
Group (AGO; www.ago-ovar.de), in cooperation with 3 clinical sites in Europe.
The program was planned to include up to 82 patients, up to 41 with a
diagnosis of platinum-resistant and taxane-pretreated ovarian cancer, and up
to 41 with disseminated endometrial cancer. For both indications, patient
recruitment was planned in 2 stages with 21 and 20 patients, respectively, and
the primary efficacy endpoint at the end of stage 2 was defined as 5 or more
patients with partial or complete tumor responses according to Response
Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) and/or Gynaecologic Cancer
Intergroup (GCIG) guidelines. Secondary endpoints include time to progression,
survival, toxicity, as well as adverse effects.

About Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynaecologic malignancies and the
fifth most frequent cause of cancer death in women, with most of the cases
occurring in women between 50 and 75 years of age. Overall, ovarian cancer
accounts for 4% of all cancer diagnoses in women and 5% of all cancer deaths.
Approximately 26,000 new cases and 17,000 deaths from this disease are
estimated in the European community every year (Source: Gynaecologic Oncology,
Volume 92, Issue 3, March 2004, Pages 819-826).
Cancer of the endometrium is the most common gynaecologic malignancy and
accounts for 6% of all cancers in women. The majority of the cases occur in
postmenopausal women, with the largest number of women developing their
cancers during their sixth decade. Approximately 38,000 new cases and 9,000
deaths from this disease are estimated annually in Europe (Source: Annals of
Oncology 15:1149-1150, 2004).

About AEterna Zentaris Inc.

AEterna Zentaris Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on
endocrine therapy and oncology, with proven expertise in drug discovery,
development and commercialization. News releases and additional information
are available at www.aezsinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties,
which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those
in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among
others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the
successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of the
Company to take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical
industry, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes
in economic conditions. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and
annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for
additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the
forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these
forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update these
forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to update any such
factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events
or developments except if we are required by a governmental authority or
applicable law.
SOURCE AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.

Unusual Metals May Forge New Ovarian & Colon Cancer Drugs

2009-11-02T09:59:00.000-08:00

Drugs made using unusual metals could form an effective treatment against colon and ovarian cancer, including cancerous cells that have developed immunity to other drugs, according to research at the University of Warwick and the University of Leeds.

Drugs made using unusual metals could form an effective treatment against colon and ovarian cancer, including cancerous cells that have developed immunity to other drugs, according to research at the University of Warwick and the University of Leeds.

Professor Peter Sadler of the University of Warwick. (Photo: University of Warwick)
The study, published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, showed that a range of compounds containing the two transition metals Ruthenium and Osmium, which are found in the same part of the periodic table as precious metals like platinum and gold, cause significant cell death in ovarian and colon cancer cells.

The compounds were also effective against ovarian cancer cells which are resistant to the drug Cisplatin, the most successful transition metal drug, which contains the metal platinum.

Dr Patrick McGowan, one of the lead authors of the research from the School of Chemistry at the University of Leeds, explains: “Ruthenium and Osmium compounds are showing very high levels of activity against ovarian cancer, which is a significant step forward in the field of medicinal chemistry.

Sabine H. van Rijt, lead researcher in the laboratory of Professor Peter Sadler in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick, said: “Most interestingly, cancerous cells that have shown resistance to the most successful transition metal drug, Cisplatin, show a high death rate with these new compounds.”

Professor Sadler, at the University of Warwick, commented that he is “excited by the novel design features in these compounds which might enable activity to be switched on and off”.

Cisplatin was discovered in the 1970s and is one of the most effective cancer drugs on the market, with a 95% cure rate against testicular cancer. Since the success of Cisplatin, chemists all over the world have been trying to discover whether other transition metal compounds can be used to treat cancer.

In this type of anti-cancer drug transition metal atoms bind to DNA molecules which trigger apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in the cancerous cells.

The study is a collaboration between the universities of Warwick and Leeds and was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Sources:

Unusual metals could forge new cancer drugs, Press Release, University of Warwick, Coventry, U.K., October 19, 2009.

Likely Suspects in Cancer Growth

2009-11-02T09:41:00.000-08:00

Stem Cells Seem to Play Key Role

Recently, a link was discovered between two widely-studied medical areas: cancer and stem cells. Cancer stem cells, as their name implies, are stem cells that have been found within cancerous tumors.

When you understand stem cells, it quickly becomes apparent why they might be in tumors. Cancer creates tumors in the body that are a mixture of many different cell types. If the tumor is originally from one cell gone bad, that single cell must be able to become different types of cells; a key defining characteristic of stem cells is that they can become multiple different cell types, a process called “differentiation.”

Another central trait of malignant tumors and stem cells is their proliferative ability: tumors can grow out of control, while stem cells, by definition, can “self-renew,” or create more stem cells.

These two shared traits make the stem cell a very likely suspect for playing a key role in cancer, and led to the theory of cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs have been broadly defined as cells within a tumor that can become other cells (creating the heterogeneity seen in tumors), and can self-renew (regenerating the CSC population).

In order to comprehend how cancer stem cells are created, it is important to understand the theories behind the creation of cancerous tumors. Cancer can occur when mutations have accumulated in certain genes. The genes usually mutated in a cancerous tumor are (1) oncogenes, which control cell growth and (2) tumor suppressor genes, which make sure the cell retains its cell type (i.e. a liver cell does not become a brain cell). These genes are often mutated in CSCs.

A mutation in a gene that normally regulates cell growth can cause that cell to quickly increase in numbers. With a large population of mutated cells, there is a greater likelihood that a second mutation can occur than within a small population of cells; when enough mutations accumulate in a cell, it can defeat the normal cell growth restrictions so thoroughly that it grows out of control, becoming cancerous.

Although the cancer stem cell theory developed in the 1970s, recently it has gained a spotlight in the scientific community. The first functional identification of CSCs was in 1997 in acute myeloid leukemia. Researchers found that although tumors are made up of many different cell populations, there was only one population capable of generating the tumor. This was determined by taking a tumor and breaking it up into its many different cell types and then injecting each separately into mice; one group of cells, the CSCs, could recreate the original tumor, including the shape and specific cell types found in the original. It has been found that CSCs account for only a small percentage of the total number of cells in the tumor, varying from as little as 0.002% to around 30%, depending on the type of tumor, but it seems to be usually less than 10%.

Cell Markers: The different cell populations within a tumor can be separated and identified by the proteins they make; cells creating the same sets of proteins can be grouped into one population. Because such proteins are commonly used to identify and categorize cells, they are called cell markers. CSCs from the same type of tumor make the same set of markers.

(The CSCs in multiple cancer types may make the same cell markers, though. For example, CSCs found in pancreatic cancer produce a cell marker called CD24. However, CD24 is not made by all CSCs; breast cancer CSCs do not produce CD24, but do produce another marker called CD44. Interestingly, CD44 is also made by CSCs in pancreatic cancer and several other cancers: ovarian cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and probably others. Another cell marker found in many different tumor types is CD133; CSCs in malignant tumors of the brain, prostate, colon, lung, and liver have it.)

However, these cell markers are not found exclusively in cancerous tumors; these markers are often in stem cells in normal, healthy tissue and do not pose any apparent malignant threat. Stem cells from the brain, intestinal lining, and other tissues, all make the marker CD133. CD44 is produced by mesenchymal stem cells (in muscle, connective tissue, fat, and fetal liver and lungs) and bone marrow stem cells. It’s becoming clearer that some CSCs have the same markers as normal stem cells in the healthy tissue of the tumor origin.

It’s unclear what the implications of this might be. However, surprisingly, sometimes CSCs produce cell markers different from the normal stem cells in the healthy tissue. These CSCs may be migrating from another tissue to the tumor site, or, alternatively, the CSCs may be mutated stem cells that resided in the original, healthy tissue. Because CSCs can become other cell types, they could change which cell markers they produce; CSCs may make a set of markers very different from the cells they were before residing in a cancerous tumor.

As more evidence is reported pointing at the key role of cancer stem cells in the creation of cancerous tumors, it becomes more crucial for researchers to have a thorough understanding of these stem cells. Although the CSC populations can be identified by different cell markers and their ability to create tumors in a mouse model, there is still much about them that is not well understood: how they are created, how their origins are related to non-cancerous stem cells, and whether they are present in all cancerous tumors. As more answers come to light, we will be able to answer the most important question: How can we use our knowledge of CSCs to most effectively combat them?

Students Receive Early Breast Cancer Education

2009-10-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Though mammograms are not recommended for women until the age of 40, and the disease is quite rare in women under that age, breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death among women of all ages.

With this is mind, students are educated about the risks of breast cancer as early as their middle-school years and taught to give self-examinations during their high school years.

There are other areas of health education that require more time and are perhaps more pressing issues for teenage students, Jamestown Public Schools health teachers report. Still, the topic is broached in schools as something students should be aware of, especially if factors convene to raise any individual's risk.

Dr. Dan Glotzer, chairman of surgery at WCA Hospital and liaison for the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, said that while all women should be aware of the risks of and detection methods for breast cancer, school-aged children likely have little to worry about for decades.

''Breast cancer is a disease that we mostly see in people in their 40s and 50s,'' he said. ''Only 4 to 5 percent of breast cancers are hereditary or genetic cancers, and that's the 4 to 5 percent that usually shows up in patients who are younger.''

By ''younger,'' Dr. Glotzer said he was primarily referring to women in their 20s and 30s, calling breast cancer in teens incredibly rare.

What young women should know, though, is how to do self-examinations - as well as understanding what they should do if they have questions, should an issue arise in the future.

''We can't call you - you have to call us,'' Dr. Glotzer said. ''We try to promote your well-being, but we can't help you unless you come.''

EDUCATING THE YOUNG

At Persell Middle School, health teacher Michelle Schnars said breast cancer comes up as part of a broader unit on disease.

Though the discussion is not usually in-depth, Ms. Schnars said it gets students thinking about the risk factors that may exist for them.

''We deal with risky behaviors that can lead to any disease - cardiovascular disease, cancer, things like that,'' she said. ''We also talk about risk factors like heredity.''

Ms. Schnars said she educates students to pay special attention if ovarian or breast cancer has occurred in their families in the past, because of the added risk it presents. Another time breast cancer is discussed is when Ms. Schnars talks with her students about resources - appropriate places to turn when issues arise.

''We talk about how if they have questions, making sure they know their resources,'' she said. ''We talk about who is the best resource - if I go to my friends because I feel like I have a lump, are they the best person to go to, or is that a bigger question to talk to my parents about?''

High school health teacher Anna Sample reports that she goes a bit deeper with students, though she also says the amount of time she spends on it isn't lengthy. She said breast cancer, along with other cancers like testicular and prostate, are covered during the sexuality unit.

Students are taught the basics of self-examinations in the high school classes, Mrs. Sample said.

''I mention that doctors will do exams and when girls begin to go to the gynecologist, they will perform the exams, teach them how to do self-exams and ask if they are doing them at home,'' she said. ''We talk about how often they should be done and that many cases of cancer are caught by people doing self-exams.''

Mammograms are also a topic of discussion in the high school classroom, Mrs. Sample said.

''I address what ages women should start having mammograms done and how sometimes that depends on a family's medical history,'' she said. ''We talk about the actual test as well as how it's done and what the mammogram looks for and tests for. We also emphasize taking care of your body, such as eating right and being active in relation to the prevention of disease.''

The teachers said, though, that medical history has shown that these discussions are more for future preparation and understanding the risks for older family members - not for themselves in their teenage years.

''Going through the hormonal change of puberty, you'd think that there would be more incidents of it,'' Ms. Schnars said of breast cancer in teens. ''But I haven't known of any.''

Mrs. Sample said the lessons often turn toward personal stories from familial experience, making the disease more tangible for students.

''It is easy for students to disregard issues like breast cancer because they know they are young,'' she said. ''When students share stories about family members and friends having cancer, or their parents talking to them about prevention, it makes it more realistic and class becomes more interesting.''

WHAT CHANGES WITH AGE

Dr. Glotzer said awareness of breast cancer is most important for women who are beyond puberty and adolescence. Self-examinations are the recommended plan of action in the 20s, along with yearly examinations by a family physician. Mammograms can be ''extremely limited'' for women younger than 40, the doctor said, because of the nature of women's reproductive anatomy.

''In a woman's early years, she is ready to breastfeed and have babies, so the breast is really dense and ready to make milk,'' Dr. Glotzer said. ''As the woman does not become pregnant and time goes by, that breast tissue atrophies and gets replaced by fat - so you have contrasts of breast tissue and fat, and that's what lets a mammogram see through.''

While heredity can play a role in the development of breast cancer in younger women, another possible factor is hormonal manipulation resulting from the use of birth control - though Dr. Glotzer said that connection has decreased somewhat in recent decades.

''It used to be more of an issue in the '60s and '70s, when the doses were really high,'' he said. ''But it still can increase the incidence of breast cancer.''

Natural hormonal factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer include having a first child after 30, not having children at all, and experiencing menopause after the age of 55 - factors which begin to apply to women as they approach middle-age and beyond.

Though her students are interested in learning about the different types of cancer and other diseases, Ms. Schnars said they often don't get very concerned about them beyond that.

''We don't get into 10 years down the road - they live in the now,'' she said.

In the now, Dr. Glotzer said, being interested and learning the facts should be enough for them.

''It's extremely unusual for a teenager to have breast cancer,'' he said. ''I'm not sure you can even count those cases.''

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Launches Social Networking Site, myKomen

2009-10-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

The community is virtual. The connections are real.TM
DALLAS--(Business Wire)--
Breast cancer activists, survivors and supporters now have their very own online
Web community to share unique experiences and insights around breast cancer.
Launching this week, the new social networking site "myKomen" centers on
individual and shared experiences with a disease that will afflict 200,000 women
and men this year alone.

"myKomen allows users to share their knowledge, their support, their victories -
even virtual hugs - 24 hours a day. It`s a visual representation of our
grassroots network," said Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of Susan G. Komen
for the Cure. "myKomen complements the award-winning redesign of komen.org,
supplementing the existing content and taking it to the next level."

New users sign up at my.komen.org to create a personalized profile where they
can share personal stories and messages. myKomen members can invite friends to
be part of their network, honor loved ones with tribute pages and build a
support system that spans the globe.

Additional online features include news feeds, a message wall, the ability to
share personal photos, videos and links to pages on komen.org, stories of
inspiration and an interactive map of events, among many others.

For additional information or to join myKomen, visit http://my.komen.org.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do
everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise
became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer
movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world`s largest grassroots network of
breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people,
ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to
events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1.5 billion to
fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to
the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan
G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or
call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

The Three Best Drinks for Cancer Prevention

2009-10-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for additional protection against cancer? Try one of these three cancer fighting drinks.

There’s growing evidence that nutrition plays a key role in health and the prevention of disease. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables and cutting back on processed foods is one way to reduce the risk of common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. A diet rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants can reduce DNA damage and inflammation – potentially decreasing the risk of cancer. Even what you drink can have an impact on your risk of getting cancer. Recent studies have shown that drinking alcohol raises the risk of breast cancer in women; and some studies suggest that the lactose found in milk may be toxic to the ovaries – possibly elevating the risk of ovarian cancer. What about beverages that lower the risk of cancer? Here are three cancer fighting drinks that may reduce the risk of malignant tumors.

Ginger Tea
Read more in Alternative
« Chi RunningCan Green Tea Help Depression in The Elderly? »Ginger tea is best known for its ability to fight nausea. It does this by blocking serotonin receptors in the intestinal tract. Ginger is also the source of a strong antioxidant called gingerol that helps to block damage to DNA, the genetic material found in cells. When DNA is protected from damage by gingerol, there’s less chance of a cancer forming. Animal studies showed that animals with malignant tumors given gingerol had a slower rate of tumor growth. Not only that, but ginger tea may help the nausea often experienced when undergoing cancer chemotherapy. To get the most benefits, make ginger tea using fresh ginger root. Pregnant women should avoid using ginger since it’s unclear whether it’s safe during pregnancy.

Brassica Tea
Most people already know that broccoli is a powerful cancer fighter; but not everyone enjoys eating this polarizing vegetable. If you’re not a broccoli fan, you can still get the benefits of broccoli by drinking brassica tea. Brassica tea is a special tea blend developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins that combines the anti-cancer phytochemical SGS with green and black tea to create a unique cancer fighting drink. This beverage can be enjoyed by almost anyone since there’s no “broccoli” taste. It can be found at brassicatea.com.

Green Tea
The polyphenols found in green tea, particularly EGCG, has been shown in animal studies and small human studies to slow down the growth rate of certain types of cancer including prostate and breast cancer. People who drink moderate to large amounts of green tea appear to enjoy some protection against these cancers. To get the anti-cancer benefits, drink three to five cups per day or take an EGCG supplement.

The Bottom Line
Replacing soft drinks with these cancer fighting drinks may offer some protection against the second most common cause of death in this country – cancer. Why not sip these drinks instead?

Why Am I Alive? A Cancer Survivor Question

2009-10-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

It’s the question I try to ask myself every day. On my rather extensive journey with cancer, I’ve met so many women who asked, “Why me?” In fact, I asked myself that same question when my ovarian cancer recurred after a long silence. Why me, I wondered, after all I had already been through. But that was the wrong question.

An old friend who was at the end of his journey with pancreatic cancer taught me the right question. Even at the end, after all the treatments had stopped, he’d get up, suit up, and go out to get things done. Why, I asked, wasn’t he taking it easy? Why spend his last days taking on more tasks? Wasn’t it finally time to listen to his favorite music, hold his favorite things, be surrounded by those he loved?

He scoffed. Then answered and his answer changed my life.

“When I was diagnosed,” he said, “I knew it was the end and I prepared to die. Then as I awoke each day, I thought it was weird that I was still alive, that I had been given another day. And, if I was not dying today, what was my purpose for being alive? I started asking myself, why am I alive today? So I get up, get dressed and go out every day because I might discover why I am alive.”

It is the question we should ask ourselves whether or not we have a disease. It is a question that unveils our purpose. A question that should frame every relationship, every action, every intention. And for those of us who have experienced cancer, a disease that brings us to the threshold of life and death, it is the wisest question of all.

So I have learned to ask the question that takes me into the place where I want to be. Asking why I have a disease is a question that has no answer. Asking when or how I will die is also irrelevant. But, by asking why I am alive today causes me to be mindful about each day. I wonder throughout the day, is this the reason I’m alive? Is this the thing I was supposed to learn? Is this the person I was supposed to meet or help or touch? Is this why . . . why I’m alive today? Why I’m alive at all?

Cancer is a terrifying disease to live with even after recovery. And the mind can be our worst adversary or our greatest ally.

Fortunately, you get to choose which it will be for you.

A painful family inheritance

2009-10-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Pitman never considered herself at risk for developing breast cancer, especially at the age of 37. The news, delivered over the phone while she frantically tried to write down every word of the diagnosis, stunned her.

At the time, during those first harrowing days in the fall of 2006, she was unaware that she carries an inherited, harmful mutation that made her about five times more likely to develop breast cancer compared to a woman in the general population.

“I’ve always been told that since it didn’t run in my family, I was told I didn’t need to worry until I turned 40,” said Pitman, who recently moved from Georgetown to Newburyport with her husband and 5-year-old daughter.

Hereditary breast cancers account for 5 to 10 percent of all cases, usually due to mutations in the so-called BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, according to the National Cancer Institute. Those same mutations also significantly increase the lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer.

BRCA-1/2 mutations are the most common in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, but genetic counselors look for other red flags, such as breast cancer before the age of 50, bilateral breast cancer, ovarian cancer at any age, a close relative who has been diagnosed with breast cancer at an early age, any relative with a history of both breast and ovarian cancer, and families with male breast cancer, said Dr. Erica Linden, clinical affiliate of Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center in Danvers and instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. The BRCA 2 mutation is also, to a lesser extent, associated with pancreatic and prostate cancers.

A family trait

Pitman went for her first chemotherapy treatment in March of 2007, the same day as her father’s funeral. Of Ashkenazi descent, he died only three days after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“In a way, I’m glad he never knew, because he would’ve been devastated knowing that he had passed on the gene to me,” Pitman said. “My mother tested negative, so we know for sure it came from my father’s side.”

Pitman’s own battle began one Saturday morning when she, for reasons she cannot explain, performed a self-exam while her husband and daughter were playing in another room. The lump, no more than half an inch, was almost under her armpit. Since the lump was mobile, local doctors initially doubted it was cancerous.

It was not until after she had surgery at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport and it was sent to pathology for testing, that she finally got the full picture: she had triple negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of the disease.

She transferred to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, where she had surgery again before starting chemotherapy and radiation at the Lahey Clinic in Peabody.

“It wasn’t until after I had finished treatment that my oncologist said I’d be a good candidate for genetic testing,” Pitman said. “In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t done it that way, because I probably would’ve opted for bilateral mastectomy instead of doing just a lumpectomy.”

A painful education

Last year, Rebecca Madore, certified genetic counselor at the Lahey Clinic, saw 851 patients. The vast majority were referred by their primary care doctors to discuss whether they should be tested for the breast cancer mutation.

Madore builds an extensive pedigree to determine which family member, if any, would be the most appropriate to test and prepares patients for the consequences of both a positive and negative result. Around 40 percent of the patients chose to get the blood test, which costs around $4,000, and usually is covered by insurance

“It’s not like getting your cholesterol checked; it’s a process, and a lot of that process is education and counseling,” Linden said. “People need to know what to expect in terms of (A) cancer risk and (B) what kind of medical/surgical follow-ups would be needed and (C) the incredible ethical and psycho-social issues that go into this.”

Dr. Stephen Karp, surgical oncologist and director of the Breast Center at Lahey Clinic, said many people tend to overestimate their risk. A grandmother who was diagnosed at age 70 does not raise an eyebrow, he said.

“One of the benefits that people may not consider is the relief of finding out that, even if the family has a problem, they don’t,” he said. “But some also find it hard to cope with, ‘why was I spared when everyone else is sick?’ We talk about that as well.”

“People also tend to neglect risk on the father’s side,” he continued. “You can inherit the gene from either the mother or the father. Men with the mutation have an increased risk of breast cancer, but only modestly so. He may be fine but can still pass it on to his daughters.”

Newburyport resident Erica Jacobsen, 40, usually believes more knowledge is better, but it stops at finding out whether she may have the inherited mutation. Her grandmother died from breast cancer, so did one of her grandmother’s sisters at age 36, and her mom has been treated twice for the disease.

“It probably sounds horrible, but I think I’m going to end up with it, I just hope my daughter doesn’t,” Jacobsen said. “My primary care said if I want to go, they’d refer me to genetic counseling, but I don’t know what I’d do with the knowledge. When you’re pregnant and have a amniocenteses, like I did with both of mine since I was over 35, my husband and I went into that test knowing what we’d do with the information. With breast cancer I don’t know what I’d do.”

On Halloween, 2007, Pitman had her ovaries removed as a precaution since women with the mutation have a 15 to 40 percent lifetime risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer compared to 2 percent for non-carriers. Although she and her husband were considering having another child, they decided decreasing the risk of another cancer battle was, in the end, more important.

“I really struggled whether to go back and have a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy,” Pitman said. “I had set up an appointment with a surgical oncologist but when push came to shove, I was too exhausted to even consider it.”

The majority of Karp’s patients who find out they have the mutation elect to have a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, a procedure that reduces the risk of breast cancer by 90 percent. Other recommendations include increased surveillance with annual mammograms and MRIs starting between the age of 25 and 35, chemotherapy prevention, transvaginal ultrasound and an annual blood test to check for ovarian cancer. Linden and others also recommend considering a prophylactic oophorectomy once the family is complete to reduce the risk of both breast and ovarian cancers.

Pitman knows it may be options her own daughter may face one day. Only 3 when Pitman was diagnosed, the toddler was terrified of going to the hairdresser after seeing her mom’s hair fall out. Memories of the treatment have faded.

“There’s no point in talking to her about it until she’s at least in her early 20s,” Pitman said. “It’ll be her choice whether she wants to get tested, but I’ll talk to her and make a strong recommendation that she does.”

Just the facts about susceptibility

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that belong to a class of genes known as tumor suppressors. In normal cells, BRCA1 and BRCA2 help ensure the stability of the cell’s genetic material and help prevent uncontrolled cell growth. Mutation of these genes has been linked to the development of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

The names BRCA1 and BRCA2 stand for “breast cancer susceptibility gene 1” and “breast cancer susceptibility gene 2.” They were discovered in the mid 1990s.

Studies are under way to determine how the combination of mutations in other genes may also increase the risk of breast cancer, but Dr. Stephen Karp, director of the Breast Center at Lahey Clinic, points out research is still five to 10 years away from looking at every single gene and adding up their effects.

About 12 percent of women in the general population will develop breast cancer some time during their lives, compared with about 60 percent of women who have inherited a harmful mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2.

Hereditary breast cancers account for 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers and 10 to 15 percent of ovarian cancers among white women in the United States. In other words, sporadic breast cancer is by far more common. Seventy percent of women who are diagnosed have no history of breast cancer in the family at all.

Source: The National Cancer Institute

How to work while healing

2009-10-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

Elisse Walter wanted to keep her new post as a Securities and Exchange Commission commissioner while also battling ovarian cancer. After some trial and error, here's how she did it:
Set priorities

She focused on what she judged most important and delayed or delegated other tasks. "She did the core parts of her job," her husband, attorney Ronald Stern, says. "The travel and the speeches and getting to meet people in the regional offices were things she postponed."

SEC CHIEF: Walter manages a high-profile job -- and her health
CORPORATE PULSE: Executive Suite front page

Knew her limits

At first, she kept CNN or CNBC on at home all the time, but she found herself agitated by the cascade of economic woes last fall. "The world looked like it was falling apart," she says. "I felt I wasn't able to do anything about it … and I was supposed to be in a position where I could help fix things."

She decided to check in on financial news through the day but set aside other time for recuperation. "I made sure I was 'on' or 'off,' " she says, not trying to do both at once.

Built on small successes

One tentative step would lead to another. "If you can do one meeting by phone," she says, "you can do three meetings by phone."

Used technology to stay engaged

Walter was in constant e-mail contact with her staff. She joined SEC meetings by phone — she decided against a videoconference setup — and added a software program to her computer at home so she could have full access to her desktop at work. Staffers scanned paper documents and sent them to her by computer.

When staffers seemed reluctant to risk disturbing her by phoning, she began to call the office periodically to check in.

Trusted her staff

Walter leaned on her office's small team — three lawyers and an executive assistant — even though they had just begun to work for her. "I intuitively understood that I could trust them," she says.

That reflected necessity, not her natural instincts. She recalls, laughing, how in her early days as a lawyer she once gave a letter to her secretary and then followed her to the mailbox to make sure it was posted.

Stayed open about her situation

She told her assistant to explain her circumstances to those who wanted to meet and to give them options: a phone call with her, an in-person meeting with the lawyers on her staff that she might join by phone, or a face-to-face meeting when she was back in the office full time.

"I had no qualms with people knowing" about her disease, she says. "To me, it was liberating to tell people" — and a better choice than simply putting them off. Still, she adds, "This is a very personal decision, and you should stay in your own comfort zone."

Prepared to shift course

Not everything she tried worked. "I was bound and determined to show my face" in the office by working half-days, she says, but the effort simply to get there proved exhausting.

Instead, she decided instead to work from home until she was stronger.

By Susan Page, USA TODAY

Detecting ovarian cancer early makes treatment much more effective

2009-10-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

Each year more than 20,000 women are afflicted with ovarian cancer, and it claims nearly 15,000 lives. Although it affects women of all ages and races, it occurs more commonly in white women over the age of 60.

Because the ovaries are located rather deep inside the pelvis, small tumors can grow undetected. By the time the cancer has grown to a detectable size, it is often late in the course of the disease, which is what makes it a "silent" killer. However, it may be that ovarian cancer is more "whispering" than "silent." Subtle symptoms may occur that tip you off to a potential problem. Since the vast majority of women found to have ovarian cancer at an early stage can be treated very effectively, learn to listen to your body. It might be whispering that there's a problem.

"Listening" for possible problems with your ovaries means learning to pay attention to some common, everyday symptoms, including:

Bloating. As fluid from an ovarian tumor starts to build, a woman might develop a sensation of abdominal bloating that she attributes to other things (what she's eaten, weight gain, etc.).

A sensation of fullness with food intake. There may be a sense of feeling full faster than usual with meals.

A sensation of urinary urgency. Some women sense that they must urinate frequently and that they can't "hold it" when the urge to urinate hits them.

Pressure or pain. A woman may feel a pressure in her pelvis or may develop discomfort in either her stomach or pelvis. This can be subtle, particularly at first.

Here's the problem -- the symptoms described above are usually due to other benign issues unrelated to a woman's ovaries. An unusual meal. A bladder infection. Pants that are too tight at the waist. These all might cause similar sensations. Nonetheless, unless a woman has previously had her ovaries removed, symptoms such as those described here should be evaluated by a doctor if they are unusual and persist for more than a few weeks. Tell your doctor about any family history of ovarian cancer or any personal history of menstrual irregularities or pelvic surgery. While routine tests such as the Pap smear do not detect ovarian cancers, your doctor can perform more specialized studies to look into the problem.

Treating Ovarian Cancer

2009-10-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

Dr. Ernst Lengyel and colleagues at The University of Chicago have discovered that vitronectin receptor (αvβ3-integrin) expression significantly improved ovarian cancer patient prognosis. They present these findings in the November 2009 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

Ovarian cancer affects 1 out of 40-60 women. Because early stages of ovarian cancer are often asymptomatic, it is frequently discovered after metastasis to other tissues. The five-year survival rate for all stages of ovarian cancer is 45.5%.

Vitronectin receptor expression plays a key role in tumor progression in breast cancer and melanoma as well as in tumor angiogenesis in endothelial cells. Kaur et al therefore examined the function of this molecule in ovarian cancer. In contrast to other tumor models, ovarian cancer cells that expressed high levels of αvβ3-integrin showed impaired signs of metastasis and proliferated at a slower rate. Conversely, inhibiting α3-integrin increased ovarian cancer cell invasion and proliferation. In addition, high α3-integrin expression significantly improved ovarian cancer patient prognosis.

Kaur et al suggest that "when expressed on tumor cells, αvβ3-integrin can be a marker for a less aggressive cancer cell population and therefore, might not be an appropriate target for inhibition."

Kaur S, Kenny HA, Jagadeeswaran S, Zillhardt MR, Montag AG, Kistner E, Yamada SD, Mitra AK, Lengyel E: α3-integrin expression on tumor cells inhibits tumor progression, reduces metastasis, and is associated with a favorable prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer. Am J Pathol 2009, 175: 2178-2190

Partnership formed to detect ovarian cancer

2009-10-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

BioProspecting NB Inc. and the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute are working together to develop an early diagnostic test for ovarian cancer.

Research and development will be carried out at the drug development company's Sackville research facility and at the institute's facility at the Dr. Georges-L. Dumont Regional Hospital in Moncton.

The unique fit between the institute's work with cancer biomarkers and BioProspecting's discoveries and development capabilities has allowed the two to move closer to an early diagnostic test for ovarian cancer. There are no approved early diagnostics for this cancer and BioProspecting believes it can fill this void.

The entry-level diagnostic is presently focused on a simple blood test to measure the amount of biomarker. Cancer tumours shed cells that circulate in the blood and since the shed cells contain abundant biomarker, it can be detected. Such an increase in the amount of biomarker in a blood test would suggest to the clinician that further testing is in order.

"The novel biomarker that we are targeting is overproduced in ovarian, breast and prostate cancers, to name a few," says BioProspecting founder Professor Jack Stewart. "By measuring the amount of the biomarker in biopsies, we are also able to obtain an indication of the severity of the cancer since the amount of biomarker increases as the cancer progresses."

While not underestimating the broader range of cancers that can be targeted, BioProspecting's initial focus is the management of patients with ovarian cancer.

According to Dr. Rodney Ouellette, CEO and co-founder of the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, "Early detection of ovarian cancer is a huge challenge given the sombre prognosis of this disease. Being able to detect an early-stage tumour-specific biomarker that is also the target for a novel treatment is a powerful combination and the epitome of personalized medicine. With these advances, we feel that there is promising potential for saving lives by finding the cancer earlier and having a more effective therapy."

Treatment at High-volume Hospitals Improves Survival in Women with Ovarian Cancer

2009-10-20T08:06:00.001-07:00

Researchers from Finland have reported that low hospital volume is associated with residual tumor in women with ovarian cancer. The details of this study appeared in the November, 2009 issue of Gynecologic Oncology.[1]

For several types of cancer, a large and growing body of evidence has demonstrated improved outcomes for patients treated by surgeons who perform a high volume of specialized surgeries and for patients who are treated in a hospital with a high volume of patients undergoing a specific procedure.

Researchers from the Netherlands have reported that overall survival of patients with ovarian cancer was better in hospitals with two or more medical oncologists and in hospitals with a high volume of patients with ovarian cancer.[2] Researchers from the Johns Hopkins University have reported that “ovarian cancer surgery performed by a high-volume surgeon is associated with a 69% reduction in the risk of in-hospital death, while high-volume hospital care is associated with increased likelihood of cytoreduction, shorter length of stay, and lower hospital-related cost of care.”[3]

The current study grew out of the observation that, in Finland, women with ovarian cancer had better surgical outcomes if treated in University hospitals compared with other hospitals. They then categorized hospitals by the number of operations performed for ovarian cancer in 1999 into three groups: <10, 10-20, or >20 operations. These data included 90% of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer in Finland in 1999. Eighty-two percent of patients in this analysis received platinum-based chemotherapy. They made the following observations:

63% of patients treated in University hospitals received platinum and taxane therapy compared with 49% of women treated in other hospitals.
For all patients the cancer-specific survival was 56% and the median disease-free survival was 33 months.
Good prognostic features for cancer-specific survival included stage, residual tumor, and primary chemotherapy.
Higher hospital volume was associated with a lower incidence of residual tumor. As the volume of patients treated per year increased, the number of patients with residual disease decreased.
These authors concluded: “FIGO stage, residual tumor, and primary chemotherapy are important prognostic factors for ovarian cancer. Hospital volume is associated with residual tumor. The results favor performance of ovarian cancer surgery in hospitals with higher operative volume.”

Comments: These data are consistent with other studies showing that complicated cancer treatment is best performed in high-volume hospitals with high-volume surgeons. This message appears to be getting across to the public. Researchers from Johns Hopkins have recently reported, “The proportions of ovarian cancer patients undergoing primary surgery at high volume centers and by high-volume surgeons increased statistically significantly from 1990-2000 to 2001-2008.” [4]

Team finds way of detecting ovarian cancer sooner

2009-10-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

BioProspecting NB Inc. and the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute will announce today that they've found a way of detecting ovarian earlier than currently possible.

"The big problem with ovarian cancer is there are no symptoms until very late stage," Jack Stewart, chief scientific officer of BioProspecting, told the Telegraph-Journal Monday.

Rodney Ouellette, chief executive of the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, said when ovarian cancer is detected in the first two of the four stages, a patient's chances of survival are usually 80 per cent or higher.

The two firms are working to develop their discovery so the cancer can be found before stages three or four, as is currently most common.

"You fall into less favorable percentages," Oullette said of the survival rate of later stage discoveries.

Stewart said his private early-stage drug development company is looking to finish the final proof of concept in the next few months.

"We could be thinking about having a prototype for FDA approval within a year," he said. "We're always looking for larger partners to do some of the heavy financial lifting."

Stewart will be looking to sit down with a large pharmaceutical company shortly afterward to discuss a licensing agreement.

The discovery came from prior work Stewart's firm was doing with the non-profit research organization.

Ovarian cancer cells usually have much more calcium in them than normal cells do, and Stewart said most other cells would kill themselves with that much calcium, but cancer cells are able to survive.

BioProspecting has developed a drug that targets the calcium pathway into the cell and blocks it, killing the cancer cell.

But with a lower dose and a fluorescent tag, the drug will make the tumours light up, making them easier to see, as the researchers proved on mice given human tumours.

"Not only that, but you can find smaller ones, that might be missed," Stewart said.

Since cancer spreads, he said the drug helps find secondary tumours as well.

But to help with even earlier stage discovery Stewart said the team of researchers are well underway to proving a way of detecting the cancer through a regular blood test, since cancer cells often flake off a tumour into the blood stream.

Although the drug can kill cancer cells, Ouellette said the identification tactic is preferable.

"If we can find cancer early enough, the old tried and true surgery is really the best cure," he said.

Stewart said the researchers are still pushing a head to learn more about the therapeutic applications of their drug, but with no proven early stage discovery method for ovarian cancer, the diagnostic angle is their priority.

Potential predictive markers of chemotherapy resistance in stage III ovarian serous carcinomas

2009-10-19T08:16:00.001-07:00

Chemotherapy resistance remains a major obstacle in the treatment of women with ovarian cancer. Establishing predictive markers of chemoresponse would help to individualize therapy and improve survival of ovarian cancer patients.

Chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer has been studied thoroughly and several non-overlapping single genes, gene profiles and copy number alterations have been suggested as potential markers. The objective of this study was to explore genetic alterations behind chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer with the ultimate aim to find potential predictive markers.

Methods: To create the best opportunities for identifying genetic alterations of importance for resistance, we selected a homogenous tumor material concerning histology, stage and chemotherapy.

Using high-resolution whole genome array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), we analyzed the tumor genomes of 40 fresh-frozen stage III ovarian serous carcinomas, all uniformly treated with combination therapy paclitaxel/carboplatin. Fisher's exact test was used to identify significant differences.

Subsequently, we examined four genes in the significant regions (EVI1, MDS1, SH3GL2, SH3KBP1) plus the ABCB1 gene with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) to evaluate the impact of DNA alterations on the transcriptional level.

Results: We identified gain in 3q26.2, and losses in 6q11.2-12, 9p22.3, 9p22.2-22.1, 9p22.1-21.3, Xp22.2-22.12, Xp22.11-11.3, and Xp11.23-11.1 to be significantly associated with chemotherapy resistance. In the gene expression analysis, EVI1 expression differed between samples with gain versus without gain, exhibiting higher expression in the gain group.

Conclusions: In conclusion, we detected specific genetic alterations associated with resistance, of which some might be potential predictive markers of chemotherapy resistance in advanced ovarian serous carcinomas.

Thus, further studies are required to validate these findings in an independent ovarian tumor series.

Author: Lovisa OsterbergKristina LevanKarolina PartheenUlla DelleBjorn OlssonKarin SundfeldtGyorgy Horvath
Credits/Source: BMC Cancer 2009, 9:368

Metals could help treat cancer

2009-10-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

A new study has revealed that drugs made from two transition metals ruthenium and osmium could offer effective treatment against colon and ovarian cancers.

Researchers from University of Warwick and the University of Leeds have shown that a range of compounds containing the two transition metals, which are found in the same part of the periodic table as precious metals like platinum and gold, causes significant cell death in ovarian and colon cancer cells.

The compounds were also effective against ovarian cancer cells, which are resistant to the drug Cisplatin, the most successful transition metal drug, which contains the metal platinum.

"Ruthenium and Osmium compounds are showing very high levels of activity against ovarian cancer, which is a significant step forward in the field of medicinal chemistry,” Dr Patrick McGowan, one of the lead authors of the research, said.

"Most interestingly, cancerous cells that have shown resistance to the most successful transition metal drug, Cisplatin, show a high death rate with these new compounds," said Sabine H. van Rijt, lead researcher in the laboratory of Professor Peter Sadler in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick.

Professor Sadler, at the University of Warwick, said he is "excited by the novel design features in these compounds which might enable activity to be switched on and off".

The findings appear in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Access Pharmaceuticals Provides Update on MuGard Commercial Launch and First European Clinicians Feedback

2009-10-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

DALLAS, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (OTC Bulletin Board: ACCP) today provided an update on its European commercial launch of MuGard, an FDA approved treatment for oral mucositis, a debilitating side effect of radiation treatment and chemotherapy. MuGard is commercially launched by Access' partner, SpePharm, in five European countries, having been granted the CE mak certification in October 2008 with the labeling "prevention and management of the lesions and symptoms of oral mucositis." SpePharm is currently gathering feedback from clinicians in the UK, Germany and Italy that are participating in a patient assessment project. SpePharm expects that out of a total of approximately 1500 to 2000 patients who will be assessed in this project, a subset of patient forms will be collected by year end, and aggregated clinician and patient feedback will continue to be available on a rolling basis during the fourth quarter 2009 and 2010. Introduction of MuGard into France, Central and Eastern Europe, the Benelux countries and the rest of Europe is anticipated over the next 12 to 18 months.

"SpePharm is very pleased with the commercial launch of MuGard thus far, and I am happy to report that initial clinician and patient feedback has been very positive," stated Jean-Francois Labbe, SpePharm's President & CEO. "Our intention is to continue to gather clinician and patient feedback, and use this information to expand our presence throughout Europe. MuGard faces limited competition in Europe as traditional palliative solutions offer limited efficacy and/or poor compliance."

"As Access prepares for the MuGard commercial launch in North America, we look forward to close cooperation with our European partner particularly with respect to planned market assessments studies here in the US," stated Jeffrey Davis, Access' President & CEO. "We hope to be able to leverage SpePharm's early experiences around its launch in Europe to jump start our efforts here throughout the remainder of the year and into 2010. Access' recently announced agreements with Accupac in manufacturing and iMedicor with e-marketing and education reflect our commitment to the MuGard launch."

MuGard is a novel, ready-to-use mucoadhesive oral wound rinse for the management of oral mucositis, a debilitating side effect of many anticancer treatments. Up to 80% of all patients receiving radiotherapy and approximately 40% of all chemotherapy patients develop oral mucositis, and almost all patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and those undergoing stem cell transplantation develop mucositis. The market for the treatment of oral mucositis, expanding to include all patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, is estimated to be in excess of $5 billion world-wide. MuGard forms a protective coating over the oral mucosa when swirled gently around the mouth. In a comparison of cancer patients receiving standard mucositis care with those patients receiving MuGard, the incidence and severity of mucositis was significantly lower in the MuGard treated group using a validated scale for the assessment of oral mucositis.

About Access:

Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes propriety products for the treatment and supportive care of cancer patients. Access' products include ProLindac(TM), currently in Phase 2 clinical testing of patients with ovarian cancer, and MuGard(TM) for the management of patients with mucositis. The company also has other advanced drug delivery technologies including Cobalamin(TM)-mediated targeted delivery and oral drug delivery, its proprietary nanopolymer delivery technology based on the natural vitamin B12 uptake mechanism; Angiolix, a humanized monoclonal antibody which acts as an anti-angiogenesis factor and is targeted to breast cancer; and Thiarabine, a new generation nucleoside analog which has demonstrated both pre-clinical and clinical activity in certain cancers. For additional information on Access Pharmaceuticals, please visit our website at www.accesspharma.com.

Clinical trial in Jupiter looks into ovarian cancer treatment

2009-10-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

JUPITER — Jupiter Medical Center is enrolling patients in a clinical trial to study an investigational treatment for women with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer that has recurred.

The trial is sponsored by Morphotek and looks at an investigational monoclonal antibody — farletuzumab — that might block the protein involved in the growth of tumor cells in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

Researchers are trying to figure out if a new drug can prolong the duration of a second remission in women who have relapsed after six months of their last treatment.

For more information, call (561) 745-5768.

Ovarian cysts and infertility

2009-10-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

Ovarian cysts are very common and are frequently found in infertile women. However, there are of many types and cause considerable confusion - for both patients and doctors !

First, you need to understand that even a normal ovary will always have cysts !
The commonest type of ovarian cyst is just a normal ovarian follicle - the little fluid filled cavity in which the eggs grow. Usually, only one follicle develops per month. This follicular growth can be monitored by vaginal ultrasound. The follicle appears as a circular fluid-filled bubble on the screen, and can be seen when it is about 7 to 8 mm in size. It grows at about 1 to 2 mm per day, and is ready for ovulation when it measures 18 to 25 millimeters in diameter. Following ovulation, the follicle usually disappears from the scan picture completely and this is the best evidence of ovulation.

When a follicle gets to be bigger than about two centimeters or so, doctors call it a cyst. Please remember that it's often just a name game - a question of semantics. Thus, this kind of cyst is just an enlarged follicle ! Since it arises during normal ovarian function, it is called a "functional cyst" ( though the term dysfunctional might be better !) and nothing needs be done other than wait it out because it will usually dissolve on its own.

If the cyst is large, many doctors will use birth control pills to cause it to regress. Because pills suppress ovulation , they will usually suppress the cysts that develop as a result of this.

Can the cyst be more sinister ? Could it be an ovarian cancer, for example ? This can be a possibility, but the good news is that the chances are very low. For most women, the vast majority of cysts are benign. However, the fear of cancer causes some gynecologists to become trigger happy and perform a laparoscopy to find out what's going on and to remove it. Unfortunately, this unnecessary surgery often reduces the patient's fertility by reducing her ovarian reserve, since normal ovarian tissue is also sacrificed during the surgery.

When should you worry about the cyst being a serious problem ? Large cysts ( more than 5 cm in size) need to be monitored more carefully; especially if the ultrasound scan shows that there is solid tissue within the cyst ( the technical word for this kind of cyst is a complex cyst). Some doctors will use blood tests called tumour markers such as CA-125, to help find out the type of the cyst. These levels are increased in patients with some kinds of ovarian cancer, but unfortunately these tests are rarely helpful, because elevated levels can be found in a wide variety of other conditions as well.

For most simple ovarian cysts, watchful waiting is the best approach.

In the next post, I'll discuss some diseases which cause cysts, such as endometriosis and PCOD.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Consults the Important Benefits in Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Presented at ACS

2009-10-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

By Jill Stein

CHICAGO -- October 14, 2009 -- Neoadjuvant upfront platinum-based chemotherapy appears to be superior to primary debulking surgery for achieving optimal cytoreduction in women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, according to a study presented here October 12 at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) 95th Annual Clinical Congress.

Sukamal Saha, MD, McLaren Regional Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, and colleagues reviewed the medical records of 86 consecutive women with stage IIIC and IV ovarian cancer.

The study aimed to compare multiple outcome measures in women undergoing neoadjuvant upfront chemotherapy and women undergoing primary debulking surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Primary debulking surgery has been used to achieve optimal cytoreduction in advanced epithelial cancer as the first line of treatment.

Of the study participants, 46 had bulkier disease and were treated with neoadjuvant upfront platinum-based chemotherapy with a median of 3 treatment cycles, followed by surgery, and then a median of 3 additional treatment cycles.

The other 40 patients underwent primary debulking surgery followed by a median of 6 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy.

The 2 treatment groups were similar with respect to histology type. Serous histology was the most common type in both groups.

CA-125 levels and the percentage of patients with stage III disease was significantly higher in the group receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, thereby indicating more aggressive disease.

Women were followed for at least 12 months.

The study found that neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with decreased length of stay (8 vs 10 days) and less intraoperative blood loss (400 vs 700 cc; P = .003).

Overall, 93% of patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy achieved optimal cytoreduction compared with 63% of patients treated with primary debulking surgery (P = .001). Optimal cytoreduction was defined as residual tumour <1 cm after surgery.

The 2 groups had similar rates of recurrent disease (63% and 62%; P = 1.0).

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy produced higher disease-free survival rates than primary debulking surgery in stage IIIC and stage IV patients.

Dr. Saha said that further prospective randomised, controlled trials are needed to confirm the results.

[Presentation title: The Role of Neoadjuvant (Upfront) Chemotherapy in Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer as Compared to Primary Debulking Surgery. Abstract SE153-M]

Jack LaLanne Celebrated as Fitness Icon and Educator at Star-Studded Birthday Bash

2009-10-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

LaLanne's 95th Birthday Party Supports Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- At a Los Angeles gala, family and friends joined celebrities and dignitaries, including California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, in paying tribute to women's health advocate and fitness pioneer Jack LaLanne. The party was held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel where friends toasted LaLanne for being an icon who has inspired countless people to get in shape and lead healthier lifestyles.

During the festivities, LaLanne and business partner Keith Mirchandani, CEO of Tristar Products, Inc., announced a partnership with the nonprofit organization Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA). The new Jack LaLanne Power Juicer Express(TM) Colors Line, manufactured and sold by Tristar, now includes a teal and white Ovarian Cancer model designed to help raise funds for ovarian cancer research and education. According to Mirchandani, "We want to do more than just write a check. We are going to leverage our resources as a television production company to help educate people about this terrible disease and the need for research and a reliable early detection test." Since March of 2009, Tristar has helped raise more than $250,000 for the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

"I have focused on women's health and fitness education for more than 50 years and am committed to elevating awareness of ovarian cancer through the sale of our Power Juicer," says Jack LaLanne.

Tristar Products, Inc., the manufacturer and marketer of the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer Express(TM), is headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey. With a presence in over 100 countries, Tristar has a well-earned reputation for integrity and product quality. Products range from home appliances, fitness equipment and sporting gear -- to health and beauty programs endorsed by such celebrities as Jack LaLanne, Montel Williams, Carol Alt, Denise Austin, Gilad Janklowicz, Brenda DyGraff, Tiki and Ronde Barber, and Bruce and Chris Jenner.

Medical Breakthrough with New Ovarian Cancer Drug

2009-10-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

Researchers at the National Research Council’s head office in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, have made a medical breakthrough in decreasing the rate at which ovarian cancer grows. Not only that, but new clinical trials conducted by both PharmaGap through the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the United States National Cancer Institute show that this treatment also works on many other types of cancer as well.

Researchers discovered a way of blocking the growth and spread of cancer cells. In all but one of their 14 strains of cancer on record and many of the 60 on which the U.S. NCI is now testing the drug, this new medication has been proven to decrease the rate of growth of the cancer.

The drug has entered the clinical trial stage of testing and will be fully tested there before moving on to human clinical trials. Toxicology tests will also be done to measure any side effects that may be harmful to humans.

From the test tube to actual human clinical trials can take up to five years because there are so many avenues researchers have to look at before getting FDA approval for the drug and finally getting the drug ready for use.

Dallas artist presents oil painting to Oprah

2009-10-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

DALLAS - A Dallas artist's two-year dream has been partially fulfilled after she presented her oil painting of Oprah Winfrey holding a child to the talk show host.

Shannon Kincaid got a surprise meeting with Winfrey Monday at the State Fair of Texas after the TV talk show host finished taping a show.

Winfrey praised the painting, which had materials about ovarian cancer enclosed, saying it was "very well done."

Kincaid's goal was to raise awareness for ovarian cancer.

Her quest was aided by Jerry Joyner, with Healthcare Art Consulting, and Dallas philanthropist Annette Simmons, who is friends with Winfrey.

Winfrey said that if her show features ovarian cancer in the future, she would let Kincaid know.

The Big Squeeze Fundraiser is only 12-days away!

2009-10-10T04:38:00.001-07:00

You are Cordially Invited to “The Big Squeeze”
A fundraiser to support the National Women’s Cancer Alliance

Join us as we pay tribute to those who have experienced breast cancer,
share information and learn how to properly “squeeze” during a self exam
while enjoying pink-themed food and fun.

For Tickets
Call / 917-675-5050

Date
Thursday, October 22, 2009

Time
7pm-9pm

Guest Speaker:
Life Coach Dee Marshall from TVOne's Makeover Manor

Location
16 West 23rd Street, 4th floor
(between 5th and 6th Aves. closer to 5th)
New York City, NY 10010

Donation
$25.00

Menu
Red and White Wine
Flat and Sparkling Water
Assorted Hor d’ouevres
Lobster Bisque
Assorted "Pink" Desserts

An A to Z glossary of breast cancer terms

2009-10-10T04:23:00.001-07:00

A diagnosis of breast cancer is a shocking, bewildering experience marked simultaneously by numerous emotions -- fear, uncertainty, despair, depression, anxiety and anger. From the time of diagnosis, patients and their families receive a flood of mystifying information. Many patients may want to take an active role in treatment but since decisions have to be made quickly regarding surgery and other treatment options, a basic comprehension of often-used terminology is helpful. The glossary below is intended as a rudimentary starting point for understanding breast cancer and communicating with care providers.

ALCOHOL - Studies have shown that breast cancer risk increases with the amount of alcohol a woman drinks. Alcohol can limit your liver's ability to control blood levels of the hormone estrogen, which can increase risk.

ADJUVANT THERAPY - Additional treatment (radiation, chemotherapy, hormone treatment) after the initial surgery to capture and kill remaining microscopic cells.

AROMATASE INHIBITORS - Hormone treatment for estrogen sensitive tumours which work by blocking estrogen production in the body. Taken only by postmenopausal women. Femara, Arimidex and Aromasin are names of such drugs.

BOOKS to READ - All patients diagnosed with breast cancer receive this acclaimed book initiated by B.C. doctors (and in the latest edition) with Ontario clinicians as well: The Intelligent Patient Guide to Breast Cancer. B.C. authors are Drs. Ivo Olivotto, Karen Gelmon and Urve Kuusk. It can also be borrowed from the Vancouver Public Library and the library at the B.C. Cancer Research Centre.

BREASTS - Are made up of fat, milk producing glands and ducts that carry the milk to the nipple. Most lumps found in the breast are benign (non-cancerous).

BREAST CANCER - Is the most common cancer among women and the most common cause of death in women aged 20 to 59. Breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells which may double every 100 days. About one billion cells make up a tumour just one cm in size. Breast cancer may take many years to develop.

CORE BIOPSY - A procedure in which a long needle is inserted into the side of a suspicious lump, and tissue removed, often with ultrasound guidance. Removed material is then examined by a pathologist for diagnosis. A fine needle aspiration biopsy is done when lumps are suspected of being cysts filled with harmless fluid.

COSTS OF BATTLING CANCER - A Canadian study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that women with breast cancer take an average 32 weeks off work for treatment and recovery. Their pre-tax salary plummets an average 27 per cent, even with help from private and public (unemployment insurance) schemes.

DEATH RATES - Deaths due to breast cancer have fallen 25 per cent in the last 20 years, largely because of mammography, improved treatments and curtailed use of hormones. Number who died in B.C. last year: 640.

DIET- Is a suspected risk factor but studies have yet to specify what foods increase risk. Experts recommend restricting red meat and other animal fats (including dairy fat in cheese, milk and ice cream) since they may contain hormones, other growth factors, antibiotics and pesticides. A low-fat diet plentiful in fibre, fruits and vegetables is generally advised.

DRAGON BOAT RACING - Began in 1996 as a result of research by Dr. Don McKenzie, a sports medicine professor at the University of B.C. The study showed improvement in breast cancer patients' physical and mental health. Now there are dragon boat activities around the world.

EDEMA - Swelling of tissue.

ESTROGEN EXPOSURE - The female hormone estrogen stimulates breast cell growth, so exposure to estrogen over long periods of time can increase the risk of breast cancer, in particular through hormone replacement therapy. Use of birth control pills appears to slightly increase -- temporarily -- a woman's risk for breast cancer. The risk vanishes a decade after oral contraceptive use stops. The age of menstruation onset (before age 12), menopause (after 55), environmental estrogens (hormones in meat, pesticides such as DDT which produce estrogen-like substances when broken down by the body) are all factors that may raise risk.

FERTILITY PRESERVATION - Breast cancer treatment with hormonal or chemo agents can affect fertility. If you are pre-menopausal when diagnosed, talk to doctors about how to preserve your childbearing opportunities.

GENES - About seven to 10 per cent of all breast cancers are associated with an inherited genetic abnormality, which can come from either your mother or father. The most common mutation is in a gene called BRCA which may also be associated with ovarian cancer. A BRCA mutation means the risk of getting breast cancer over a lifetime increases between 40 and 85 per cent. Other genes associated with breast cancer are HER2 and p53; they aren't inherited.

HAIR LOSS - On all parts of the body occurs because chemotherapy slows down the cell division in the roots of the hair. Loss begins soon after the first chemo dose, so experts advise buying a wig before it happens, along with hats and scarves. Hair grows back when treatment ends.

HER2-POSITIVE CANCERS - About 15 to 20 per cent of breast cancer patients are HER2-positive, which means they have too much of that cancer gene in cells. HER2 cancers are more aggressive.

HERCEPTIN - A drug otherwise known as trastuzumab targets the HER2 gene. Tykerb (lapatnib) is another licensed anti-HER2 drug.

INCIDENCE - The number of new cases diagnosed each year. In B.C., about 2,700 women and a few dozen men were diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER - A less common but particularly aggressive cancer arising in the milk ducts. Causes the breasts to become swollen, tender, red and warm as if an infection is present. By the time of diagnosis, it has usually spread to lymph nodes.

JUDY CALDWELL - The Vancouver breast cancer survivor who in 1992 founded the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, B.C./Yukon region. Last year, the foundation raised $8.1 million, 43 per cent of which came from the CIBC Run for the Cure and the balance from other fundraising activities. The revenues are distributed this way: 58 per cent for research grants; 31 per cent for fund development including public awareness; and 11 per cent for administrative costs.

KOMEN - Susan Komen is the woman who was the inspiration for the biggest network of survivors and activists in the world. The foundation that bears her name has raised more than $1 billion since1982.

LUMPECTOMY - A lumpectomy and partial mastectomy are similar operations in which the lump and tissue surrounding the tumour are removed. A partial mastectomy followed by radiation offers the same chance of survival as removal of the whole breast.

MAMMOGRAMS - Are not a perfect test but they do detect tiny tumours sooner than they may be felt, with 85 per cent of tumours in women over 50 showing up and 75 per cent of tumours in women aged 40 to 50. Yet only half of all eligible B.C. women get an annual screening mammogram. The World Health Organization says breast cancer deaths would be reduced by a third if the proportion of eligible women getting regular mammograms increased to 70 per cent. Mammograms have a radiation dose said to be about one-fifth the dose of a chest X-ray.

MEDICATIONS - There are more than 100 medications approved to treat breast cancer. Some target only a particular gene or protein, others are more generalized. That's why oncologists like to use combinations of treatments.

NAVIGATION MAP - The breast cancer navigation map has been online since 2008. It's meant to help patients cope with a diagnosis, prepare a treatment plan and handle the many challenges along the way. Go to: www.breastcancernavigationmap.com

OSTEOPOROSIS - Common in the elderly population but may also occur as a side-effect of treatment with anti-estrogen drugs. Drugs called bisphosphanates may be recommended in addition to vitamin supplements. Bisphosphanates are used not only to prevent bone loss but may also offer a benefit in decreasing breast cancer spreading to the bones and for treating bone pain.

PROPHYLACTIC (PREVENTIVE) BREAST AND/OR OVARY REMOVAL - Can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by 90 per cent or more in women with a genetic abnormality that raises their risk of cancer. Surgical removal of the breasts (mastectomy) and/or ovaries (oophorectomy) is a bold step in pre-empting cancer. A drug called Tamoxifen may also help reduce risk of cancer in those with a strong family history.

QUADRANTECTOMY - An operation in which about 25 per cent of the breast is removed.

RISK FACTORS - Some risk factors are beyond your control, such as age, family history and medical history. But others can be controlled, such as weight, physical activity and alcohol consumption.

Gender: Being a woman is the leading risk factor, but men can get breast cancer too.

Age: From age 30 to 39, the risk is one in 233, or .43 per cent. That rises to one in 27, or almost four per cent by the time you are in your 60s. The lifetime risk is one in nine in women who live to age 90.

Family history: Having a first-degree relative (mother, daughter, sister) who has had breast cancer, or multiple relatives affected by breast or ovarian cancer means you could be at higher risk of getting breast cancer.

Personal history: If you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer, your risk of developing it again, either in the same breast or the other breast, is higher.

Radiation: Having radiation therapy to the chest area as a child or young adult as treatment for another cancer significantly increases breast cancer risk, especially if radiation was given while breasts were still developing.

Breast cellular changes: Unusual changes in cells detected on biopsy may be a risk factor if the changes show overgrowth of cells (hyperplasia) or abnormal cells (atypical). Dense breasts are also associated with increased risk.

Pregnancy: Women who've never had a full-term pregnancy, or had their first full-term pregnancy after age 30, have an increased risk of breast cancer.

HRT: Long-term hormone replacement therapy increases risk 1.5 times DES exposure: Women who took diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage from the 1940s through the 1960s have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Women whose mothers took it in pregnancy may also have a higher risk.

SELF-EXAMINATION - Look for skin changes, redness, dimpling of the skin or thickening, nipple changes and/or discharge, pain, swelling or changes in the size or shape of breasts.

SMOKING - Even second-hand increases breast cancer risk, according to a recent University of Toronto study. Cigarette smoke contains at least 20 carcinogens. A B.C. study showed cigarette smoking during adolescence raises risk.

STAGES - Cancer is staged, based on the size of the tumour, whether it is invasive or not, whether lymph nodes are involved and whether cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Staging helps define prognosis and guide treatment decisions.

SURVIVAL - B.C. has the best age-standardized five-year survival rate (80 per cent) in Canada. The national average is 78 per cent.

TESTS - Screening tests (mammograms) are done on people who appear to be healthy and not suspected of having breast cancer. The goal is to find breast cancer early, when cancer is easier to treat. Diagnostic tests (biopsies) are done on those suspected of having breast cancer. Monitoring tests are used during and after treatment to see how well therapies are working or if there are any signs of recurrence.

TUMOUR MARKERS - Proteins that leak out of cancer cells and circulate in blood when the cancer has spread.

TUMOUR RESISTANCE - Is when cancer cells elude the chemical agents and other therapies meant to kill them. The cells that escape the treatment are called resistant and they are responsible for causing relapses.

TUMOUR TISSUE REPOSITORY (TTR) - A B.C. Cancer Agency resource to support cancer research. The TTR collects tissues, blood, and clinical information and processes these to create anonymous cases that can be studied by cancer researchers to understand how cancer develops, grows, spreads and responds to treatment. These tissues and data are obtained from consenting patients who undergo surgery.

ULTRASOUND - Is used in diagnosis and treatment. Masses seen on mammograms can be followed up with ultrasound to distinguish between non-threatening fluid-filled cysts and a solid, suspicious lesion. Ultrasound is also during biopsy procedures.

VACCINE - An experimental treatment against HER-2 positive breast cancer, called NeuVax. In a 2008 study, the death rate among women who got the vaccine was 50-per-cent lower than those who didn't get it. Not yet available outside of clinical trials.

VITAMIN D - A Canadian study found that low levels of vitamin D in breast cancer patients raise their risk of dying and almost double the risk of cancer spread.

WEEKEND TO END BREAST CANCER - Fundraising event has raised over $15 million for B.C. research and has paid for information kits for newly diagnosed patients containing reading material including The Breast Cancer Companion Guide; the aforementioned Intelligent Patient Guide to Breast Cancer; After Breast Cancer Treatment - What Next; A Parallel Journey; Good Nutrition; Exercises After Breast Cancer; and the Abreast in the West newsletter.

WEIGHT - Fat tissue is the body's main source of estrogen after menopause, when the ovaries stop producing the hormone. Having more fat tissue means higher estrogen levels which can increase breast cancer risk. Weight is a confusing matter, however, as women who are extremely underweight in their younger years, also have a higher risk of breast cancer.

X-RAYS - Mammograms are low radiation X-rays. Radiation treatment to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours uses a type of high energy X-ray. The use of repeated chest X-rays in women under 20 is associated with an increased breast cancer risk.

YOGA - Activities like yoga, meditation, visualization and prayer have been shown to improve quality of life in cancer patients and strengthen the immune system.

ZOLEDRONIC ACID - Or Zometa is a drug in a class called bisphosphanates. (See osteoporosis). Other drugs in the same class are Fosamax, Actonel, Bonefos and Aredia.

pfayerman@vancouversun.com

Please sign this Breast Cancer petition

2009-10-08T04:36:00.001-07:00

CLICK HERE

Mark Your Calendars - September 22nd is our first fundraiser!

2009-10-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

Mark Your Calendars! The Women's Cancer Alliance is hosting its first fundraiser!!!! Location: 23rd st between 5th and 6th in New York City
Time: 7pm-9pm

Thank you for your support - its been 45 days since my mom died from ovarian cancer; I hate that she died, but I am so energized to change lives and increase awareness about gynecological cancers. I need your help spreading the word... it could have been your mom.

Love,
Saideh

Day 42

2009-10-03T03:57:00.000-07:00

It's been 42-days since my mother died. Yesterday was not easy for me. I visited my "auntie" (you know, one of your parents' friends who's known you since you were born and you just call her auntie) and I shared with her the happenings of my mom's last week her on earth. I almost typed "her last week alive" but she wasnt alive, she wasn't vibrant, she was just here. I guess our conversation yesterday evening stirred up something in the universe because last night was the first night I dreamed about my mother. I woke up and realized I had been dreaming.

I miss my mother tremendously.

UK teenager "unlikely" to have died from vaccine

2009-09-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

Cervical cancer is the third most common type of cancer in women. Approximately 2-3% of all women over age 40 years will develop some form of cervical cancer.

By Matthew Jones
LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline's cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix probably did not cause the death of a British teenager shortly after she was given the drug, a health official said on Tuesday.

"I think it is unlikely that will be the case ... I think once we get into the investigation ... we may discover there is another cause of her death," Dr Caron Grainger, joint director of public health in the area where the 14-year-old girl died, said in an interview with the BBC.

GSK said in a statement that it had voluntarily recalled the batch of vaccine that was used, pending the result of an investigation.

"At this stage the cause of this tragic death is unknown," the company said.

Police are treating the girl's death as "unexplained" and said a post-mortem was taking place on Tuesday.

The teenager, named by a police source as Natalie Morton, fell ill on Monday after being vaccinated at her school under a national immunization program against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV).

A small number of other girls at the Blue Coat Church of England School reported suffering from dizziness and nausea but were not admitted to hospital, health officials said.

"The message for parents at this moment in time and for young girls receiving this vaccine is that you should go ahead with the vaccination," said Grainger, who works for the National Health Service in the central English city of Coventry.

News of the death came shortly before U.S. health regulators shelved a bid by Glaxo to sell Cervarix in the United States.

NO PLANS TO HALT PROGRAM
Britain's Department of Health said there were no plans to halt the program under which more than 1.4 million doses of Cervarix have been administered. "The vaccine has a strong safety record so precautionary measures are focused on the batch," it said in a statement.

Grainger said only about 2,000 people had suffered any adverse reactions to the immunization program and that these were mostly minor. GlaxoSmithKline said on Monday it was working with regulators to understand the case better. Sudden teenage deaths, in general, are not unknown. "Unfortunately, some young people do die suddenly for a variety of reasons, including cardiac causes. Sometimes they have been entirely well before their death," said Dr David Elliman of London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

The drug is given in three shots over six months.
The program to vaccinate girls aged 12 to 13 began in September 2008. Cervical cancer is the 12th most common women's cancer in Britain, killing more than 1,000 women each year. Should Cervarix gain U.S. approval it would compete with Merck & Co's Gardasil, which has been on the U.S. market since 2006 and had sales of $268 million in the second quarter.

GlaxoSmithKline won support for its cervical cancer vaccine from an advisory panel to Japan's Health Ministry on Tuesday, putting it on track to be the first company to offer such a vaccine in the world's second-biggest drug market.

(Editing by David Stamp and Matthew Lewis)

The smartest cancer advice you’ve ever heard

2009-09-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

Surviving cancer was a life-changing experience for these top cancer experts, even though they'd spent their careers helping patients fight the illness — and thought they knew everything they needed to know to beat the disease. "When you're the patient, you learn a lot about what it really takes to keep yourself healthy," admits Carolyn Runowicz, MD, director of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut. "Things like eating well and exercising regularly suddenly seem like a matter of life and death." Here, she and two other cancer survivors reveal how they coped with treatment, how they stay well, and what we all should be doing to protect ourselves now.

“You know your body better than anyone.”
— Julie Silver, MD

Co-founder of Oncology Rehab Partners and assistant professor in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, physiatrist Julie Silver, MD, 44, was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2003.

"It's nothing. Stop worrying." That was the message Silver got from her doctor in 2001, when both a mammogram and ultrasound looked clear. "I was relieved, yet I couldn't shake this uneasy feeling," she says. "I know my breasts, and some tissue in the left one felt subtly different than it used to feel." To allay her nagging worry, she saw a breast surgeon a few months later. Again the tests turned up normal.

"I should have been totally relieved, but there was this small part of me that continued to worry," she says. "I don't worry excessively about my health, so this was very unusual." Still, she was embarrassed to call the breast surgeon again. "But I had three kids under the age of 12, so I knew I had to risk humiliation and get this looked at one more time," she says.

After the third mammogram, the empathetic surgeon returned to the exam room with tears in her eyes. "She said, 'I'm so sorry. You were right.' It was the most awful moment. I was consumed with emotions — sadness, grief, fear."

Because the diagnosis took 2 years, the cancer was no longer in the earliest stage. "But my oncologist said I had an 'overwhelmingly positive prognosis' because the cancer wasn't terribly aggressive. That phrase became my mantra." Silver was also armed with hopeful statistics. "There are 11 million cancer survivors in this country — and lots of them were diagnosed after the cancer had spread beyond the breast," she says. "Even with fairly advanced cancer, you can still live a long, reasonably healthy life."

Her stay-healthy advice
Treat yourself like a cherished friend. "That means giving yourself a break when you need it. Your physical health and emotional health are intertwined — it's important to pay attention to both."

Aim to eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day. "There is lots of evidence that antioxidants and phytochemicals can keep you healthier overall and may help prevent certain cancers."

“Share your experience with your family.”
— David Johnson, MD

Deputy director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and past president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, David Johnson, MD, 61, was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1989.

When Johnson discovered lumpy nodes in his groin, he didn't bring it to his doctor's attention for 3 months. "The idea of lymphoma crossed my mind, but I dismissed it. I was 41 and otherwise very healthy."

Not surprisingly, he was shocked when his doctor told him the results of his biopsy. "My first thought was that I wouldn't live to see my 10-year-old daughter grow up. Then I started worrying about how she and my wife would survive financially." He didn't share these fears with his family, though — a lapse he regrets. "I told my wife I was going to be okay, and after that I didn't talk much about my illness at home. I thought discussing the what-ifs would make her and my daughter anxious, but I think my silence actually made them more nervous," he says. "Now I warn patients that it's important for the family to keep the lines of communication open."

If Johnson was mum at home, he didn't have that option at work. "I got lots of unsolicited advice from my colleagues, which was nice but often conflicting and confusing," he says. Feeling overwhelmed, he decided not to take too much control of his treatment. "Medical oncologists study for 12 years before they can practice, so it makes sense to trust their judgment," he says. "I told my doctor that I wanted to get through the treatment as quickly as possible, but aside from that I left the medical choices up to him."

Now 20 years cancer free, Johnson is pragmatic about his risk of recurrence: "I take good care of myself, and I try to enjoy everything I can about life."

His stay-healthy advice
Have unusual symptoms checked out ASAP. "If you convey concern when you call your doctor — saying something like 'I'm really worried about this' — then you can usually get an appointment fairly quickly, which can ease your mind."

Sneak in exercise whenever you can. "I always try to use the stairs rather than the elevator, and I walk several mornings a week."

“Embrace your new normal.”
— Carolyn Runowicz, MD

Farmington, CT-based oncologist and past president of the American Cancer Society, Carolyn Runowicz, MD, 57, was diagnosed in 1992 with breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes.

Hearing the words "You have cancer" is terrifying, says Runowicz. Hearing that the cancer has spread outside the breast makes you feel doomed. "At first I thought, I'm dead," she says. But knowing how important it was to have hope, Runowicz reminded herself of how effective cancer treatments could be: "I told myself that you didn't have to die from breast cancer."

Her faith in medicine was well founded: After 8 months of chemotherapy, 6 weeks of radiation, and 5 years of tamoxifen, she's been cancer free for 16 years. Although her treatment was grueling — "harder than I expected" — the biggest surprise came after it was over. "It was like the umbilical cord was cut," she says. "During treatment, you're seeing your doctor every week. Then suddenly you're on your own. You're better, but you're not well. It's hard to know what you're supposed to do next."

To help figure that out, Runowicz jotted down her thoughts, which eventually became a book, "To Be Alive: A Woman's Guide to a Full Life after Cancer." "Writing about my experience helped me regain my footing," she says. Runowicz also made a radical shift in her health-related habits. "Before cancer, I subsisted on coffee, nervous energy, and whatever looked good in the hospital's snack machines — and I almost never exercised," she says. "After treatment, I became religious about my weight, diet, and working out — now I'm addicted to the extra energy it gives me. Having cancer forced me to completely rethink the way I approach my own health. I no longer take it for granted."

Her stay-healthy advice
Create a journal. There, you can grieve for the life you had before a major illness or emotional or physical stress.

Maintain a healthy weight. "I've always been slim, but I wanted to stay that way. Excess body fat produces estrogen and may increase the risk of breast cancer."

Eat a Mediterranean diet. Many studies show a strong link between eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil and living longer.