Tiny Genetic Variation Can Predict Ovarian Cancer Outcome

Very exciting news coming out of the Yale Cancer Center!

Yale Cancer Center researchers have shown that a tiny genetic variation predicts chances of survival and response to treatment for patients with ovarian cancer. The findings, published in the journal Oncogene, provide new insights into the biology of a new class of cancer marker and suggest a genetic test may help guide the treatment of women with ovarian cancer.

"This gives us a way to identify which women are at highest risk for resistance to platinum chemotherapy, the standard treatment for ovarian cancer, and helps identify ovarian cancer patients with the worst outcomes," said Joanne Weidhaas, associate professor of therapeutic radiology and senior author of the study. "There just aren't many inherited gene variants than can do that."

Women who possess the biomarker identified by the Yale team -- a variant of the well-known KRAS oncogene -- are three times more resistant to standard platinum chemotherapy than women without the variant. Also, post-menopausal women with the variant are significantly more likely to die from ovarian cancer. About 12-15 percent of Caucasians and 6 percent of African-Americans are born with the variant of the gene, which helps regulate destruction of damaged cells. This variant is found in up to 25% of newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients.

Although good alternatives to chemotherapy are not yet available for women with ovarian cancer and this variant, several drugs in development which target the KRAS gene and associated pathways have shown great promise, Weidhaas said.

Yale researchers have also found this microRNA variant of the KRAS gene is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer and lung cancer. Other researchers have found associations with poor outcome in colon as well as head and neck cancers.

In laboratory tests, researchers blocked the variant and significantly reduced growth of ovarian cancer cells. This suggests targeting the variant site may someday help treat cancer in these patients.

The study was funded by the NIH, the National Cancer Institute and the Merkel Foundation.

Read more: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205082253.htm

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Laurel Auto Group!

Holiday Gift Ideas for Women Fighting Cancer

Holidays are about sharing time with family and friends, but for a woman recovering from or undergoing breast or other cancer treatments, she may be spending lots of time in bed or on the couch. Survivor and cancer style expert Lisa Lurie, co-founder of online shopping resource CancerBeGlammed.com, which carefully selects products to help women recover from cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiation in comfort and style, suggests these great last-minute gifts, to make her feel good and help family and friends share the season together.

· E-Readers and tablets – Lightweight and portable, the perfect gift for use at home or on the go. Download her favorite magazines as a welcome distraction at the doctor’s office, chemo room or at radiation, or download her favorite holiday stories or classic movies to share together. E-Readers also allow users to enlarge font size – perfect for chemo-tired eyes. Great at holiday time or anytime.
· Bed lounge - Ideal for her when the family crawls into bed together to play board games, watch TV or read. Look for those that provide good upper body and arm support. Some even come with side pockets - great for glasses, books and that all important TV remote.
· Electric kettle and tea set – The hot water’s always ready bedside to make hot chocolate for the kids or romantic tea for two. Herbal teas such as ginger and peppermint provide many soothing benefits that help combat the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation such as nausea and stomach upset.
· Mommy & Me Matching Pajamas – The perfect gift for some stylish rest and recover time following chemotherapy or radiation. Soft and comfortable, they make it fun to snuggle up in bed with mom on a cold winter’s night.
· One Bite at a Time cookbook by Rebecca Katz – Turn a great recipe into a memorable family meal. This beautifully illustrated cookbook features recipes for cancer survivors, their friends and family, offering delicious, flavorful meals that are easy-to-digest and help boost the immune system. For the first of Katz’s award winning cookbooks, check out The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen. Bon appétit!

CancerBeGlammed information courtesy of: http://www.pr.com/press-release/377147

In addition to these great ideas here’s a few more from ChooseHope.com:  

The Chemotherapy Gift Tote is the perfect gift for anyone going through treatment. Designed by chemo patients, this re-usable heavyweight Choose Hope Tote includes everything necessary for chemo. It features

•A soft,Plush Blanket in Pink (Pink Passion), Purple (Purple) or Cream (Lime Green) - Perfect for treatment days. 50" x 60", 100% polyester, machine washable.
• The Book "I'd Rather Do Chemo Than Clean Out the Garage" - A humorous look at the chemo journey that is sure to put on smile on someone's face.
• A Tin of Queasy Drops - These are made of all natural ingredients and are doctor recommended for the queasy or nauseous stomach that often accompanies chemo.
• Water Bottle - Bright colored water bottle with the inspirational words "Choose Hope." A great reminder to drink plenty of fluids after treatments. Color may vary.
• Thank You Cards - Meaningful cards designed by Choose Hope for all of the people who do so much. Two each of two different designs with envelopes.

Fight like a girl wristbands. Show your strength!  Fight hard, fight tough...Fight Like a Girl! These popular wristbands are made of durable latex-free silicone.  Wear this wristband in support of women everywhere who are battling cancer!  Adult sizes only with an inside measurement of 7 and 3/4."  Available in all colors except Gold, Orchid, Light Blue, Lavender, and Plum.

What Cancer Cannot Do Mug. Serve your morning coffee with a message! This popular verse is the perfect complement to this great 15 ounce bistro mug.  These inspiring words wrap around in a clean contemporary design.

"What Cancer Cannot Do"

Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot quench the spirit.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.

These gifts and more can be found at http://www.choosehope.com

Ovarian Cancer: After The Diagnosis

Those diagnosed with ovarian cancer frequently have precious little time to become accustomed to their illness and to adequately digest the information. Instead, they will suddenly find themselves in a whirlwind of activity, running from doctor’s appointment to specialist testing, and before long will find that their day planners are by and large dominated with medical procedures.

To understand what to expect after the diagnosis of ovarian cancer – what happens after the initial diagnosis but perhaps before the surgery – it is important to remember that your doctor will now call in as many team members to participate in your care as possible to assure that you have the highest likelihood of survival.

1.You will most likely meet with a specialist who will take a variety of x-rays. The goal behind these x-rays is to ascertain if the cancer has metastasized and if so, how far.

Usually a chest x-ray will focus on the breast tissues and the lungs, while an intestinal x-ray will seek to ferret out any blockages in the gastrointestinal tract that may be due to tumor growth. This latter test frequently requires that use of a barium enema to provide the adequate light and shade options for maximum visibility of any growths.

2.A CT scan most likely will be next on the list of tests to be run. The goal is a thorough examination of the pelvic area and the surrounding tissues to find any spreading of the tumor and to localize the abnormal cell growth as much as possible.

3.Next will be a colonoscopy which is an instrumental test in determining whether or not a patient suffers from rectal or colon cancer, but in cases of confirmed ovarian cancer it is utilized to rule out any spread of the disease.

4.If it has not already been done, your physician will take a transvaginal ultrasound to determine the extent of the tumors, localize the affected ovary, and estimate the odds of the tumors spreading – or already having spread – to the other ovary.

To be on the safe side, many physicians will suggest a complete hysterectomy even if only one ovary is affected. This test rules out the possibility of a cancer recurrence of the ovary and thus putting your life and health in jeopardy twice, although some women who are hoping to still bear a child will take the risk and only have a unilateral operation.

It is important to not allow yourself to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tests and nail biting wait times in between testing and results but to remember that now that you have received your diagnosis of ovarian cancer you have a good chance at fighting the disease if indeed you take each and every step possible to get rid of the cancer. Only a concerted action between various specialists will set you up for beating this disease and denying it another life! Enlist the help of trusted friends and family members who will form your support network and make sure you keep each and every doctor’s appointment.

Read more: http://health.ezinemark.com/ovarian-cancer-what-happens-after-the-initial-diagnosis-561333f1f9c.html