Fighting Ovarian Cancer Year Round

Learn how the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition is working to fight ovarian cancer all year long:

The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition does not stop raising awareness on ovarian cancer when September, ovarian cancer awareness month, comes to a close. The Connecticut Chapter continues to reach out into the community to educate on the early signs and symptoms in order to increase early detection and survival rates for women year round. 

Because there is currently no early detection test for ovarian cancer, raising awareness on the early signs and symptoms is key to saving lives. When detected early, the 5-year survival ate is over 90%. Unfortunately, because the symptoms are so vague, only 14.7% of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in stage 1, when the cancer is confined to the ovaries.

Early warning signs for women to be aware of include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly and feeling the need to urinate urgently or often. Other symptoms may include fatigue, upset stomach or heartburn, back pain, pain during sex, constipation and menstrual changes. If these symptoms are NEW to women and persisting for 2 weeks or more, they may want to consider talking with their doctor about a transvaginal ultrasound, which is the most accurate way to detect ovarian cancer.
Risk factors for ovarian cancer include genetic predisposition, personal or family history of breast, uterine, colon, rectal or ovarian cancers, increasing age, undesired infertility and obesity. It is important for women who fall into theses categories to be proactive in communicating with their physicians. 

While the NOCC places emphasis on education, the organization also provides support to newly diagnosed women in hospitals across the nation and invests in new research each year. 

With the support of our communities, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition will continue to work tirelessly to prevent and cure ovarian cancer, and to improve the quality of life for survivors.

Read the full article here: http://cour.at/1HEtGsp

Math Formula Helping Fight Ovarian Cancer

More than truth lies in numbers. A math formula is now helping doctors fight ovarian cancer.

"The approach worked for me," triathlete and ovarian cancer survivor Leslie Russell of Houston says.The new approach determined Leslie Russell needed chemotherapy before surgery. More than a year later, doctors say her prognosis is great.
Houston doctors are employing a new approach against ovarian cancer that dramatically improves the likelihood tumors are completely removed during surgery, the key to beating the deadly disease.

The approach, now being used by all M.D. Anderson gynecologic oncologists treating advanced ovarian cancer, involves an initial laparoscopic procedure to better diagnose the extent of the disease and a mathematical formula that surgeons apply to predict whether the patient should go directly to surgery or receive chemotherapy first.

"This protocol enables us to personalize surgical therapy and be much smarter about its timing," said Dr. Anil Sood, an M.D. Anderson professor of gynecologic oncology and reproductive medicine and the effort's leader. "It results in much more precise surgery, which we think will lower death rates from ovarian cancer."

M.D. Anderson doctors have been treating ovarian cancer patients, about 155 now, with the new protocol since the spring of 2013, when the project was launched as part of the institution's Moon Shots program. The program seeks to improve treatment of eight difficult cancers or cancer groupings.

The team hasn't published any data on the approach because patients need to be tracked longer to determine outcomes. But Sood said the team is successfully removing all visible tumor cells of more than 90 percent of patients who go directly to surgery and 85 percent of those who undergo chemotherapy to reduce the burden of malignant cells prior to surgery. Historically, Sood said, surgery in advanced ovarian patients around the world achieves complete removal of tumor cells no more than 35 percent of the time.

Sood said he anticipates data will eventually show at least a 25 percent improvement in ovarian cancer survival rates.

Click the link to read the full article: http://www.chron.com/news/health/article/Math-formula-helping-fight-ovarian-cancer-5901796.php

Surgery Isn’t Only Option for Women With Ovarian Cancer Genes

If you find out you have the BRCA gene, do not think that surgery is your only option.  There are many ways to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.  Research has found that breast feeding, birth control pills, and having fallopian tubes tied all may help reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.  Learn more in the article below and always remember to talk with your doctor before making any decisions.  You can learn more here.

Breast-feeding, birth control pills and having fallopian tubes tied may help reduce ovarian cancer risk in women with BRCA gene mutations, a new review suggests.

Women with BRCA gene mutations are at increased risk for breast and ovarian cancers. These findings suggest ways that women with these inherited mutations can reduce their ovarian cancer risk without having their ovaries surgically removed, the University of Pennsylvania researchers said.
“Patients deserve better cancer-risk reduction options than surgically removing their healthy breasts and ovaries,” review co-author Dr. Susan Domchek, executive director of the Basser Research Center for BRCA at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, said in a university news release.

Domchek and her colleagues reviewed 44 studies and found that breast-feeding and tubal ligation were associated with lower rates of ovarian cancer in women with a BRCA1 mutation, while the use of birth control pills was associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

The researchers also identified factors that may increase the risk of cancer in women with BRCA mutations. For example, smoking may heighten the risk of breast cancer in women with a BRCA 2 mutation.

The findings are to be published in the June issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
“Our analysis reveals that heredity is not destiny, and that working with their physicians and counselors, women with BRCA mutations can take proactive steps that may reduce their risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer,” lead author Timothy Rebbeck, professor of epidemiology and cancer epidemiology and risk reduction program leader at the Abramson Cancer Center, said in the news release.

“The results of the analysis show that there is already sufficient information indicating how some variables might affect the risk of cancer for these patients,” he added.

About 39 percent of women with a harmful BRCA1 mutation and up to 17 percent of those with a harmful BRCA2 mutation will develop ovarian cancer by age 70, compared with 1.4 percent of women in the general population.

Between 55 percent and 65 percent of women with a harmful BRCA1 mutation and 45 percent of women with a harmful BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer by age 70, compared with about 12 percent of women in the general population.

Both BRCA mutations have also been linked with increased risk for several other types of cancer, according to the researchers.

“It’s imperative that we continue examining and building upon past research in this area so that we can provide BRCA mutation carriers with options at every age, and at every stage of their lives,” Domchek noted.

Diet May Influence Ovarian Cancer Outcome

This article from Reuters shows that the quality of diet may actually affect a woman's chance of ovarian cancer survival. Keep reading to learn more:

Women with healthier diets before an ovarian cancer diagnosis are less likely to die in the years following the cancer than women with poorer diets, according to a new study.

The exceptions were women with diabetes or a high waist circumference, which is often linked to diabetes.

A healthy diet before diagnosis may indicate a stronger immune system and, indirectly, the capacity to respond favorably to cancer therapy, said lead author Cynthia A. Thomson of Health Promotion Sciences at the Canyon Ranch Center for Prevention and Health Promotion at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

“It also may reflect our capacity to sustain healthy eating after diagnosis, which in turn could support better health in a broader sense,” Thomson told Reuters Health by email.

Researchers looked back at 636 cases of ovarian cancer occurring between 1993 and 1998, 90 percent of which were invasive cancers.

The women had filled out dietary and physical activity questionnaires at least one year before their cancer diagnoses as part of the larger Women’s Health Initiative study. Researchers measured their heights, weights and waist circumferences.

The healthy eating index in this study measured 10 dietary components, scoring diets with a higher amount of vegetables and fruit, more variety in vegetables and fruit, more whole grains, lower amounts of fat and alcohol and more fiber as healthier than other diets.

On average, the women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer around age 63.

As of September 17, 2012, 354 of the women had died, and 305 of those died specifically from ovarian cancer.

When the researchers divided the women into three groups based on their diet quality, those in the healthiest-eating group were 27 percent less likely to die of any cause after ovarian cancer diagnosis than those in the poorest diet group, according to the results published in JNCI, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Read the full article from Reuters here: http://reut.rs/1t8rrIP

Types of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer doesn’t come with just one type of tumor, one type of cell, or four general stages. There are different types of cells, types of tumors, and stages to keep in mind if your doctor gives you the dreaded news.

There are over 30 types of ovarian cancer because of the type of cell from which they start. Cancerous tumors can start from three common cell types:
Surface Epithelium - cells covering the lining of the ovaries
Germ Cells - cells that are destined to form eggs
Stromal Cells - cells that release hormones and connect the different structures of the ovaries

The most common tumors include:
Common Epithelial Tumors. They develop from cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary. Most of the tumors like this are benign (noncancerous) and include several types: serous adenomas, mucinous adenomas, and Brenner tumors.
Cancerous Epithelial Tumors. These are carcinomas, which begin in the tissue that lines the ovaries, and are the most common and most dangerous.
Borderline tumors or tumors of low malignant potential (LMP tumors). These are tumors that aren’t clearly identified as cancerous under a microscope.
Germ Cell Tumors. These develop from the cells that produce the ova or eggs. Most are benign, but some are cancerous and may be life threatening. The most common germ cell malignancies are maturing dysgerminomas, teratomas, and endodermal sinus tumors.
Stromal Tumors. These belong to a rare class of tumors that develop from connective tissue cells that hold the ovary together, in addition to cells that produce the female hormones: estrogen and progesterone. The most common types of stromal tumors are granulosa-theca and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors and are considered to be low-grade cancers

The stages of ovarian cancer include:
Stage I – Cancer growth is limited to the ovary or ovaries.
Stage IA - Growth is limited to one ovary and the tumor is confined to the inside of the ovary. Stage IB - Growth is limited to both ovaries without any tumor on their outer surfaces.
Stage IC - The tumor is Stage IA or IB and (1) tumor is present on the outer surface of one or both ovaries; (2) the capsule has ruptured; and/or (3) there are ascites containing malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings.
Stage II - Growth of the cancer involves one or both ovaries and has extended to the pelvis.
Stage IIA - The cancer has extended to and/or involves the uterus, fallopian tubes, or both.
Stage IIB - The cancer has extended to other pelvic organs.
Stage IIC - The tumor is Stage IIA or IIB and (1) tumor is present on the outer surface of one or both ovaries; (2) the capsule has ruptured; and/or (3) there are ascites containing malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings.
Stage III - Growth of the cancer involves one or both ovaries, and (1) the cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen; and/or (2) the cancer has spread to lymph nodes.
Stage IIIA - During an operation, the surgeon can see cancer on one or both of the ovaries, but not in the abdomen or lymph nodes. However, small deposits of cancer are found in the abdominal peritoneal surfaces when biopsies are checked under a microscope.
Stage IIIB - The tumor is in one or both ovaries, and deposits of cancer are visibly present in the abdomen during surgery, but not exceeding 2 cm in diameter. The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage IIIC - The tumor is in one or both ovaries, and (1) the cancer has spread to lymph nodes; and/or (2) the deposits of cancer exceed 2 cm in diameter and are found in the abdomen.
Stage IV - The most advanced stage. Growth involves one or both ovaries and distant metastases (spread of the cancer to organs located outside of the peritoneal cavity) have occurred. Finding ovarian cancer cells in pleural fluid (from the cavity which surrounds the lungs) is also evidence of stage IV disease.

Follow this link for more information. http://bit.ly/13l7UKh

Factors That Could Lead to Ovarian Cancer

Some of these factors may make you more susceptible to ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. At this late stage, ovarian cancer is more difficult to treat and is frequently fatal. Early-stage ovarian cancer, in which the disease is confined to the ovary, is more likely to be treated successfully.

Certain factors may increase your risk of ovarian cancer:

Age. Ovarian cancer can occur at any age but is most common in women ages 50 to 60 years.
Inherited gene mutation. A small percentage of ovarian cancers are caused by an inherited gene mutation. The genes known to increase the risk of ovarian cancer are called breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2). These genes were originally identified in families with multiple cases of breast cancer, which is how they got their names, but women with these mutations also have a significantly increased risk of ovarian cancer.

The gene mutations that cause Lynch syndrome, which is associated with colon cancer, also increase a woman's risk of ovarian cancer.

Estrogen hormone replacement therapy, especially with long-term use and in large doses.
Age when menstruation started and ended. If you began menstruating before age 12 or underwent menopause after age 52, or both, your risk of ovarian cancer may be higher.
Never being pregnant.
Fertility treatment.
Smoking.
Use of an intrauterine device.
Polycystic ovary syndrome.
If you have a genetic predisposition to ovarian cancer, your doctor may recommend regular pelvic imaging and blood tests to screen for the disease.

Click the link to read the full article: http://bit.ly/1oaUfPq

12 Questions You Should Ask If You've Been Diagnosed With Ovarian Cancer

An ovarian cancer diagnosis may be devastating, but it's important to get the answers to several important questions. This will help you ensure you know all the ins and outs of the disease, as well as how you and your family can deal with the diagnosis in the best way possible.

Are you sure?
The work-up for the diagnosis is by an imaging test – by an ultrasound, CT scan or both – and a blood test called a CA-125, explains Karen Lu, chair of gynecologic oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and “most of the time – unfortunately, about 75 percent of the time – women present with ovarian cancer with symptoms of bloating and increase in the size of their abdomen," Lu says. "And when they get imaging by their physician, they have very advanced disease.”

But other times, the diagnosis isn’t so obvious. A biopsy or surgery is needed for definite diagnosis, she says.

What type of ovarian cancer do I have?
Ovarian cancers are classified by where the tumor first developed in the ovary – in the cells of its covering layer (epithelium), in the egg-producing cells or in the hormone-producing cells – along with other subtypes. Malignant epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common.

What kind of doctor should I see?
Your doctor should be a board-certified gynecologic oncologist – a doctor who specializes in cancer of the female reproductive system, Lu says.

“We’re an unusual specialty that includes both surgery and chemotherapy,” says Leslie Randall, a gynecologic oncologist with University of California Irvine Health. “Because the disease is so complicated, and sometimes the chemo and surgery go hand in hand, it’s really important to have somebody who knows both sides of the coin to be involved in their care.”

Where do I go for care?
A big cancer center is ideal, Randall says, but if you don’t have access, then the best thing is to locate a gynecologic oncologist in the community.

Lu says it’s important to ask doctors or a medical group about their experience and approach, with questions such as: “Do you do this on a regular basis?” “Are there any innovative approaches?" “Do you offer any clinical trials?” and “Does your group have a particular focus on ovarian cancer?”

What is my treatment plan?
Most patients start with surgery followed by chemotherapy once they’ve recovered, although some women need chemotherapy first. The extent of treatment needed may not be known until the woman is actually on the operating table and the pathologist has analyzed her tumor.

What is your surgical approach?
Survival odds are better when all the cancer is removed during tumor-debulking surgery. “We have a very specific goal – which is no residual tumor,” Lu says. That’s why you want your doctor to use maximal cytoreductive effort.

With advanced ovarian cancer, instead of one big tumor, many small tumors are spread throughout the abdominal cavity, Randall explains. “'Cytoreductive’ means removing all those little tumors,” she says. “It’s a labor-intensive type of surgery, but it helps people live longer the more you remove.”

How do you give chemotherapy?
A major marker of good ovarian cancer care is whether women have access to intraperitoneal chemotherapy, Randall says. With intraperitoneal chemo, drugs are injected directly into the abdominal cavity through a thin catheter, rather than being given intravenously. While not all patients are good candidates for this method, she says, it’s considered the standard of care. “A lot of women don’t get peritoneal therapy because they’re going to a provider who doesn’t give [it],” she says. “It’s a wrong reason not to get peritoneal therapy.”

What about chemo side effects?
Side effects depend on the type of drugs you receive, and you should have an idea what to expect. Figueras was surprised at how debilitating her side effects were. At first, “I was gung-ho to go to my chemotherapy,” she says. “In my mind, I was going to have it on [each] Friday; I was going to be sick all weekend – and then I was going to be fine again. And nothing could be further from the truth.”

Do you offer clinical trials?
It “absolutely” is important to be at a place that offers clinical trials, Lu says. Even if you don’t choose to be in one, you may want to hear about those research studies, which can give you a chance to receive the newest treatments for your condition.

What if I don’t have access to care?
Patients can connect to resources and specialists nationwide through the Society of Gynecologic Oncology website, Randall suggests. “There’s a lot of patient information – good information, because a lot of information on the Web is not good,” she says. The society also has a patient advocate to help women find providers.

What about emotional and social support?
“You need to find those people who are going to be there for you,” Figueras says, and she’s lucky to have a “fantastic” support system in her family, her blog community and her Facebook friends.

“I have a friend who is a chef who called me and couldn’t really offer anything but food. So he would provide my lunch for me on chemo days,” she says. “My very first chemo … he actually sent over a lobster tail.” For peer support and information, she turns to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

Do I need to make decisions right away?
When you’re diagnosed, Lu says, “It’s very scary, and you feel like ‘I have to deal with this thing tomorrow.’” But it’s worth taking your time to make sure you find a doctor “who is experienced and also someone that you trust, that you have a good relationship with,” she says, rather than feeling you have to rush into something.

Within a month is a reasonable time frame to pick a provider and get started, both experts agree. However, Randall adds, “You really don’t want to spend a whole lot of time in that process. The sooner you get to treatment, the better the outcome will be in the long term.” 

Click the link to read the full article from U.S. News