Friday,
September 6, 2013 is WEAR TEAL DAY to increase awareness about ovarian cancer!
Teal is the color that represents ovarian cancer, the
most lethal of women’s cancers. Just as
the display of pink ribbons in October reminds us of breast cancer, the prominent
exhibition of teal during the month of September is intended to raise awareness
of ovarian cancer and the urgent need for more research in this area. Dr. Sandra Cesario, Professor in the College
of Nursing at TWU in Houston, made a personal commitment to spreading the word
about this deadly disease following the death of her 29 year old daughter,
Anna, in 2009. Each year since that time, colleagues of Dr Cesario proudly wear
teal on the first Friday in September to remember Anna and share the important
message of ovarian cancer awareness with students, co-workers, friends, and
family.
This year, Wear Teal Day will be on Friday, September
6. For those of you in Houston, the Houston City
Hall will be lit in teal in memory of those who have lost their lives to
ovarian cancer. The view is particularly
stunning from the Ferris wheel at the downtown Aquarium.
One
in 71 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. With early detection, about
93% will survive longer than 5 years after diagnosis. However, only 15% of
ovarian cancers are caught during this early stage of disease leading to the overall
high death rate. Every year, 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer
in the US and 16,000 women will die. Worldwide, more than 204,000 new cases of
ovarian cancer are identified annually, accounting for approximately 4% of all
cancers diagnosed in women, with the highest rates reported in the US and
Europe.
If
you experience any of the following symptoms more than 3 times per week for
longer than 3 months, please consult your health care provider to be evaluated
for ovarian cancer:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
- Urinary urgency or frequency
Right now there is no general
population screening tool to identify ovarian cancer during its earliest
stages. However, research is underway to
identify genetic markers to help identify women at the highest risk.
Chemotherapy drugs and delivery methods are improving but, to date, have only
led to an increase of a few months in length of survival. Surgical techniques
are improving. And chemical assays, such as ChemoFx(R), are aiding in the
identification of the most effective form
of chemotherapy before treatment even begins.
A study just published in Cancer, describes a promising approach
to the early detection of ovarian cancer that uses an older blood test in a new
way. MD Anderson researchers found that
evaluating the change in blood levels of CA-125 over time shows promise as a
screening tool for early-stage ovarian cancer. Historically, a CA-125 value
greater that 30 was a red flag for the development of ovarian cancer. However, the recent study discovered that
annual measurements of the CA-125 indicated that changes over time, based on a
mathematical formula called Risk of Ovarian Cancer Algorithm (ROCA), can also
identify women who are in the earliest, most treatable stages of ovarian cancer.
In Pennsylvania, a fascinating interdisciplinary
research collaborative has been formed.
Several disciplines have combined their efforts to investigate the use
of canine olfaction, along with chemical and nanotechnology analysis, to detect
early-stage human ovarian cancer. This group has demonstrated that dogs CAN
sniff out ovarian cancer!
So progress is being made – there is hope! For more
information or to make a donation to this important cause, please consider the
following organizations:
OCRF
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
OCRF is the largest independent organization in the
United States dedicated exclusively to funding ovarian cancer research-- and to
finding a cure. Through our three active research programs, we fund the best
researchers and the most innovative projects
OCNA
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
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 Alliance 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 risks, signs and symptoms of
ovarian cancer.
NOCC
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
The mission of the NOCC is to raise awareness and
promote education about ovarian cancer. The Coalition is committed to improving
the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer.
Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer
Center at the University of Oklahoma http://www.oumedicine.com/cancer
In 2001, the Oklahoma Legislature charged OU with
providing statewide leadership in cancer research, prevention and education,
and treatment and seeking designation as a National Cancer Institute (NCI)
comprehensive cancer center designation. A major recruiting effort was launched
in 2009 to bring nationally-recognized cancer physicians and researchers to
Oklahoma. In 2011, the Oklahoma Cancer Institute opened and there is a
beautiful gynecologic-oncology waiting area named in Anna's memory.
Sandra K. Cesario, PhD, RNC, FAAN
PhD Program Coordinator and Professor
College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University
6700 Fannin Street
Houston, TX 77030-2343
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