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Helping people cope with breast cancer, steps you can take to get rid of it for good, and how to maintain a “cancer-free” body for the rest of your life from then on.
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• Executive Professional Grade Stainless Steel
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• Holds up to 15 Business Cards
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The Ovarian Cancer Ribbon proudly displayed on a business card holder. There is no better way to achieve remembrance and awareness for the meaning of the Ovarian Cancer Ribbon than to display it on your business card holder for everyone to see. This sleek and modern card case is perfect to store business cards and/or credit cards. The convenient pocket size business card holder cover features the Ovarian Cancer Ribbon on a white background framed in executive stainl… More >>

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Ribbon Business Card Holder

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“All of the research has reinforced that ovarian cancer is not a silent disease as was once thought and as is shown quite eloquently in this collection of stories…. The value of this collection of stories is that it helps raise awareness about symptoms, need for patient persistence, and the importance of being treated by a gynecologic oncologist.” Barbara A. Goff, MD
Professor and Co-Director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology University of Washington Schoo… More >>

Ovarian Cancer Journeys: Survivors Share Their Stories To Help Others

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Two Percent of All Female Newborns in the United States Are at Risk of Getting Ovarian Cancer

As many as 30,000 U.S. women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. In 2006, between 15,000 and 16,000 women are likely to die from this silent killer. Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of death among women, and it is responsible for about five percent of all cancer deaths. Chances are your doctor may have misdiagnosed you. That is often the case. A recent British study found 60 percent of all U.K. general practitioners had misdiagnosed their patients. Three-quarters of British doctors surveyed incorrectly assumed that symptoms only occurred in the late stages of ovarian cancer. Based upon that information, it should be no surprise that Britain has one of the lowest survival rates for ovarian cancer in the Western World – of 6,800 cases diagnosed each year, more than 4,600 die.

A similar discovery was made by University of California researchers, who announced last year, “Four in 10 women with ovarian cancer have symptoms that they tell their doctors about at least four months — and as long as one year — before they are diagnosed.” According to their study of nearly 2,000 women with ovarian cancer, the researchers discovered physicians:

• First ordered abdominal imaging or performed gastrointestinal procedures instead of the more appropriate pelvic imaging and/or CA-125 (a blood test that can detect ovarian cancer).

• Only 25 percent of patients, who reported ovarian cancer symptoms four or more months before diagnosis, were given pelvic imaging or had CA-125 blood tests.

Patients with early symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed. Abdominal imaging or diagnostic gastrointestinal studies are less likely to detect ovarian cancer. According to the American Cancer Society’s website, “The most common symptom is back pain, followed by fatigue, bloating, constipation, abdominal pain and urinary urgency. These symptoms tend to occur very frequently and become more severe with time. Most women with ovarian cancer have at least two of these symptoms.”

By the time a woman reaches the fourth stage of ovarian cancer, her first-line treatment is often Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and Cisplatin as the specific chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. In the first stage, cancer is contained inside one or both ovaries. By stage two, the cancer has spread into the fallopian tubes or other pelvic tissues, such as the bladder or rectum. When the cancer has spread outside the pelvis area into the abdominal cavity, especially when tumor growths are larger than two centimeters on the lining of the abdomen, then ovarian cancer has reached stage three. The fourth and final stage of ovarian cancer is reached when the cancer has spread into other body organs, such as the liver or lungs.

If detected early, survival rates can be as high as 90 percent. Detected in the advanced stage, the survival rate falls to between 30 and 40 percent. Various imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and ultrasound studies can confirm whether a pelvic mass is present. A laparoscopy can help a doctor look at the ovaries and other pelvic tissue to in order to plan out a surgical procedure, or to determine the stage of the ovarian cancer. A biopsy, or tissue sampling, would confirm if there is cancer in your pelvic region, and would help determine how advanced it is. An elevated CA-125 blood test typically suggests the cancer has progressed to the advanced stage.

About 50 percent of ovarian cancer patients are already at an advanced stage by the time a correct diagnosis is made. Only 10 to 14 percent of women with advanced cancer are likely to survive more than five years.

Evaluation of Therapies

While research shows drinking black (or green) tea or taking the herbal supplement gingko biloba may be useful, as a preventative measure, or to reduce risk, a woman has few choices when her cancer has moved to the advanced stage. In the first stage, a woman faces surgical removal of the tumor, and possibly one or both ovaries, to increase her chances of survival. Beyond that, her choice is chemotherapy.

One major problem with chemotherapy is the side effects. The more advanced the cancer, the weaker one may be, reducing the survival rate potential. Survival rates have not changed very much over the past fifteen years. Chemotherapy can increase survival time by as much as 50 percent. But, quality of life suffers. The side effects and increased toxicity, accompanying chemotherapy, reduce how one spends the prolonged survival time.

Some of Paclitaxel’s minor side effects, as reported by Medline Plus, may include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, change in taste, thinned or brittle hair, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, changes in the color of nails, and/or tingling in the hands or toes. More serious side effects may include mouth blistering or fatigue. Some alarming side effects could include unusual bleeding or bruising, dizziness, shortness of breath, severe exhaustion, chest pain, or difficulty swallowing. The most common side effect of Paclitaxel is a decrease of blood cells.

Carboplatin has its own list of side effects. It can reduce platelet production, which can interfere with your blood’s ability to clot. You may become anemic, feeling tired or breathless. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and a general feeling of weakness are common with this chemotherapeutic agent.

The latest breed of drugs, such as Eli Lilly’s Gemzar, are hardly getting praise. On March 10th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it was skeptical of the benefits Eli Lilly’s Gemzar, which was being used with Carboplatin to treat ovarian cancer patients. The FDA felt the 2.8 months increased survival time, provided by the Gemzar/Carboplatin combination failed to offset the treatment’s increased toxicity.

In January, the New England Journal of Medicine reported on a remarkable new delivery system of chemotherapy, called the “intra-abdominal, or intraperitoneal, chemotherapy. Those who received the “belly bath” as it is now being called by the media can survive 16 months longer than those receiving intravenous chemotherapy. The major drawback is that 60 percent of the women in the study were unable to complete all six cycles of this chemotherapy. Those who did survived longer, but only two in every five women were able to advance to the end phase of the therapy.

One novel approach, now in Phase III trials at more than 60 research centers across the United States, is OvaRex ® MAb, a murine monoclonal antibody, a type of biotech drug derived from mouse cells. It is being tested by highly regarded United Therapeutics, based in Silver Springs, Maryland. Their lead drug Remodulin, an injection which treats pulmonary arterial hypertension, is currently being marketed inside and outside the United States. More than $32 million has been spent researching, and on the development of, OvaRex and may have it available on the market by 2008.

OvaRex was developed in Canada by a company called ViRexx Medical Corp, and first tested in that country. According to Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Chief Executive of ViRexx, “The whole study has been set up with the FDA. This is a study where the drug has been given fast track approval and orphan drug status.” Dr. Tyrrell is also on leave (until OvaRex become commercially available) as a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Alberta, and Director of the National Centre of Excellence for Viral Hepatitis Research.

OvaRex was tested in Canada, prior to the current Phase III trials in the U.S. “There have been a number of patients that have received OvaRex,” said Dr. Tyrrell, “We’ve had really no adverse effects from these patients.” Dr. Tyrrell explained the procedure, “After being injected intravenously, OvaRex binds to an antigen circulating in the blood.” An antibody’s general purpose is to neutralize an antigen. After an OvaRex injection, the murine monoclonal antibody binds to the CA-125 antigen.

In a way the body is tricked. But, the body is tricked in order to help “save” itself from the harmful antigen. When the OvaRex antibody is bound to the CA-125 antigen, the new combination is identified as a harmful unit. Before then, the antigen wanders through the body, without alerting the body’s defense systems, the dendritic cells, to attack and destroy the harmful antigen. Because the body is trained to identify and zero in on a foreign protein, in this case a mouse protein, it alerts the dendritic cells. Until then, the dendritic cells “tolerate” the cancerous cells. The tolerance is what permits the cancer to spread throughout the body.

OvaRex seeks to break that tolerance. The murine monoclonal antibody is designed to target and bind exclusively to free floating CA-125 antigen. The dendritic cells refuse to tolerate the foreign protein. When the antibody binds with the free-floating antigen, the dendritic cells recognize the complex (antibody plus antigen) as being foreign and engulf the new unit. The dendritic cells break down the key proteins of this unit, presenting all parts on the cells surface. At the point, the body’s killer T-Cells are alerted to fight the internal threat to the body. Once activated, the T-Cells will replicate and create more killer T-Cells. Any tumor cells expressing the CA-125 antigen is targeted for destruction. The army of T-Cells move to attack the ovarian cancer tumor.

The principle behind OvaRex is to re-program the immune system to harness the body’s defenses to prevent the growth and spread of the ovarian cancer. Will it cure ovarian cancer? “In most cases, it will be a delay,” explained Dr. Tyrrell. “However, I think that, and everyone hopes that, often in some of these tumors, you’re making incremental progress through careful clinical trials and adding new therapy. Each thing we do that improves the outcome when you start to look at the long term benefits of these, we hope that one day we will be able to cure this disease. We think this is a step. This has the potential to be an important step at helping to stimulate immune response to achieve a better outcome. Hopefully, one day we can improve that to where it is a cure.”

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can ovarian cancer be detected by a cervical smear ?????
ovarian cancer is quite rare ,but apparently doctors only see 1 case every 5 yrs ,so in most cases symptoms often get mistaken for other things ,such as ibs etc…so i ask because when having a cervical smear ,they take a swab of your cervix & not your ovaries,,so does it actually pick ovarian cancer up also ?

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Is it possible that my Grandma’s history of ovarian cancer will affect me getting the pill?
Statistics and opinions welcome.
thanks in advance.

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Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women, the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancy, and the second most commonly diagnosed gynecologic malignancy. According to the American Cancer Society, there is no true test for ovarian cancer. “Several large studies are in progress to learn how best to find ovarian cancer in its earliest stage.” Since there is no accurate screening test, “an exploratory surgical procedure called laparoscopy is generally required for the definitive diagnosis of ovarian cancer. During this procedure, cysts or other suspicious areas must be removed and biopsied. After the incision is made, the surgeon assesses the fluid and cells in the abdominal cavity. If the lesion is cancerous, the surgeon continues with a process called surgical staging to ascertain how far the cancer has spread.

Ovarian cancer is often called the “silent” killer because many times there are no symptoms until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. One-third of American women will get some form of cancer in their lifetime and approximately one and one half percent of those cases will be cancer involving one or both ovaries.

Ovarian cancer usually happens in women over age 50, but it can also affect younger women. Its cause is unknown. Ovarian cancer is hard to detect early. The sooner ovarian cancer is found and treated, the better your chance for recovery. But ovarian cancer is hard to detect early. Many times, women with ovarian cancer have no symptoms or just mild symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage and hard to treat.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

When symptoms do appear, they are generally so vague that they are often ignored. The most common signs are abdominal swelling or bloating, lower abdominal discomfort, a feeling of discomfort, a feeling of fullness even after a light meal, and loss of appetite. Other complaints may include gas, indigestion, nausea, and weight loss.

Symptoms may include prolonged abdominal swelling, abdominal pain, poor appetite, weight loss, a need to pass water often, digestive problems such as indigestion, bloating, constipation, and unusual bleeding from the vagina.

Ovarian cancer may cause several signs and symptoms. Women are more likely to have symptoms if the disease has spread beyond the ovaries, but even early stage ovarian cancer can cause them

Causes of Ovarian Cancer

The causes of ovarian cancer remain unknown. Some researchers believe it has to do with the tissue-repair process that follows the monthly release of an egg through a tiny tear in an ovarian follicle (ovulation) during a woman’s reproductive years. The formation and division of new cells at the rupture site may set up a situation in which genetic errors occur. Others propose that the increased hormone levels before and during ovulation may stimulate the growth of abnormal cells.

Obesity: Various studies have looked at the relationship of obesity and ovarian cancer. Overall, it does seem that obese women (those with a body mass index of at least 30) do have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. A study from the American Cancer Society also found a higher rate of death from ovarian cancer in obese women. The risk was increased by 50% in the heaviest women.

The incidence of ovarian cancer increases steadily with age, with most cases found in women 55 to 75 years of age. It occurs with equal frequency in each of the two ovaries.

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Rep. Steve Israel (D – New York) speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives about his Ovarian Cancer Awareness Resolution (H.Res.727).

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Elana Waldman’s speech about Ovarian Cancer and her battle with the disease at the ICRF Women of Action Luncheon

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Do you find yourself searching for facts about ovarian cancer?

Well here are a couple quick facts for you.

The ovaries belong to the female reproductive system and produce eggs each month during the reproductive years of a woman. You will find that they are located on either side of the woman’s lower abdomen. Ovarian cancer occurs when the cells in the ovary divide and grow in an uncontrollable fashion. The cells may form a tumor on the woman’s ovary or the cells may even break off from the main body and spread to other body parts.

What is the risk of a woman contacting ovarian cancer? It is about 1 in 67.

The risk of getting this type of cancer and dying from it is 1 in 95.

It is the eighth most common cause of cancer in women, excluding skin cancer. Wouldn’t it be well worth your while to be checked out every year whether you notice a problem or not? It would bring peace of mind if nothing else.

There is no way to control how crazily Ovarian cancer cells grow and multiply out of control. These out of control cells form a tumor depriving healthy surrounding cells of much-needed oxygen and nutrients that they require for survival and maximum function. An ovarian tumor can be in just one or in both of the ovaries. Not all tumors are malignant, but if they are that means that they can spread to other organs and tissues of the body which is a process called metastasis.

There are 4 types of ovarian cancers: Epithelial, stromal, germ cell and metastatic tumors.

While testing for ovarian cancer other cell masses can be discovered that are non-cancerous such as abscesses, infections, fibroids, cysts, polycystic ovaries, endometriosis related masses, and also ectopic pregnancies.

Roughly 80% of all ovarian cancers are epithelial in nature and are the most commonly found in menopausal women.

In 10% of ovarian cancer cases, stromal tumors may occur. Surgical removal of the affected ovary is usually all the treatment that is needed unless the cancer has spread.

Tumors that develop from the cells that develop into the ova (the woman’s eggs) develop into germ cell tumors. This type of ovarian cancer usually results in infertility in the woman.

Usually only 5% of ovarian cancers will spread to other body parts but when they do spread most of the time the cancer spreads to the colon, breast, stomach or pancreas.

If a woman’s mother, sister or daughter has ovarian cancer than she has a 5% risk of getting it too. If she has two close relatives (mother, sister, daughter) with ovarian cancer she then has a 50% risk of getting the disease.

There are many risk factors a woman may have for ovarian cancer besides family history including exposure to asbestos, exposure of the genitals to talc, certain virus exposure like that of mumps, being of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, or of European (white) heritage, having used fertility drugs without a successful pregnancy, age greater than 50 years and women who have never had any children.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer

The first symptoms in thinking that something may be wrong are similar to indigestion and gastrointestinal illness. This makes the diseases hard to diagnose. Due to this fact, many women are not diagnosed until the ovarian cancer has already made headway.

Sign and various symptoms that may suggest ovarian cancer are:

•general abdominal discomfort, pain
•diarrhea, nausea, constipation and frequent urination
•the loss of one’s appetite
•feeling full even only after eating a light meal
•Weight loss or gain for no known reason
•Abnormal bleeding from the vaginal area may occur as a late symptom

Risk factors for ovarian cancer

There are no known causes for ovarian cancer. However, certain studies show that an increased risk of the disease of the following may increase the chance of getting this disease:

•Family history – If your mother, daughter or sister has had the disease, you are at greater risk of getting ovarian cancer.

•Age – Most ovarian cancers will occur in women who are over 50 years of age. The highest risk comes in women who are over 60.

•Non-childbearing – Women who have never experienced the miracle of birth. The fact is, the more children a woman has, the less likely it is that she will develop ovarian cancer.

•Personal history – Those women who have had colon or breast cancer may find themselves at greater risk.

•Obesity – Obese women experience a higher death rate from ovarian cancer.

•Fertility drugs – These may slightly increase a woman’s risk to ovarian cancer.

Treatment:

There are various types of treatment for ovarian cancer consisting of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. There is local therapy, which consists of surgery and radiation therapy. The local treatment removes or destroys the cancer. Local therapy can be used to destroy cancer in specific body parts.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy uses a thin tube to deliver the chemotherapy to the abdomen and pelvis.

The physician uses Systemic chemotherapy to destroy or control cancer throughout the body. This is injected into a vein or delivered orally.

Side effects are common no matter which type of treatment is used because the treatments destroy not just the cancer cells but healthy cells as well. The severity and kind of side effect will depend on the kind and on the length of treatment. Not everyone who receives the same treatment will experience the same side effects.

I hope that these basic facts about ovarian cancer were useful to you.

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• Perfect for hard to buy people
• Sturdy 12 Gauge Clear Vinyl Outer Shell
• Handcrafted Fabric Insert
• Duplicate Check Flap
• Holds 1 or 2 Cards Per Side

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This is not a licensed Product. It is however hand-crafted with care from licensed fabrics. We are not affiliated with the licensee or the manufacturer of the licensed product.

Please note that this is a handcrafted item! It is not a mass produced product!

Why carry the SAME Checkbook Cover that everyone at your bank has? Be unique and have some personal style!

Handcrafted Fabric Checkbook Cover and Debit Check Card ID Holder Set. Checkbook Cover is a lightweigh… More >>

Checkbook Cover Debit Set Made with Ovarian Cancer Awareness Ribbon Fabric

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Katie Couric talks with an oncologist and a woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer about the symptoms of the disease and the importance of early detection. (CBSNews.com)

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• ISBN13: 9780763743116
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

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Whether you’re a newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patient, a survivor, or a friend or relative of either, this book offers help. Completely updated, the new second edition of 100 Questions & Answers About Ovarian Cancer gives you authoritative, practical answers to your questions about treatment options, post-treatment quality of life, sources of support, and much more. Written by a gynecologic oncologist and a gynecologic surgeon, with actual patient comm… More >>

100 Questions & Answers About Ovarian Cancer, Second Edition

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‘You Can Win The Battle Against Colon Cancer .. Do Not Forget One Of Your Best Defenses Is A Strong Offense’. This Is From Kathleen’s Survival Story. Read On And Discover The Uplifting Stories From Her And Six Other Amazing Colon Cancer Survivors.
Colon Cancer Can Be Beaten.

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Kathy Bates talks about her experience with ovarian cancer. www.ovariancancer.org

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Ovarian Cancer Awareness “Unite To Fight” Wristband

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Ovarian Cancer Awareness “Unite to Fight” Wristband Adult Size

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www.howdini.com Ovarion cancer symptoms – Recognizing ovarian cancer signs Do you know the symptoms and warning signs of ovarian cancer? Dr. Jennifer Wu, an OB/GYN at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York explains the latest medical advice about detection and screening. Keywords: early ovarian cancer symptoms symptoms of ovarian cancer ovarian cancer signs and symptoms

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This magnetic support ribbon is perfect for your car or refrigerator. Display a message for supporting Ovarian Cancer Awareness, the Troops, POW’s, America, or Cancer with these support ribbons. Beautifully rendered, easily applied and removed, and best of all – they’re RE-USABLE! Each Weather Resistant Magnet is 8″long and 3 7/8″ wide. This magnet comes with an extra free magnet.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 25,580 new cases of ovarian cancer will be… More >>

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Ribbon Magnet

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• ISBN13: 9781591027768
• Condition: USED – VERY GOOD
• Notes:

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This unique and important guidebook is a single, comprehensive source of information and advice to help women (and some men) at high risk for breast and for ovarian cancer because of family history and genetic profile. One part memoir, three parts ‘how to’ manual, this book explains in a clear and steady manner the myths and realities of ‘the breast cancer genes’. It lays out all the options in easy-to-follow, compassionate language. It will help women and men to de… More >>

Positive Results: Making the Best Decisions When You’re at High Risk for Breast or Ovarian Cancer

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For the first time, professionals are identifying ovarian cancer symptoms and explains what women, and their doctors, should be on the alert for. Your Cancer Today interviews Dr. Barbara Goff, Director of the Gynecologic Cancer Division at the University of Washington. (When detected early, ovarian cancer usually can be cured. Yet most cases are found late, when the 5-year survival rate is only 20-30%). For more information on Ovarian Cancer go to: www.yourcancertoday.com

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