News

Ovarian Cancer News

'We'll never forget you'

February 2010

Deborah Garrett's death from ovarian cancer at just 38 left
her family shattered - here they remember her brave fight in a special issue of Fabulous magazine focussing on gynaecological cancers.

Ovarian cancer treatment on trial

January 2010

A breakthrough in the treatment of ovarian cancer is this week being trialled in Britain. It could save the lives of thousands of women, medical researchers believe.

A joint British-Canadian trial of the new technique, known as intraperitoneal chemotherapy, will be launched at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

'I didn't want to lose my hair after chemotherapy'

January 2010

Melanie Rowland is very proud of her thick white hair.She did not realise just how important it was to her until she risked losing it all, during chemotherapy.

But thanks to a charity donation of a scalp cooler the 61-year-old from Surrey was able to keep the vast majority of her hair. The machines work by lowering the temperature of the head and scalp by a few degrees before, during and after chemotherapy.

GP's surgeries to get software that spots early cancer symptoms and calculates risk

January 2010

There are more than 200 forms of cancer, and many of their symptoms are the same as for a range of other, often less serious, conditions. Computers could help doctors get it right more often when deciding whether to investigate a patient further, discharge them or refer them to hospital.

"This is helping GPs because none of us can retain this sort of information [about cancer symptoms] and having to retain it for bowel cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer, as well as for heart disease, it would take a remarkable human brain to be able to do that, so why not get computers to support it?" said Professor Mike Richards, the government's cancer tsar.

What it feels like to survive ovarian cancer

November 2009

When Ovacome member Jennifer Smith's tummy swelled up, she put it down to overeating. It was the only sign she had a life-threatening disease.

""I was just 40 when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. That's pretty unusual - only 15% of cases occur in women below the age of 50. It's one of those diseases that's completely unsexy. It lacks the trendy factor: we don't have a poster girl like Kylie Minogue. Ask a bunch of women what to look for with breast cancer and most will know at least a little. Ask them about ovarian cancer and the majority won't even have heard of it, let alone know what the symptoms are. I was one of those. "

Speedier tests for ovarian cancer planned

September 2009

GPs in England are to get speedier access to diagnostic tests to help spot less clear-cut cancer cases, Prime Minister Gordon Brown will pledge.

It will initially be targeted at lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers, which account for more than a third of cancer deaths and where late diagnosis is a particular problem.

Ovacome comments on the OvPlex ovarian cancer detection test

September 2009

Louise Bayne, CEO of Ovacome:

"Ovacome welcomes this latest development, however we don't anticipate that this test will be available on the NHS for some time. If you have any questions or concerns about screening, please contact our nurses on 0845 371 0554."

For more information, visit the OvPlex website.

On more weapon in the fight against ovarian cancer

August 2009

A genetic link to the disease, which often lies hidden until it's so advanced that it's difficult to treat, was revealed earlier this month.

The study involved more than 4,000 UK women and collaboration between the Cancer Research UK Genetic Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge and University College, London.

The first glimmer of hope of more tailored screening?

August 2009

A study published in Nature Genetics this week reported on a new development in ovarian cancer genetics. They have discovered a genetic variation, known as a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism ('SNP' - known as a 'snip') which can increase the risk of ovarian cancer. The scientists based at the Cancer Research UK Genetic Epidemiology Unit, at the University of Cambridge and University College London, have spent eight years looking at the DNA of thousands of women with and without ovarian cancer. The area of risk DNA otherwise known as a low penetrance gene is on chromosome 9. Louise Bayne CEO of Ovacome said: "This is the first of the low penetrance ovarian cancer genes - which slightly increase the risk of ovarian cancer - to be identified and Ovacome welcomes this exciting advance."

What is a low penetrance gene?

Dr James Mackay, Consultant Clinical Genetic Oncologist, explains that low penetrance genes slightly increase the risk of ovarian cancer, whereas high penetrance genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase the risk much more. If you imagine a room with 1000 women in it, and imagine they all had totally normal genes, over their lifetimes, 10 of the women in the room would get ovarian cancer. Now if you imagine that all the 1000 women had this new genetic 'SNP', then over a lifetime 14 of the women would get ovarian cancer. If you imagine that they all had a BRCA gene mutation, 400 of them would get ovarian cancer. So you can see that although this does increase the risk of ovarian cancer a little, it is a small increase compared to some of the major genetic detections we already know about. The really important thing about this study is that, as more low penetrance ovarian cancer genes are identified, a more tailored approach to screening could be provided.

"I was only 31 when I got ovarian cancer -- so I urge all women to get checked out"

July 2009

The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) is calling on the Government to urgently set up risk-assessment clinics for ovarian cancer in strategic locations around the country.

Ovarian cancer signs 'confusion'

June 2009

There is "widespread confusion" amongst doctors and women about ovarian cancer, a new report has said.

A spokesman for the Royal College of GPs said it was "extraordinarily difficult" to diagnose ovarian cancer at an early stage.

Guardian article on 'chemobrain'

April 2009

'I feel my brain is not my own'

Susan Sontag likened hers to the symptoms of a stroke, while Kylie Minogue complained that it made her forget everything. Welcome to chemobrain or, less catchily, "cancer treatment-related change in cognitive function" - a widespread problem for cancer patients which, until recently, has been largely ignored by clinicians.

Screening may hold the key to beating ovarian cancer

March 2009

Survival rates in British women with cancer of the ovary are well below those of their peers in the US and most of Europe. This is a situation that the Department of Health and leading cancer charities hope to address through a joint campaign to increase awareness of the symptoms of the disease - both among women and healthcare professionals.

Ovarian Cancer Test May Stop 'Silent Killer'

March 2009

A new screening test for ovarian cancer can diagnose the disease long before women have any symptoms, research suggests.

Ovacome News

Spring 2010 newsletter

March 2010

Ovacome's Spring 2010 newsletter is now available to download here.

'Loving for Lovers' by Ovacome member Diana Tennyson

February 2010

The joy of love and despair of loss - two sides of the same coin and two intense feelings that Ovacome member Diana Tennyson relates beautifully in her new collection of poems, 'Loving for Lovers'.

Diana met Ovacome founder Sarah Dickinson at the first Ovacome AGM in 1996 and has been a supporter ever since. She has written several poems for friends affacted by cancer and this book, dedicated to a friend who died of cancer eight years ago, is her new collection focussing on love and the loss lof love.

Ovacome will receive a percentage of sales from the book which can be purchased from the Ovacome office for £10.98 including P&P. Please contact the office or send a cheque made payable to 'Ovacome' to the office address if you would like a copy.

Adidas 5k Women's Challenge entries now open!

January 2010

Here come the GIRLS!

On the 5th September 2010 the Adidas Women's 5k Challenge will be held in Hyde Park, London. Team Ovacome (from the office!) run this event every year and we always love to meet all the women running and walking in memory of loved ones and to help raise awareness of ovarian cancer.

Enter online at the link below or simply request an entry form from the Ovacome office on 020 7299 6654. Entry costs £15, £5 of which goes direct to Ovacome.

http://www.womenschallenge.co.uk/home

Christmas support service opening hours

December 2009

The Ovacome office and support service will be closed over Christmas from 5pm on the 23rd December to 9am on the 4th Jan.

We would like to wish all our supporters a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Ovarian cancer - are you at risk?

November 2009

Article in Best magazine featuring Ovacome member Gillian Pinnock.

See the whole article here.

One of Ovacome's ROCCs, Penny Lang, speaks to the BBC and the Daily Mail about her ovarian cancer journey

November 2009

Penelope, who lives in Northampton with her husband Alastair, 35, a risk manager, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October last year. Ovarian cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in the UK, with about 7,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Most of these are post-menopausal women, but many hundreds of young women are also affected.

Penelope's experience was typical. The only sign something was wrong was a bloated stomach. But she was one of the lucky ones: a scan for an unrelated problem detected the rapidly-growing cancer early, saving her life.

Autumn/ Winter 2009 Newsletter

October 2009

Ovacome's Autumn/ Winter 2009 newsletter is now available to download here.

Ovacome Surveys 2009

August 2009

One of Ovacome's main missions is to provide a voice for those affected by the disease. Our surveys in the past have been widely distributed and warmly received. Your experiences have informed the Department of Health, as well as researchers and professional bodies. The results have been presented at international meetings as well as local events. Our 2006 survey remains the largest of its kind in the UK.

In preparation for ovarian cancer awareness month 2010, we wanted to learn more about your path to diagnosis. What was good? What could have been done better?

We would like your help in completing two quick online surveys. These surveys focus on what the barriers to your diagnosis were, and how we can remove them.

One called The Ovacome GP Experience Survey, which can be found here.

The second is called The Diagnosis Pathway Survey, which can be found here.

If you can, please do complete them both as they focus on different aspects of your diagnosis experiences.

The surveys are completely anonymous; we will not be able to trace the origins at all. Please do answer the questions as comprehensively as possible - the more we understand, the better we can use your experiences to help other women with ovarian cancer.

If you have any questions, please do feel free to call us or email us.

Thank you so much.

New Ovacome Factsheets!

August 2009

Ovacome is delighted to announce our 15 new and fully updated information factsheets. These cover various aspects of ovarian cancer such as types of ovarian cancer, staging and questions to ask your doctor as well as information on topics such as symptoms, screening, treatment options, relapse and coping with cancer-related issues like menopause and your sexuality.

We are also pleased to be able to tell you that that all our fact sheets have now been crystal marked by the Plain English Campaign, an organisation dedicated to clear and concise information in plain English.

For a full list of subjects covered or to download any of the factsheets from our website, please click here.

You can also make a request by phone or post.

Here come the girls! The Adidas 5k 2009

August 2009

Run (or walk!) the London Adidas Women's 5k on Sept 6th in Hyde Park in support of Ovacome and to raise awareness of ovarian cancer! Deadline for applications is the 15th Aug.

www.womenschallenge.co.uk

Summer 2009 Newsletter

June 2009

Ovacome's Summer 2009 newsletter is now available to download here.

Tributes to stalwart cancer campaigner and Ovacome trustee, Sandra Woodward

June 2009

Sandra Woodward was diagnosed when she retired to Clungunford more than six years ago and dedicated her life to furthering the welfare and care of cancer patients in Herefordshire and Powys. She studied the disease, becoming a recognised expert, speaking at conferences in the UK and in Europe.

Sandra was a valued member of the Ovacome trustee board and will be greatly missed by all at Ovacome.

Congratulations to our Marathon runners!

May 2009

Alison Clarke
Alice Kaphan
Rachel Baker
Rachel Ireland
Jason Critoph
Martyn Jones
Kate Baker
Malanie McMath
Andrew Shaw
Jim O'Leary