News

Alliance submits comments to FDA on off-label use of oncolo...

Alliance submits comments to FDA on off-label use of oncology drugs

May 2, 2014

This week, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a proposed Guidance for Industry that could have the effect of limiting patient access to “off label” oncology drugs. In cancer, many people are prescribed treatments approved for other uses, but not currently approved for a particular disease. … Continued

SGO and AACR Research Round-Up

SGO and AACR Research Round-Up

April 18, 2014

With two marquee scientific conferences, the Society for Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), occurring back-to-back, the past few weeks have seen an explosion in ovarian cancer research news. This post rounds-up all that news and puts it in one place for you. All women with ovarian cancer should consider … Continued

108 Members of the House of Representative Support Ovarian ...

108 Members of the House of Representative Support Ovarian Cancer Research Funding

April 4, 2014

Each spring, Congress takes up the task of allocating money to federal programs. And each spring, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance works to ensure that ovarian cancer research funding remains a top priority. This year was no exception. On Wednesday, 108 Members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee … Continued

Updates from the 2014 Society for Gynecologic Oncology Annu...

Updates from the 2014 Society for Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting

April 1, 2014

Compiled by Robin Cohen, President-Elect, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance As in years past, a wealth of clinical research into ovarian cancer was presented at the 2014 Society for Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) meeting. Some of the biggest news for the ovarian cancer community is summarized below, including SGO’s recommendations regarding genetic testing of ovarian cancer patients … Continued

Vynfinit gains European approval for treatment of platinum-...

Vynfinit gains European approval for treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

March 26, 2014

Last week, the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or CHMP – the equivalent to the FDA in the United States, recommended approval for vynfinit in the treatment of some platinum resistant ovarian cancers. Vynfinit, developed by Endocyte, targets ovarian cancer cells that have abnormally high levels of the folate receptor. … Continued

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments March 25 on Birth Control C...

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments March 25 on Birth Control Coverage

March 24, 2014

On March 25 the Supreme Court will hear arguments in two lawsuits that challenge whether for-profit employers must provide health insurance that covers birth control. The lawsuits involve a provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires insurance plans to cover preventive health services, including contraceptives. A number of companies challenged the law, arguing that … Continued

Press Release: Cancer Advocates Debunk Huckabee’s Misleadin...

Press Release: Cancer Advocates Debunk Huckabee’s Misleading Comments on Oral Contraceptives

January 24, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 24, 2014 Washington, DC—In response to a recent speech by Mike Huckabee, in which he stated that women use oral contraceptives because they “cannot control their libidos or their reproductive systems,” the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance issued the following statement from CEO Calaneet Balas: “In his quest for a quotable sound … Continued

Supreme Court to Consider Two Birth Control Lawsuits

Supreme Court to Consider Two Birth Control Lawsuits

December 3, 2013

The Supreme Court recently announced that it will hear two cases involving insurance coverage for birth control. The Alliance weighed in on one of these cases, arguing that oral contraceptives are a proven way to prevent ovarian cancer and should therefore be made available to women who wish to reduce their risk. Our CEO Calaneet … Continued

New Cancer Insurance Checklist Helps Patients Choose a Heal...

New Cancer Insurance Checklist Helps Patients Choose a Health Insurance Plan

September 25, 2013

Many Americans will begin shopping for health insurance on October 1 through the new insurance marketplaces. As a cancer patient, you have unique health care needs that you may want to consider. The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance has partnered with 18 patient advocacy organizations to launch a new tool that will help you pick the … Continued

President Obama Declares September National Ovarian Cancer ...

President Obama Declares September National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

September 9, 2013

“This month, we extend a hand to all women battling ovarian cancer. We pledge our support to them, to their families, and to the goal of defeating this disease.”-President Barack Obama Read full proclamation here.

Report from ASCO 2013–What's New in Ovarian Canc...

Report from ASCO 2013–What's New in Ovarian Cancer Research

June 20, 2013

We recently returned from the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), an annual event that gathers thousands of cancer researchers from around the world. Many new studies on or related to ovarian cancer were presented at this year’s ASCO meeting. Click here to read a summary of ovarian cancer research from … Continued

June 2013 SNMMI Meeting

June 2013 SNMMI Meeting

June 13, 2013

Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Advocate Report from Laurel Pracht As a member of the SNMMI Advocate Advisory Board, formed in 2010 to better bridge the gap between the patient and nuclear medicine communities, I represent the ovarian patient community. Other diseases, including cancer, brain and heart disease are represented as well.  … Continued