A cancer diagnosis of any type can stress both body and mind, but ovarian cancer takes a particularly high psychological toll on those living with the disease, according to recent research. However, there are different things patients can try to help them thrive during that first year. Read on for practical tips from a medical professional who … Continued
Dr. Bojana Stefanovska, at University of Minnesota Twin Cities, is a 2021 recipient of OCRA’s Ann and Sol Schreiber Mentored Investigator Award. Her project, “APOBEC3B and DNA Repair as Synthetic Lethal Combinations in CCOC,” explores DNA repair as a potential treatment avenue for clear cell ovarian carcinoma (CCOC). What initially sparked your interest in science? … Continued
Dear Friends, I hope this finds you all well, staying safe, and enjoying preparations for a lovely holiday. Whether you’re gathering with loved ones or holding them in your heart as you celebrate, I wish you warmth and joy. With the busy holiday season just around the corner, I’m grateful for this moment to reflect on … Continued
In this time of giving thanks, we want to take a moment to look back and express our gratitude for the OCRA Heroes who stepped up for September’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to sweat it out at Ovarian Fitness events around the country, all in the name of raising funds for critical research, advocacy and … Continued
As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, we have much to be thankful for … an embracing and strong survivor community, supporters who remain ever committed to the cause, and brilliant grantees who are making strides every day in the search for better treatments and a cure for ovarian cancer. Here’s a roundup of what’s … Continued
Shelley O’Keefe had been experiencing weird bruising, some fatigue, and lower back pain for a few years. But she’s an athlete — a member of the PGA of America and golf instructor; before that, a Division 1 soccer player; and a former member of the United States Freestyle Ski Team as a mogul specialist. With two kids … Continued
April lives in Federal Way, Washington, and was diagnosed with Müllerian clear cell carcinoma. What has been your frustration in having a rare form of ovarian cancer? My biggest frustration is finding effective treatments and battling my insurance company to approve treatments. My insurance continues to deny treatments like immunotherapy, calling it investigational because there … Continued
Heather lives in Muskegon, and was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma, hypercalcemic type. What has been your frustration in having a rare form of ovarian cancer? My local doctors shoved it off as pregnancy symptoms or being a hypochondriac. I was “too young” to have ovarian cancer. I was having awful pain and vomiting while … Continued
Renee lives in Cadillac, and was diagnosed with carcinosarcoma. What has been your frustration in having a rare form of ovarian cancer? I became frustrated when I was not given much information from my gynecologic oncology team about my cancer. I had to resort to the internet to learn about it. Although my rare type … Continued
Jill lives in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was diagnosed with grade 3, stage IVB squamous cell carcinoma. What has been your frustration in having a rare form of ovarian cancer? Relaying the severity of my diagnosis to family/friends is incredibly frustrating. I understand the need to focus on the positive, but realistically speaking, there are no … Continued
Have we got a roundup in store! You heard from us a lot in September (thanks to you, we surpassed our Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month fundraising goal!) and there’s still so much to report … research progress, a brand new clinical trial initiative, our upcoming Fall Advocacy Day, and the list goes on. Read on … Continued
B. Dana Kivel has a plea to the ovarian cancer community, to medical professionals, to the world: “See me. Listen to me. I’m one of the people, the tens of thousands of people who have metastatic ovarian cancer.” But while Dana has a gendered gynecologic cancer, their gender identity does not align with what one would … Continued
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