More than one-third of women with ovarian cancer develop ascites (pronounced uh٠SAI٠teez), an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Ascites, which also occurs in people with liver disease and occasionally with other conditions, can lead to bloating, pain, discomfort, nausea, as well as trouble moving around, eating, or breathing. While this fluid buildup often comes … 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
Clinical trials are fundamental to the discovery of new and better therapies in the fight against ovarian cancer. Yet enrollment and widespread availability remain a challenge. To address both financial barriers and inequity in participation, OCRA is urging Congress to pass the DIVERSE (Diversifying Investigations Via Equitable Research Studies for Everyone) Trials Act (H.R. 5030/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
The following is a press release from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Magee-Womens Research Institute PITTSBURGH, Nov. 12, 2021 – Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a type of cancer treatment that help the immune system’s T cells recognize and attack tumors. But these immunotherapy drugs aren’t effective against all cancers. In … Continued
Physical activity has been touted as important for a whole host of reasons, from bone health to mental health and everything in between. But what are the benefits of exercise for cancer patients, specifically ovarian cancer? And is it advisable for ovarian cancer patients to exercise at all? As always, it’s important to check with … 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
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