News

DNA from Pap Smears Could Help Detect Endometrial and Ovari...

DNA from Pap Smears Could Help Detect Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer

January 9, 2013

1/09/2013 Analyzing DNA from Pap smears could help detect endometrial and ovarian cancer, a new study published Jan. 9, 2013 in Science Translational Medicine reports. OCRF Scientific Advisory Committee member (and former grantee) Doug Levine, MD, was among the authors of the article, which was highlighted on the cover of the journal. The routine Pap smear, which allows … Continued

Research

New Research on Screening for Familial Ovarian Cancer

New Research on Screening for Familial Ovarian Cancer

January 3, 2013

1/3/2013 In the most recent edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers in the UK published preliminary results from the United Kingdom Familial Ovarian Cancer Screen Study, a large trial testing the hypothesis that ovarian cancer screening may benefit women at familial risk.  Results showed that annual screening did lead to diagnosis at an earlier stage, … Continued

Research

Partner Member Profile: Bright Pink

Partner Member Profile: Bright Pink

January 2, 2013

Lindsay Avner founded Bright Pink in 2007, shortly after she learned that she carried a mutation in the BRCA gene. Just 22 years old when she was tested, Lindsay realized that she had nowhere to turn for advice on coping with her increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. “There was nothing for women who … Continued

Community

No Long-Term Survival Benefit for BRCA Mutation Carriers

No Long-Term Survival Benefit for BRCA Mutation Carriers

January 1, 2013

01/01/2013 Previous studies have suggested that BRCA mutation carriers with ovarian cancer have better survival rates than women who are not carriers.  Researchers in Canada and the US sought to investigate long-term survival (10 years post diagnosis) in BRCA mutation carriers.  Their results show that “for women with invasive ovarian cancer, the short-term survival advantage of … Continued

Research

Meet Mindy Gray: Wife, Mother, Sister, Philanthropist, and ...

Meet Mindy Gray: Wife, Mother, Sister, Philanthropist, and OCRF Board Member

December 14, 2012

12/14/2012 | Mindy Gray was devastated by the passing of her beloved older sister, Faith Basser. But she turned loss into legacy and hurt into hope this year when she and her husband Jon founded the Basser Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania in honor of her sister who succumbed to ovarian cancer at … Continued

Community

Under the Microscope: OCRF’s 2012 Research Progress R...

Under the Microscope: OCRF’s 2012 Research Progress Report

December 11, 2012

12/11/12 | In 2012, hardworking, dedicated OCRF scientists made significant advances in the fight against ovarian cancer. Below is just a sample of some of the exciting discoveries made by OCRF-funded researchers this year. With your generous support, OCRF grantees have: Thank you for supporting our mission to fund scientific research that will lead to … Continued

OCRA News

Metformin May Increase Survival For Women With Ovarian Cancer

Metformin May Increase Survival For Women With Ovarian Cancer

December 6, 2012

Metformin, a drug used to treat diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), may increase survival for women with ovarian cancer. A study of 239 women with ovarian cancer divided them into two arms: those with diabetes who were taking metformin and those who did not have diabetes.  More women with diabetes lived longer. Read the … Continued

Research

A Personal Connection Becomes a Professional Mission

A Personal Connection Becomes a Professional Mission

December 4, 2012

Ivan Garcia-Bassets, Ph.D., a 2012 OCRF Grantee, changed his research focus to ovarian cancer after his wife received a devastating diagnosis.

Community

Hospice Reimbursement May Disincentivize Care for Expensive...

Hospice Reimbursement May Disincentivize Care for Expensive Patients

December 4, 2012

A study by the Commonwealth Foundation found that patients with expensive treatment, such as palliative chemotherapy, were more likely to be turned away from hospice facilities. Some findings include The study found 61 percent of hospices would not accept patients who wanted chemotherapy, which can be used to help ease their pain in their dying … Continued

Research

Common Diabetes Drug May Boost Ovarian Cancer Survival

Common Diabetes Drug May Boost Ovarian Cancer Survival

December 3, 2012

12/03/2012 Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have shown that ovarian cancer patients who were taking the common diabetes drug metformin survived longer than patients who weren’t on the drug.  The research was published online in the journal Cancer.  Two former OCRF grantees, Jeremy Chien, PhD, and Ramandeep Rattan, PhD, were among the paper’s authors. While metformin (also called Glucophage) … Continued

Research

Partner Member Profile: Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance

Partner Member Profile: Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance

December 3, 2012

When Pam Dahlmann’s mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2009—40 years after her own mother passed away from the disease—both women quickly learned that there were no ovarian cancer organizations in Michigan. “My mom and I were both University of Michigan nursing graduates,” says Pam, “We really wanted to make a difference for other … Continued

Community

Expanding Medicaid Could Help Women with Ovarian Cancer

Expanding Medicaid Could Help Women with Ovarian Cancer

November 30, 2012

Many people who live near the poverty line are surprised to learn that they do not qualify for health insurance under Medicaid. Each state sets its own rules for this program, based on income and other qualifying factors. This may soon change, thanks to a provision in the health reform law that encourages states to … Continued

Advocacy