The Overview: February 2021

We have great hope for the year ahead, and much of that is buoyed by what we accomplished, with your help, in 2020. A quick look back at the numbers…

778 unique calls to our help line
689 people participated in our newly launched Staying Connected online support group series
Over 700 attendees (more than double from the previous year!) from across the US and around the world attended our virtual Ovarian Cancer National Conference
In a single day, 65 Advocate Leaders and supporters from 34 states and D.C., made their voices heard in 125 meetings with elected officials on Capitol Hill
64,811 members in our Inspire online community
$6.6 million invested in groundbreaking research
23,445 gifts were received in support of OCRA’s mission and the ovarian cancer community
Around 900 Survivors Teaching Students volunteers spoke to 11,450 rising medical professionals
42 Woman to Woman mentors supported patients around the country

Thank you for everything you have done to make this happen. We hope you enjoy reading about what lies ahead.

RESEARCH

We are thrilled to announce our 2021 cohort of grantees — 16 of the greatest scientific minds directing their energy, passion and intellect to making breakthroughs in the treatment of ovarian cancer >>

Science can be lonely work. As OCRA researchers toil in the lab, you can send them encouragement. Take two minutes to thank a grantee by writing your thoughts of appreciation in this form >>

A recent study, published in Cancer Research and reported in The New York Times, suggests that risk-reduction associated with oral contraceptive use can last a lifetime >>

OCRA-funded researcher Anil K. Sood, M.D., along with colleagues, identified potential biomarkers in subgroups of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC). Read more to discover how these biomarkers can help doctors detect and monitor diseases, as well as monitor how well diseases are responding to treatments >>

More than 100 Advocate Leaders — 53 returning and more than 50 new – will champion the voices of our community at the highest levels of our government. Read more about our advocacy work and plans for Spring Advocacy Day this March >>

Speaking of Spring Advocacy Day, mark your calendars for March 8th and 9th! While we can’t go to Capitol Hill in person, our virtual format this year will allow even more people to participate >>

Many are excited and feeling hopeful about a Covid-19 vaccine. But what does this mean for the ovarian cancer community? If you have questions, we may have answers. Read on for vaccine information and resources, whether you’re newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, in remission, or a caregiver >>

Is someone you love dealing with ovarian cancer? Do you wish you could talk to other friends and family members of patients, who can understand what you’re going through? OCRA has a new virtual support group just for you, which meets every other Friday at 1pm ET. Learn more or register for the Staying Connected Support Series.

What exactly are clinical trials? Why would someone want to participate in one? How are patients in trials protected? How do I find one? All of these questions and more are answered in this highlight from a presentation at our National Conference >>

Once a person has been treated for ovarian cancer, and all traces of the disease have been removed, there is rightful cause for celebration and relief. Still, the possibility of a recurrence is often in the back (or the front) of a patient’s mind. Learn how to manage recurrence from a Johns Hopkins gynecologic oncologist who spoke at our National Conference >>

Join us in The ‘23 for Hope’ Challenge to raise awareness and support for the ovarian cancer community: do 23 minutes of fitness — walking, yoga, dance, biking, swimming, hula hoop, the possibilities are endless! — pledge $23 in support, and then challenge 23 of your friends and family to do the same. It’s really that simple. Learn more about this 23-day challenge kicking off on (when else?) Feb 23rd >>

We’re doing everything in our power to rid the world of ovarian cancer. But we can’t do it alone. You can make a pledge to keep our programs — from clinical research, to patient support, to advocacy — continuously funded and moving forward by making a monthly gift and becoming a member of the OCRA Promise Circle. Join a group of exceptional people so deeply committed to our shared mission that they want their gift to be steady and enduring >>

Meet Amy Hollub, an OCRA Hero who doesn’t think of herself in heroic terms, even though she spearheaded a massive fundraising and awareness-raising event in Miami. Discover the genesis of her initiative, and how it’s still possible to fundraise during a pandemic >>