The Edmée Firth Fund for Research in Ovarian Cancer

EFFROC

Why EFFROC?

EFFROC is focused on two significant shortfalls in the advancement of ovarian cancer research:

Early Detection

Ovarian cancer is most often not detected until it’s already at Stage III or IV. EFFROC is funding research to develop clinical testing methods and education to increase physicians’ awareness of the disease and the importance of early detection.

Second-Line Treatment

Recurrence is common with ovarian cancer. EFFROC is funding research into second-line treatments to reduce toxicity and side effects and improve targeted therapies.

About Edmée

Edmée Firth wearing earrings and smiling
Edmée Firth

Edmée Firth, a dynamic leader in the Arts and Foundation worlds, was diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer in 2016. She fought aggressively and was treated by top doctors at a leading New York teaching hospital with the most advanced treatments and clinical trials. Despite moderate success and multiple remissions, she died in March 2021, a little more than 5 years after diagnosis. 

Edmée’s experience led her husband Nicholas to found EFFROC to raise significant funding for research, starting with a $1 million stake. The goal is to double that number in the next year through private and public means, using OCRA’s expertise to direct the funding to the early detection and second-line treatment research channels.

Ways to Give

  • Make a donation in support of EFFROC via credit card or digital wallet by clicking the ‘Donate Now’ button.
  • Checks can be made out to EFFROC and mailed to PO Box 23113, New York, NY 10087-3113.
  • If you would like to donate via your donor-advised fund you must recommend a grant to OCRA and designate the grant in support of EFFROC.
  • Gifts of Stock: Your financial advisor can assist you in making a stock gift. Please alert us in advance about the name of the stock, the number of shares you plan to donate and designate the gift in support of EFFROC. OCRA will then provide the instructions for electronic transfer and you will receive a tax letter for the full market value of the stock.
  • IRA Distributions: To make a gift from your IRA, contact your IRA administrator and instruct them to make a distribution directly to EFFROC, PO Box 23113 New York, NY 10087-3113 (Tax ID 13-3806788). Please ask your administrator to include your name and address when they transfer the funds so we can provide you with an acknowledgement for your records.

EFFROC is a “doing business as” name for Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, a 501(c)(3) charity with federal tax ID #13-3806788.

About Ovarian Cancer

THE DEADLIEST GYNECOLOGIC CANCER

  • Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer with a high ratio of incidence to mortality. It ranks 5th in causes of cancer-related deaths among women and is one of the most challenging diseases known to medicine.
  • The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2021, about 21,410 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed and 13,770 women will die of ovarian cancer in the United States.
  • Ovarian cancer makes up 1.2% of all new cancer cases but 2.3% of all cancer deaths.
  • Early detection is difficult because symptoms often don’t appear until the disease is advanced, often appear as mild and vague, and could apply to a variety of conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome or ovarian cysts. Only 15% of cases are diagnosed in the early stages. 
  • Ovarian Cancer is most often diagnosed in its later stages. About 75 percent of women with ovarian cancer receive their diagnosis when the disease is at stage III or IV, and less than half of them will be alive 5 years later. The 10-year survival rate is only 35%.
  • There is no effective way to screen for ovarian cancer. Current tests (CA-125 blood test and ultrasound) are not reliable or accurate enough, especially for early-stage disease.
  • Given how deadly ovarian cancer is, it is an under-funded disease. NCI funding for research of gynecologic cancers is significantly lower than for other cancers.