Janetnews.com Blog

Here’s an interesting article about the fight against cancer.  I really like what the oncologist says below.  Don’t refer to cancer as a fight–because it implies someone or something will win.

Rethinking the war on cancer

We also tell you about Mayberry because of something Boston oncologist (and cancer survivor) Therese Mulvey told us. She has seen real progress in her 19 years in practice, but the upbeat focus on cancer survivors, cancer breakthroughs and miracle drugs bothers her. “The metaphor of fighting cancer implies the possibility of winning,” she said after seeing the last of that day’s patients one afternoon. “But some people are just not going to be cured. We’ve made tremendous strides against some cancers, but on others we’re stuck, and even our successes buy some people only a little more time before they die of cancer anyway.” She pauses, musing on how the uplifting stories and statistics—death rates from female breast cancer have fallen steadily since 1990; fecal occult blood testing and colonoscopy have helped avert some 80,000 deaths from colorectal cancer since 1990—can send the wrong message. “With cancer,” says Mulvey, “sometimes death is not optional.”

Here’s a copy of a letter I sent to my U.S. Texas Senators and House Representatives to gain more support for Ovarian Cancer Research.

On Thursday, July 10, constituents visited your office seeking support for Ovarian Cancer research, prevention and education in FY 2009. I know my fellow constituents left you with literature about our request. Just in case, here is a quick summary of exactly what we need from you to help us fight Ovarian Cancer in FY 2009:

• Allocate $10 million in FY 2009 to the CDC Ovarian Cancer Control Initiative to expand activities that increase early detection, improve treatment options and enhance survivorship. The CDC’s highly-developed network of health care providers and cancer registries spearheads efforts in educating providers in identifying ovarian cancer symptoms and utilizing best practice guidelines.
• Support Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and its goals (H.R. 671/Stabenow-Dole Resolution)
• Increase NCI funding by 9.5% to support and expand efforts to reduce cancer incidence and mortality and advance important research and awareness efforts that contribute significantly to our nation’s battle against ovarian cancer.
• Provide full funding in the amount of $16.5 million over three years, including $10 million in FY 2009, to support the implementation of “Johanna’s Law” (P.L. 109-475) – the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act – which authorized a three-year national gynecologic cancer early detection and awareness campaign directed at women and healthcare providers.
• Provide $25 million in FY 2009 for the DoD Ovarian Cancer Research Program, which funds multidisciplinary research that employs innovative methods of investigation and grants awards to new investigators. In 2005, researchers discovered several biomarkers for early stage ovarian cancer, with the prospect of developing this information into an effective and much-needed early detection test. Additional funding will speed the development and clinical testing of a reliable, early detection tool – reducing and preventing suffering from ovarian cancer.

I would appreciate if you would inform me of the Congressman’s position on these initiatives.

On a more personal note, on Monday, I celebrated what would have been my mom’s 68th birthday. Her doctor ignored all the early detection symptoms that she described to him. I believe with all my heart that with the proper education for both my mom and her doctor it would have led to an earlier diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with Stage IV C ovarian cancer in May 2006 and died over a year later on August 2, 2007. This is why I encourage the Congressman to support research, prevention and education for Ovarian Cancer in FY 2009. It is vital to saving more mothers’ lives.

Please thank your office for taking the time to visit with the constituents on July 10, and I encourage the Congressman to support Ovarian Cancer Awareness month this September with a mention in the newsletter and Web site.

Best,
Janet Johnson

The Result: A phone call from one House Representative’s office telling me what they are doing to fight ovarian cancer and that we have an advocate on the Hill! Yay!

The one regret about my mom’s illness is that she did not have “The Talk” by her doctor that her cancer was terminal.  In my heart I knew there were no more options but the doctor could have told us our next step.

Most cancer doctors avoid saying it’s the end

Only one-third of terminally ill cancer patients in a new, federally funded study said their doctors had discussed end-of-life care.

Surprisingly, patients who had these talks were no more likely to become depressed than those who did not, the study found. They were less likely to spend their final days in hospitals, tethered to machines. They avoided costly, futile care. And their loved ones were more at peace after they died.

 

Here’s a worthy charity.   We need more funds allocated to Ovarian Cancer and this organization spreads the wealth to hospitals to fund research just for ovarian cancer.

OCRF Charity

Is your senator supporting the Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers Research Act? If not, send them a letter here!!!

Send your Senator a letter to start taking action!

The Senate has introduced the Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers Research Act. This bill authorizes the National Cancer Institute to make grants to public and nonprofit entities to establish research centers of excellence devoted to the discovery of ovarian cancer biomarkers.

From the AP:

 Rising cost of Cancer Care

WASHINGTON - You’ve just been diagnosed with cancer, and the doctor is discussing treatment options. Should the cost be a deciding factor?

Chemotherapy costs are rising so dramatically that later this year, oncologists will get their first guidelines on how to have a straight talk with patients about the affordability of treatment choices, a topic too often sidestepped.

“These are awkward discussions,” says Dr. Allen Lichter of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which is writing the guidelines. “At least we can bring this out in the open.”

I know that M.D. Anderson was conducting a study about the infamous drug Thalidomide for counteracting side-effects such as loss of appetite and increased nauseousness.  Here’s an article that says the drug can help ovarian cancer keep at bay.  

 Once-feared Thalidomide may treat ovarian cancer

MINNEAPOLIS — Thalidomide, a drug once banned worldwide for causing birth defects, is showing promise as a possible treatment for ovarian cancer.Scientists at the University of Minnesota found that the drug slowed down progression of the disease in women with recurrent ovarian cancer.It’s not a cure, said Dr. Levi Downs, a women’s cancer specialist who led the study, which appears in the latest issue of the journal Cancer. But he said it may lead to better treatments and “provide more hope to women diagnosed with the cancer.” Ovarian cancer strikes about 25,000 women a year in the United States. 

The NY Times is reporting that Cancer Society will concentrate on insurance coverage during their advertising campaign. 

Cancer Society Focuses Its Ads on the Uninsured - New York Times

In a stark departure from past practice, the American Cancer Society plans to devote its entire $15 million advertising budget this year not to smoking cessation or colorectal screening but to the consequences of inadequate health coverage.

The campaign was born of the group’s frustration that cancer rates are not dropping as rapidly as hoped, and of recent research linking a lack of insurance to delays in detecting malignancies.

Though the advertisements are nonpartisan and pointedly avoid specific prescriptions, they are intended to intensify the political focus on an issue that is already receiving considerable attention from presidential candidates in both parties.

Check out this article on MSBC about how cancer has affected political candidate’s lives.  Also, notice that Barack Obama’s mother died of ovarian cancer at the early age of 53.  She died just six months after her diagnosis.

Cancer Is Personal for Some ’08 Candidates - Newsweek Politics - MSNBC.com

At least cancer is getting it’s day in the media!

Candidates call for war on cancer  

Cedar Rapids, Ia. - Democratic presidential candidates vowed Monday to renew the “War on Cancer” that President Richard Nixon declared in 1971.

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio headlined the first-of-its-kind forum, organized by the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Armstrong, the cancer survivor and former bicycle racing superstar, helped question the candidates, who wore his group’s yellow “Livestrong” bracelets.