Monday, March 27, 2017

Cancer Support Community and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Programs

I want to share with my readers two programs brought to you by the Cancer Support Community of Central NJ and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey .

A New Support Program:



This other program being offered I took part in a few years ago when I finished treatment for my recurrence. I learned exercise techniques and nutritional tips during Cancer Transitions that I still use today. You should definitely consider joining the 6 week series.


 


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! Blessed that the needs of cancer survivors are being  addressed.

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Wednesday, March 15, 2017

SGO Meeting Highlights via Twitter ~ Day 4, March 15

Updated with additional tweets 7:32 pm 3/15/17.

Today was the last day of The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (@SGO_org) Annual Meeting (#SGOmtg). Believe it or not as I type this the snow is falling again.

Here are some tweets I found interesting today.

Patient Preferences:
WRITE Symptoms Study (GOG 259):









Palliative Care:
Ovarian Cancer:

Cervical Cancer

A big shout out to all the researchers, gyn oncs, advocates  and others who tweeted from the meeting.Thanks! 

I look forward to April's  #gyncsm chat (April 12, 2017 at 9pm) recapping this year's meeting.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!



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Tuesday, March 14, 2017

SGO Meeting Highlights via Twitter ~ Day Three, March 14, 2017

I am at home watching the snow fall and following Tweets from The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (@SGO_org) Annual Meeting using the hashtag #SGOmtg.

Here are some tweets fromTuesday, March 14,2017 ( Pi day!)

Other sources of Meeting coverage:
Endometrial Cancer
Ovarian cancer
GOG-3003 Compares pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) to PLD in combination with motolimod (a new type of investigational drug that stimulates the immune system)
     SOLO2 Trial studied LYNPARZA as maintenance treatment for women with BRCA-mutated metastatic ovarian cancer
GOG-212
Stress
Uterine Carcinosarcoma

Cervical Cancer
AXAL :Phase 2 study axalimogene filolisbac (AXAL), in patients with persistent or recurrent metastatic (squamous or non-squamous cell) carcinoma of the cervix 
General
So thankful for a glimpse via tweets of research that can change the future of women with gynecologic cancers.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!



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Monday, March 13, 2017

SGO Meeting Highlights via Twitter ~ Day Two, March 13, 2017

More news from the The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (@SGO_org) Annual Meeting. I am at home and have been following Tweets from the meeting using the hashtag #SGOmtg.

Here are some tweets I found of interest today-  Monday, March 13th.

Endometrial Cancer:



Burnout in Gynecologic  Oncologists


Patient Centered Assessment Tool - Great work done by my friend and fellow advocate Annie Ellis.



IP Chemotherapy


Circulating DNA

 Niraparib
 Rucaparib

Genetic Testing

 GPI -  Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy


Slides from a Sunday presentation on  PARP

Thanks for all those tweeting from the meeting especially these folks

Looking forward to Tweets from tomorrow's meeting.

Dee Every Day is a Blessing!
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Sunday, March 12, 2017

SGO Meeting Highlights via Twitter ~ Day One, March 12, 2017

The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (@SGO_org) is holding it's Annual Meeting March 12th -15th, 2017. I'm unable to attend in person, but I will be following hashtag #SGOmtg to catch the latest news and developments. My plan is to compile noteworthy tweets each day of the meeting and share those in a blog post. 

Here are some tweets I found of interest today-  Sunday March 12th.







So thankful for the advocates, gyn oncs and researchers sharing what they learn via Twitter. 

Dee
Everyday is a Blessing! 
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#Trials4GynCancerNow - An SGO Campaign to Increas Gyn Cancer Clinical Trials

I wrote this blog post for the #gyncsm blog.  But I thought this topic is so important I needed to share it with my readers and others who may not be on Twitter. 

The SGO (Society of Gynecologic Oncology) is conducting their Annual Meeting March 12-15, 2017. You can follow research presented at the meeting by following the hashtag #SGOMtg on Twitter. Note that we'll discuss SGO Meeting highlights during our April 12th #gyncsm chat. 

During their annual meeting, SGO will be conducting a social media campaign to advocate for gynecologic cancer clinical trials. #gynscm is please to support this campaign and we hope you will join us.

There has been a steep decline in the number of clinical trials in gynecologic cancer since the restructuring of the NCI-sponsored cooperative groups in 2012.  Information about the campaign can be found in this SGO document.

You can join us as #gyncsm supports this campaign by tweeting the following starting on Monday, March 13th at 9:35am EST:
Women with #gyncancer deserve progress. Fund trials now @realDonaldTrump #Trials4GynCancerNow @SGO_org

Feel free to send additional tweets using #Trials4GynCancerNow to encourage increased funding of NCI trials. 

Thanks, 


Dee Every Day is a Blessing
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Wednesday, March 8, 2017

The Threads of My Life



Graceful Hope was started by the Rocha family. Grace Rocha and her daughter Erika were both diagnosed with ovarian cancer and treated at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey,  were I was treated. Sadly Grace passed away in 2008 and Erika, initially diagnosed at the age of 16,  passed away in 2011.

I first met the Rocha family in 2012 when they asked me to share my survivor story at the 2nd Benefit. This past weekend I was once again honored to speak at the 5th Annual Graceful Hope Benefit for Ovarian Cancer Research. This year the funds raised were being presented to Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ.

Here are portions of my speech - The Threads of My Life.

Speaking at the Graceful Hope 5th Annual Benefit

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Some survivors say Cancer is a Gift others say it most definitely is not. For me I think of Cancer as a thread in the fabric of my life and over the past 12 years many new threads have been added.

Graceful Hope has became a thread in that fabric starting in 2012 when I had the privilege of sharing my story with many of you. 
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In the late spring of 2005 I went to the ER for intense pain on the left side of my abdomen. That led to a series of tests and a referral to Dr Rodriguez at RCINJ. I woke up from surgery on July 29th to learn I had stage 3b epithelial ovarian cancer. I can still remember the words Dr. Rodriguez said to me as she left the recovery room - “ I will do everything I can to make you well.”  She offered me hope as I joined the almost 700 women who would be diagnosed in NJ that year.

She also offered me a phase 1 clinical trial of standard chemo along with selenium which I decided participated in. Nine cycles and 7 months later I was told I was disease free. The thread as survivor added to my fabric.

As my hair grew in and I became stronger I went to follow-up visits at CINJ.  I heard about the LiveSTRONG  Survivors Summit in Austin , Tx . Attending that summit weaved another thread in my story that of being an advocate.  It was an incredibly empowering experience and laid the groundwork for my involvement in a number of organizations, educating about symptoms and blogging .

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Life slowly returned to a new normal. I went back to work. I watched my son graduate college, my daughter receive her graduate degree and marry in May 2008.

In Oct that year, after a routine CT scan Dr. Rodriguez called me to say that my cancer had returned in two spots one on my liver the other on my spleen. This time I knew a lot more about ovarian cancer so I looked at the three treatment options I was offered and decided I would have surgery first – which included removing my spleen and resectioning my liver - and then six chemotherapy treatments. In the spring of 2009, I heard there was no evidence of disease.

I’ve gone back to yet another new normal, which includes spending time with family which grew by  two grandsons and a daughter-in-law , dog agility, and of course advocacy. I feel I have a responsibility to all the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer who are no longer with us to be their voice and to speak up for the needs of women dx with the disease. Since my recurrence a major portion of my time is spent on research advocacy work and supporting other survivors.

In 2013, along with another ovarian cancer advocate I cofounded the Gynecologic Cancer Social Media Community on Twitter which we call #gyncsm. And another thread was added to my life. Along with our co-moderators, three  gynecologic oncologists and a psychologist,  we hold monthly chats on topics of interest to those impacted by gyn cancers. Because of my work with gyncsm I’ve had the amazing opportunity to attended the Am Society of Clinical oncology Annual Meetings and became an advocate member of the society ...


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There are times the neuropathy in my toes bothers me.  Chemo brain frustrates me. And I still get anxious waiting for test results.  But the threads of my life have including many blessings. I’ve had the opportunity to meet amazing women diagnosed with ovarian cancer like Tina, Dawn and Terry.

In the past almost 12 years I have seen progress for women with ovarian cancer – new medicines, targeted therapies, IP chemo, recommendations that women with OC to receive genetic testing, research into immunotherapy and circulating DNA. And it is survivors, caregivers and friends  like you – those passionate about raising awareness and finding a cure that are helping make a difference. 

It is wonderful to be here as you celebrate your 5th event. The Graceful Hope family has weaved their thread into my life and my heart. Thank you.



Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!
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