Looking Forward to #ASCO26

This year's ASCO Annual Meeting runs from May 29 - June 2, 2026 in Chicago. The theme this year is "The Science and Practice of Translation:Improving Cancer Outcomes Worldwide". 

I will be attending virtually, so I know I will experience FOMO when I see the postings by other cancer advocates on social media. I will not miss the long walks to get to sessions in the various buildings at McCormick. But I will miss meeting up with other cancer advocates in the ASCO Advocate Lounge and interacting with gyn cancer researchers who through the years have become friends. 

There are a few new ASCO Voices that I look forward to following this year on X including @DrBarbiOnc, @NazliDizman ,  @Ramila, @YGaritaonaindia  and @DrSAHAddad. I recommend you follow them too, 

I recently planned my attendance to focus on ovarian cancer session. 

Friday May 29  

Gyn Cancer Oral Abstracts 3:45-4:45 (ET)  Livestream 

Sat May 30 

Gyn Cancer Rapid Oral abstract Session 9am (ET)

Opening Session  Livestream 

ctDNA in Clinical Practice 9am Livestream

Rare Gyn Cancers 5:45 

Antibody Drug Conjugates 5:45 Livestream 

Sun May 31 

Let's Debate: Upfront Surgery Versus Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer

State of the Art: Therapeutic Strategies on the Horizon for Gynecologic Malignancies

Monday June 1 

New Horizons for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes  

Gyn Cancer Poster session  ( posters available day of session) 

 

I'm ready to listen and learn. 

If you are attending in person please use the #gyncsm hashtag in your social media posts. I'll be posting highlights from the meeting following ASCO. 

 

Dee Sparacio

Every Day is a Blessing! 

 

 

 

Prompted by a hashtag!

For World Ovarian Cancer Day on May 8th this year, OCRA ran a campaign called #ReachForTheScars. OCRA's goal with this program was to spotlight the stories, experience and the physical visible and invisible scars of women with ovarian cancer .

We who have been diagnosed have scars that are visible - although we may choose to hide those and some scars that are invisible. Your life being on the line can be a stressful and dare I say traumatic experience for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer. So with these scars there are stories. Here is mine once again. 

For World Ovarian Cancer Day, I chose this year to do a quick watercolor painting of my scars as part of the #ReachForTheScars campaign. These scars are hidden under clothes most of the time. You will not see these scars since you won't find me wearing a bikini or crop shirts. 

The first scar was the vertical one, made in 2005. It came after an hours long surgery - hysterectomy, oopherectomy and debulking surgery for stage 3B high grade serous ovarian cancer. This one healed over time as I continued treatment with nine cycles of carboplatin and taxol. In 2006 there was no evidence of disease. 

I recurred in 2008. The lesions that appeared on my liver and spleen were discreet,  so surgery was an option. I had choices : chemo ( carbo / taxol again) first then surgery, chemo first then surgery or a clinical trial which included bevacizumab.  I chose the surgery first which was done by a surgical oncologist along with my gyn onc. That surgery is what led to my second scar, a  horizontal one.  The surgeon removed my spleen on the left side of my abdomen and resectioned the lower lobe of my  liver which was on the right side of my abdomen. Their removal at the same time is why my OC scars now look like a T. 

Along with other cancer survivors, I carry invisible scars too. I continue to fear a recurrence. The fear is not as strong as in the early years of my survivorship but there are times when news of another long term survivor recurring after 15 years brings it back into the forefront.  I deal with some neuropathy in my toes. I have learned to deal with it by buying shoes with larger toe boxes. I admit they are not the most fashionable shoes but they work for me. And let's not forget how I still forget the names of things.  Thanks chemo brain!

I had thought that those two scars would be my last but just this week I have gained a new one. In April, I pointed out a new pink rough spot on the back of my arm to my dermatologist. After a biopsy came back that the spot was basal cell carcinoma, I decided to have incisional surgery this week to have it removed . This scar will be more visible due to its location and may lead to people asking questions about it. That is OK though. Then I can tell them how important it is to check your skin and see a dermatologist if you see anything new or a spot that changes in appearance. As we head into summer -my advice is to wear sunscreen , hats and spf 50 clothing when out in the sun for a period of time. 

 Do you have hidden scars caused by ovarian cancer? Share them in the comments. 

 Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!