What Will You Do During Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month?

September is right around the corner.

Did you know that September is Gyn Cancer Awareness Month in the US? Gynecologic cancers include Ovarian  Cervical, Vaginal, Vulvar, Endometrial/Uterine, Primary Peritoneal and Fallopian Tube cancers.

During September things can get really busy as the number of awareness events increases exponentially.

On Wednesday, September 11th the #gyncsm community, which I co-founded with Christina Lizaso, will celebrate the community's 6th Anniversary. Our topic will be The Breast and Ovarian Cancer Connection. Join us and a representative from the National Society of Genetic Counselors at 9pm Eastern Time.

This year there are a number of awareness and fundraising events in NJ that you can participate in.

I already mentioned the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Patient Education event on September 12thin the previous blog post. Check it out here.

There is an Education event sponsored by Summit Medical Group on September 7, 2019. For more info and to register  call 908-277-8889 or sign up online at: summitmedicalgroup.com/events 
 

 As for walks I will be doing the Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundations walk in Bradley Beach on September 28, 2019. They also hold a walk in Morristown ( Sept. 15) and Lyndhurst (Sept. 22) . Check their website ( https://kohnj.org/funded-research/) for research they have supported.
If you would like to donate to the walk please visit https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/2226659

The NJ Chapter of NOCC is joining the Downtown West Orange Alliance for the  Mayor's 5 K and Walk. You can find more information at http://ovarian.org/component/events/event/955

The Teal Tea is holding Falling For Teal Fashion Show on Sept 22nd. You may find more info at https://www.tealtea.org/event-falling-for-teal-fashion-show .

Graceful Hope will be holding their 6th Annual benefit dinner to benefit Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ in Elizabeth on September 28th. See their Facebook page for more information. https://www.facebook.com/GRACEfulHope/

For my Central and South Jersey Friends , the Sandy Rollman Foundation is holding a number of events in September including an Ovarian Cancer Awareness night at the Phillies (9/12) , a General Hospital Philly events (9/14) and OvaryAct Gala (9/20). Please check their website for more information ( https://sandyovarian.org/ ).

Of course you can help raise awareness by hanging teal ribbons. See the Turn the Towns Teal website for how you can help ( https://www.turnthetownsteal.org/ ).

If you are holding an event in NJ to raise awareness or funds for research . Please let me know and I will update this post.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Organizations Finding Ways to Make a Difference

When I was first diagnosed I didn't know that there were ovarian cancer organizations raising awareness and funds for research.  When I finished chemotherapy in 2006 I knew I wanted to get involved so I asked my gynecologic oncologist about organizations. She told me about Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation and NOCC. I reached out by phone and joined those organizations.

If you want to help here is a list of organizations in NJ.

GRACEful Hope
Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation
Janice Lopez Ovarian Cancer Foundation 
Mary Mazanec Ovarian Cancer Foundation
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition - New Jersey Chapter
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund - NJ events listed on their calendar
The Teal Tea Foundation
Teal Tender Hearts for Ovarian Cancer Awareness
Turn the Towns Teal 




I have volunteered with many of these organizations, attended events and personally know many of the founders / directors.  Each and every one of them has done outstanding work to either raise awareness, donate millions of dollars to research or have support women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. You can help those fighting this disease  and do it close to home.

 If you know of an organization in NJ missing from my list, please mention them in the comment section  below.Thanks.


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

As September Comes To An End

It is hard to believe that September 2014 is coming to an end. I was away for the first half of the month so I missed doing my usual awareness activities. 

I did though still hang my teal ribbon flag and join Graceful Hope for their walk. And on Thursday, I went to the Lunch and Learn at the Cancer Support Community of Central New Jersey. Dr Tchabo, Atlantic Health, spoke about the latest research and treatments for ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and uterine cancer. Although I missed a few events, I experienced a lot of what September as ovarian cancer awareness month means to a survivor- learning about the disease, raising awareness, honoring fellow teal sisters and remembering the lives cut short by the disease.

This morning I was thinking to myself how things have changed in the past 9 years. It has been a gradual change but I think a change for the better. Teal ribbons on trees are no longer rare thanks to thousands of  Turn the Towns Teal Foundation volunteers throughout the state and country. This year more news channels had segments focusing on ovarian cancer like this segment on channel 7 featuring my friend, Valisia LeKae.

More newspapers throughout the country shared stories about walks and focused on stories of survivors. 

Kaleidoscope of Hope Avon, NJ Walk- photo:J. Flaherty

Buildings and bridges in places like Philadephia, Birmingham, Huntsville and around the US were bathed in teal lights. 

Boathouse Row Philadelphia, PA - photo Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation

Even with this awareness the 5 year relative survival rate (SEER data) for ovarian cancer is 44.6% and for women with late stage disease the rate drops to 27%. 

What can I do? What can you do? September may come to a close but I will not stop raising awareness of this disease. I hope you won't stop either. I will continue sharing information about symptoms. I will continue to stress that women, diagnosed with ovarian cancer, be treated by gynecologic oncologists. I will still tell women that every woman is a risk. And I will continue all year long to advocate for more funding for ovarian cancer.

In another 9 years I want to be able to write "The 5 year relative survival rate for ovarian cancer has risen dramatically from  44.6% to over 80% ". 

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing! 

Morris KOH Walk a Success!

Yesterday morning I drove up to Morristown to participate in the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation's 9th Annual Walkathon in honor of Gail MacNeil, one of our founders who lost her 10 year battle with the disease.

It was foggy and overcast when I got there but by the time the walk started I needed my KOH cap because the sun was shining and the temperatures were rising.

I walked the three mile course with a fellow board member Maureen in 1 hour and 2 minutes. The most amazing part was seeing all the yellow shirts that read "Gail's Team". Gail was certainly smiling down at us yesterday. I was also impressed with the over 40 members of the Randoph girls soccer team that walked the course and all the teams and indivuals walking in memory of or support of their wife, mother, sister, friend.

We raised an awesome $70,000.

Thanks to Gerri, Karen and Janet for a wonderful event!

There are two more walks - Lyndhurst Sept 21st and Avon Sept 27th. You can register online now for both these walks. I am working registration at the Avon walk so if you are there stop by and say hi!

LIVESTRONG
Dee

Every Day is a Blessing.

OC Awareness in the local news

The Home News and Tribune published an article today about the Turn the Town Teal campaign in Edison and my roll as a an OC advocate.

Edison Turns Town Teal for Ovarian Cancer Awareness is also found online on the mycentraljersey.com website.

I also spoke to reporters from the Star Ledger and Sentinel newspapers today and had photos taken with my gynecological oncologist, Dr. Lorna Rodriguez and KOH founder Lois Myers at the Cancer Institute of NJ. I'll post links when and if the stories/ photos are published.

A special thanks to everyone who is supporting Ovarian Cancer Awareness throughout NJ and the country.

LIVESTRONG - and wear teal

Dee

Every day is a Blessing!

Some Good Things and New Information

I'll begin with a new piece of information and then get in to the good things that are happening.

New Ovasure Information:
It has come to my attention through a posting on the Ovarian Cancer Alliance Support Community that the new OVASURE ( Yale blood test ) being used by LabCorp is not meant to be used by women without ovaries. This test looks at the levels of 6 markers, in addition to CA-125, found in the blood. ( I wrote about this in June and July . ) It was previously recommended for women at high risk and those at risk for a recurrence.

So I checked Labcorp's online information and it has now changed to include this line
"OvaSure™ is not indicated for a patient who is currently undergoing chemotherapy, who has had both ovaries removed, who is pregnant, or who is lactating. "

Since many women with ovarian cancer have their ovaries removed they can not use this test to indicate a recurrence. Guess we are still stuck with the CA-125 test for those of us without ovaries. Glad I didn't spend the $200 to have the test done. It might have just confused my follow-up care. More research is needed!


Edison Will Turn Teal!

Along with Chuck Lopez, I will be hanging teal ribbons again this year in my town Edison, NJ. Mayor Choi is hoping to have a press conference during the first week in September in which he will read the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Proclamation. Thanks to Jerry Barca, the Edison Communication Director and the Mayor's Assistant , Lori Williams for all their help with this. The Turn the Town Teal Campaign is sponsored by the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation, the northern NJ National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and Atlantic Health.

Woodbridge will be Teal too!
As a Board member of Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation, I was asked to speak at the Woodbridge town meeting on September 2nd about Turn the Town Teal and Ovarian Cancer. Chuck Lopez and a number of volunteers will hang the ribbons on Main Street in Woodbridge, NJ.

Wachovia Highland Park Branch to display Ovarian Cancer Awareness Information!

In September my local branch of Wachovia will provide space for me to display information about ovarian cancer and symptom cards in the lobby. A huge thanks to branch manager Valerie for providing me this opportunity.


St Paul's Bulletin with Ovarian Cancer Information

The Sept 7th weekly bulletin for St Paul the Apostle Church in Highland Park will contain information about Ovarian Cancer. Thanks Dee C for finding space for this important information.

I've raised $760 for the LAF!

Only $240 to go to reach my goal of raising $1000 for the LAF. The team 1 Reason lead by captain Kevin Walty has raised over $3000 so far. With a few days yet to go I am positive we will raise even more. To donate please visit- http://philly08.livestrong.org/dees
I can't wait until Sunday to walk with my LAF friends.


So although I have not posted recently I have been a busy person.

LiveStrong and remember that Every Day is a Blessing.

Dee

Newton Motorsports Pro Tennis Classic Benefits KOH

Today I drove north to beautiful Lake Mohawk in Sparta, New Jersey. It was the site of the Inaugural Newton Motorsports Pro Tennis Classic at the Lake Mohawk Tennis Club. Marc Macler organized the event and chose Newton Memorial Hospital and Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation(KOH) to receive proceeds from the event . A highlight of the event for me was seeing pros Justin Gimelstob and Jan-Michael Gambill play.

I helped at the KOH information table. The rain held off for the most part and it was great to see teal in the stands. This event really helped get the word out in Sussex County about Ovarian Cancer.

The table ( as seen above) featured our new teal ribbons for our Turn the Town Teal campaign!

LiveStrong
Dee