Symptoms/Survivorship and the Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Patients at #ASCO20

This post will complete my series of posts sharing some of  what I learned during the #ASCO20 Virtual Annual Meeting. Survivorship and symptom management research have been two of the important topics that I have followed through the years at the ASCO annual meetings in addition to ovarian cancer research. Below, I have also included a few highlight Tweets from the session on the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients and survivors.

Early Palliative Care

Early Palliative care -Leukemia
Improved anxiety / depression with sustained benefits and improved EOL discussions
Stockler #ASCO20 #PalliativeCare pic.twitter.com/0luN6noPXH

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) May 30, 2020

Early trial palliative care -
Stockler #ASCO20
EArly palliative care can help some phase 1 participants#ASCO20 #palliativecare pic.twitter.com/LBDyWlfigS

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) May 30, 2020

End of Life Conversations

EMR and Serious illness
Stockler
EMR nudges increased conversations
Single study - may not be able to generalized to others #ASCO20 #Conversations pic.twitter.com/A4arNp133p

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) May 30, 2020

Geriatric Assessments

Geriatric assessments- Stockler
Reduced G3-5 AE's
Supports @ASCO guidance for GA to be used #ASCO20
Feasible to do assessment
What are longer term effects? #ASCO20 #survivorship pic.twitter.com/0CeebgPDou

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) May 30, 2020

Geriatric intervention Stockler
Reduced toxicity
Improved chemo toxicity recommended implementing as std of care. Requires a trained nurse practitioner. #survivorship #ASCO20 #geriatic pic.twitter.com/NEzRoMU9qW

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) May 30, 2020

Geriatric Care to Reduce toxicity Stockler
Used QOL question
Early Treatment discontuation less
Less hospitalizations
Improved QOL #ASCO20 #geriatricancer pic.twitter.com/YAPCfKFZw4

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) May 30, 2020

Survivorship Session Summary

Summary by Stockler -
Symptom and Survivorship
Good to see solutions are worth pursuing from early #PalliativeCare to the use of #geriatricassessment #ASCO20 pic.twitter.com/ukvIgjS26U

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) May 30, 2020

The Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Patients 

My first #ASCO20 watch party w/ #CCC19 friends.
Listening to Cancer & #COVID19 presentation by @NCIDirector. While trying to keep people safe from pandemic, we're creating issues w/ delayed/deferred care. What are long-term impacts at the population level but also at the N of 1? pic.twitter.com/5P54fN9AQP

— Stacey Tinianov (@coffeemommy) May 30, 2020

#ASCO20 @hemoncwarner presenting data from @COVID19nCCC - patients with #COVID19 and progressing cancer had more than a 5x higher mortality than patients with non-progressing cancer. pic.twitter.com/mnpC7AWc2s

— Merry-Jennifer Markham, MD, FACP, FASCO (@DrMarkham) May 30, 2020

Summary from @COVID19nCCC analysis of cancer patients with #COVID19 presented by @hemoncwarner. This data helps us better assess patients' risks & is important to have during shared decision making with our patients. #ASCO20 pic.twitter.com/XzgM7IJZXx

— Merry-Jennifer Markham, MD, FACP, FASCO (@DrMarkham) May 30, 2020

 I look forward to seeing my advocate and researcher friends next year in Chicago.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! 

Volunteers Needed for a Study on Self-reporting Symptoms During Cancer Treatment

Today I am sharing information about a study being done to determine the experience cancer patients have when reporting symptoms.  Sharyn Carrasco, RN, MSN, APRN is a student in the PhD program in Nursing Science at Texas Woman’s University and is conducting this study. The study has IRB approval. Please take a few minutes to read through the details about the study and reach out to Sharyn if you qualify and are interested in participating. 

 

 “Experiences of Self-Reporting Symptoms by Adults receiving Cancer Treatment”

 

Your voice is needed. Do you have cancer that is inoperable or metastatic and receiving cancer

treatment? Looking for volunteers to participate in a research study to talk about how you self-report

your symptoms.

This qualitative study is patient-focused, and the purpose is to understand your experience and

perspective of self-reporting your symptoms. There were many studies conducted over the past 10

years regarding patients self-reporting their symptoms, yet there were no studies that asked the

patients their perspective and experiences of self-reporting their symptoms. This is the reason for my

study; to talk you, the patient with cancer, about your perspective of self-reporting your symptoms. 

 

So, I am looking for volunteers to participate in this study to learn about how you report your symptoms. As a participant in this study, you would be asked to discuss your experience reporting your symptoms. This conversation will be with Sharyn Carrasco, the oncology nurse researcher, and can take place in person or via FaceTime/Skype. Your participation would involve 1 session, which will be approximately 60 minutes, including follow-up questions. If clarification is needed, one follow-up may occur to validate content, that may last up to 20 minutes.

If you are 18 years or older, have inoperable or metastatic cancer AND receiving cancer treatment,

please contact me for more information or to sign up to participate in this study at 713-503-4261 (text

or call) or email: scarrasco@twu.edu.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

 

 

 

 

Day 3 - A Month of Teal - There ARE Symptoms!

Yesterday, I wrote that there is no screening test for ovarian cancer. Since that is the case every woman and her loved ones should be aware that there are symptoms of the disease.

Bloating

Feeling Full Quickly

Pelvic Abdominal Pain

Frequent Urination

Less common symptoms include:

Fatigue
Back pain
Menstrual irregularities
Constipation
Pain with intercourse

If these symptoms last for more than two weeks please see your gynecologist.

Source: http://www.foundationforwomenscancer.org/types-of-gynecologic-cancers/ovarian/symptoms/

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! 

#HAWMC Day 17 - A Throwback Thursday Post

It was very hard to choose one post from 9 years of blogging but I knew wanted to find one that spoke about symptoms and the impact ovarian cancer has in the world. So I chose the following from May 2013:

Every Women is at Risk- World Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day !

This is truly amazing. It is a first for ovarian cancer.
Twenty seven organizations and seventeen countries around the world are celebrating World Ovarian Cancer Day today. Women in these countries are going to wear teal, the awareness color of ovarian cancer. They will  talk about symptoms and risk factors and raise awareness. Since I was diagnosed I have often thought that there are many wonderful organizations raising awareness and funds for research but we need one voice. I am so happy to see that is happening today.

Why is this day necessary?
Ovarian Cancer has the lowest survival rate of any gynecologic cancer.
All women are at risk for ovarian cancer.
Many women think that the Pap Test is a screening test for ovarian cancer. It is NOT!
Many women do not know that there are Ovarian Cancer symptoms.
The global diagnosis rate for ovarian cancer is a quarter million women.
Approximately 6500 women are diagnosed with OC in the UK every year.
Approximately 25000 women are diagnosed with OC in the US each year.
Approximately 1400 women are diagnosed with OC in the Australia each year.


What can you do? 
Share these symptoms with other women and if they last more than 2 weeks please see your gynecologist.

Bloating

Eating less

Abdominal pain 

Trouble with your bladder 

For more information:http://ovariancancerday.org/
Hope you learned something new!

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Day 1 of #HAWMC - What drives me...

I'm not sure I can actually complete this #WEGOHEALTH challenge but I will give it a shot again this year. 

What drives me...

When I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2005 I had not met another women with the disease. But I did know the story of Gilda Randner's diagnosis and that is not how I wanted my story to go. So I began this blog in 2007 to reach other women diagnosed with ovarian cancer so they didn't feel alone, to provide evidence based research and awareness of the disease.

Did you know that there is no screening test for ovarian cancer?Nope. That Pap test you go for is for cervical cancer.

I bet you heard that ovarian cancer is silent. Nope. Ovarian cancer can produce symptoms.
Bloating
Frequent urination
Pain in the pelvis or abdomen
Feeling full quickly

See if these occur for more than 2 weeks without stopping see your doctor. As one gyn onc I heard at a survivors meeting say - Ask your doctor to prove you don't have ovarian cancer.

I bet you thought all ovarian cancers were the same. Nope. There are many different types - epithelial, germ cell, stromal cell and these have subtypes and grades. 

I bet you thought ovarian cancer wasn't linked to any hereditary mutations. Nope. Women who have a BRCA 1 and 2 mutation are at higher risk for ovarian cancer so tell your doctor if you aunt or mother or sister or grandmother on both sides of your family had breast or ovarian cancer.

September is ovarian cancer awareness month but those with the disease try to raise awareness of the disease all year long. So if you see the color TEAL think ovarian cancer.


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! 

"It's about your loved ones too" Cote De Pablo

For the past few years the CDC has been raising awareness of gynecologic cancers during Gynecologic Cancer Awareness month. They have done this through print ads and  public service announcements on the radio and TV. This year's PSA is Cote de Pablo speaking about cervical cancer and getting tested.



There are symptoms for gynecologic cancers which the CDC highlights in this year's PSA "Are you Listening" .





Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

YES- There are Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

For years everyone said that ovarian cancer was silent. Then they said ovarian cancer whispered. Today, based on research done by Dr. Goff, we know that Ovarian Cancer has symptoms.

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
• Feeling the need to urinate urgently or often

In addition you might also have these symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Upset stomach or heartburn
• Back pain
• Pain during sex
• Constipation or menstrual changes

If you feel these symptoms every day for more than two weeks please see you gynecologist.

My story: I had an odd abdominal pain. I mentioned the pain to my gynecologist during my annual visit. Thankfully she listened to me and sent me for further tests which lead to my diagnosis.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing 

Let's Think Global - World Ovarian Cancer Day May 8th

I frequently share stats and information about ovarian cancer in the US but I am going to go global and talk about World Ovarian Cancer Day (WOCD) which is Friday May 8th in 2015. The first WOCD was held in 2013.

I think this is so important that I've shared my story on the World Ovarian Cancer Day website and have taken the pledge to share information about the disease with at least 5 women.

You can find more information to participate in events held round the world or to share information about ovarian cancer in your local community on the WOCD website.

Here is what you need to know:

Worldwide, ovarian cancer has the lowest survival rate of any gynecologic cancer.
A quarter of a million women are diagnosed worldwide with ovarian cancer and the disease is responsible for one hundred forty thousand  deaths each year.
Only 45% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive five years.
 There is no detection test for ovarian cancer !

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are similar to other less serious conditions but they are the same for women all over the world.

• Bloating
• Feeling full quickly
• Abdominal pain
• More frequent or painful urination.

Please share these symptoms with the women you know and their loved ones . Feel free to share the graphic above and use #WOCD when you tweet.

Thank you.

Dee
Every day is a Blessing!

It's the little things HAWMC 27

5  Challenges  &  5  Small  Victories.  Make  a  list  of  the  5  most  difficult  parts  of  your   health  focus.  Make  another  top  5  list  for  the  little,  good  things  (small  victories)  that   keep  you  going. 

5 Challlenges 

1. Make women aware that there are symptoms of Ovarian Cancer ( Bloating, frequent urination, abdominal pain, difficulty eating)
2. Make women aware that all women are a risk for ovarian cancer .(Even if you had a hysterectomy you are at risk.)
3. Make women aware that the Pap Test does not screen for Ovarian Cancer. (There is NO screening test for ovarian cancer. )
4. Change people's reaction when I tell them " I am an  ovarian cancer survivor." ( It is not a death sentence.  At least right now for me it is not.) 
5. Have more doctors and researchers choose to focus their research on ovarian cancer

5 Victories 

1. Be able to share my story online through this blog and other sites
2. Wake up some mornings and cancer is not the first thing I think of ( like this morning) 
3. Be treated by wonderful gynecologic oncologists and nurses 
4. Have the opportunity to meet so many wonderful women 
5. Have the opportunity to interact with researchers at ASCO 

This was an interesting prompt. When I first started writing I wasn't sure I could find 5 good things but look at that I did. 

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Shannon Miller is a Survivor

Thank you NOCC and Shannon Miller for this video.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!