Number 5 is complete

Today was chemo # 5.
I saw Dr Gibbon this morning before my treatment. She did an exam and said things were fine. She was happy with my CA-125 at 10 and said I would probably have another CT or PET/CT after my next chemo.

Then I was off to the treatment area. My nurse was Tareai, one of the nurses during my clinical trial back in 2006. I was in seat 17, at the front of the building by the windows where it was bright and sunny. It took over 4 hours for the taxol infustion but it went smoothly. I slept through most of it.

I got to meet a very inspirational women in the next seat. M is a stage 4 breast cancer survivor. We chatted for a while. She noted how most people do not want to talk to other people in the treatment area. It was nice to meet another upbeat person. We laughed about things we heard on the "View" and Whoopi's comments on the latest salmonella scare. She shared with me a booklet on God's Power to Heal. I appreciate how comfortable she was talking with someone she just met about her faith. Maybe she saw the necklace that Alycia and Kevin gave me and she felt able to share her faith story with me. It is silver with a cross and "believe " . I thought about a Livestrong friend from SC who tries to talk to someone each time she goes to chemo- M was just like her.

I am back to CINJ for the next 3 days for Neupogen shots.

Livestrong

Dee
Every Day is a blessing ! Today my day was bless by M.

GCF Gynecological Cancer Awareness Weekend- November 6-9 , 2009

Here is info I received from the Gynecological Cancer Foundation on what looks to be a wonderful weekend in Washington , DC. I am saving the date and look forward to attending.

"Join the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation for the inaugural half marathon and 5K race, and a weekend filled with other activities supporting gynecologic cancer awareness.

The weekend begins with a CME course for physicians and continues on Saturday with survivors courses for women, their families and friends.

For the first time, three free concurrent survivors courses will be held for survivors of cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancer. The courses are free, but registration is required. For more information about registering for one of these courses, visit the Women's Cancer Network.

Full race details, including a training guide, and registration are available at www.gcfrace.com."

Livestrong

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Watching Trends

I've been watuching trends lately.
I watch stock market trends.
I watch housing trends.
I watch my CA-125 blood test results.

I really like that my CA-125 continues trending down. Since my CA-125 was still in the normal range(0-21) when I recurred, my doctors and I need to follow the trend and my CT results to see how well I am doing.

I had my blood work on Tuesday and thought I could make it to the 31st ( next scheduled chemo) without asking about the results. I can usually wait patiently until I see my doctor for my next treatment to hear the result. This week I made it a few days and then could not wait any longer. ( Learning a friend who also has OC was in the hospital made me sad and just added to my usual cancer survivor worries.)

I e-mailed my nurse and she reported that my value was 10. The number went promptly into my Excel spreadsheet so that I could chart the result. Since February I have been on a single chemo agent so I am especially happy with the continued downward trend.

Two more treatments to go - I might just make it to a single digit result yet!

Livestrong
Dee
Every day is a blessing !

21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act

From the OCNA e-mail I received:
"Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan 21st Century Cancer Access to Life-Saving Early Detection, Research, and Treatment (ALERT) Act today, which aims to expand and accelerate research to help find effective treatments and better preventive measures for cancer patients. The 21st Century Cancer ALERT Act is a wide-ranging cancer bill addressing issues from research to workforce shortages to coordination of care.

The 82-page bill offers solutions to many issues that are vital to the ovarian cancer community including the importance of early detection tests, development of biomarker tests, access to cancer care for underserved populations and expansion of access to clinical trials.

The 21st Century Cancer ALERT Act calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to promote funding opportunities and establish a separate review panel for grants related to high mortality cancers. The bill also addresses the need for government agencies to coordinate efforts to fight these cancers. Specifically, the bill requires reporting on cancers whose five year survival rate is less than 50 percent and cancers whose incidence is less than 40,000 people per year."

Click here for the complete press release.

The Bill's number is S-717 and has been referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. If your Senator sits on this committee contact him/her about the importance of this bill. I hope they move this bill out of committee quickly to a full Senate vote. I will post a link to the complete text of the bill when it becomes available online.

Since OC does not have a screening test or reliable biomarker passage of this bill is crucial in helping us find a cure!

Livestrong

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology- Ovarian Cancer Updated

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and alliance of the world's best cancer centers recently issued the 2009 version of its Guidelines in Oncology - Ovarian Cancer ( including Fallopian Tube Cancer and Primary Peritoneal Cancer ). Please note that you might have to register to get to the document but there is not charge to register.

Although meant for physicians it includes flow charts and tables that are pretty easy to follow. The fourth page lists changes / additions to the previous document . Two changes include a section on allergic reaction to chemotherapy drugs and the use of PET scans. I read the section on allergic reaction and drugs for recurrence with interest.

Everyone's disease is different and it is meant only as a guide but it is good to have a document like this one to refer to when considering what path to take.

LiveStrong

Dee
Today I saw a cardinal perched on a bare branch outside my kitchen window. Spring is in the air.
Every Day is a blessing!

Ultrasound and CA-125 Does Not Discover OC at an Early Sage

US News and World Reports -Combo Screening Doesn't Spot Early Ovarian Cancer Article

The results of a recent US study of the use of transvaginal ultrasounds and the CA-125 blood test together to screen for ovarian cancer did not find the cancer at an early stage. The study involved over 34,000 women and is reported in the April issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology . Read the study here.

This study reported results opposite to the results of a British study reported earlier this month in Lancet. Links to the British study can be found on my March 11th entry.

These two studies just highlight how great the need is find an effective early detection test for ovarian cancer.

Livestrong

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Local Woman "Conquering" Ovarian Cancer

I frequently read a columnist, Laurie Granier, in my local paper, The Home News and Tribune.

Yesterday she wrote a column about a woman from South Plainfield, Debbie Pryor, who is also an ovarian cancer survivor. It is a wonderful article that I hope you will all read.

Thank you Laurie for writing about Debbie.

Thank you Debbie for sharing your story and together we will conquer cancer.

Livestrong

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!