Gynonc Surgeons To Rock Our World In D.C. Oct 1, 2014

I have to say that I was elated and shining from within after attending a recent showing of N.E.D. The Movie  This uplifting documentary speaks so intimately and powerfully about the wrath of ovarian cancer, as voiced by the surgeons in NED The Band.  N.E.D. stands for "no evidence of disease".  That is our goal!

I had no idea what to expect, but what I felt was a sense of pure dedication and purpose.  These highly skilled and honorable gynecological oncologists are also gifted with musicality.  They use their events and cd inserts as a vehicle to start the conversation about ovarian cancer.  Their music though is for the masses.  They are a rock band through and through!

Please link to their homepage for more about their music, their movie and their mission.
N.E.D. The Band

I want to thank Deborah Binder for hosting the event in beautiful Edmonds, WA to raise funds for

Seattle F.O.R.C.E. Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered  and National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week

Here is a note from Deborah.... "I am so glad that you were able to attend the NED movie and that you enjoyed it.

Most gyn-oncs know N.E.D. because they have played many times at the national oncology conferences around the USA.  I first heard them one year in D.C. at the National Ovarian Cancer Alliance meeting.  I know that my doc.--Dr. Goff and Dr. Muntz know them.

Last October I traveled to Portland to see the movie--a fundraiser for the Southern Washington and Oregon Ovarian Cancer Alliance.  After I saw it I knew that I wanted to do a similar event for OVCA Awareness month in 2014.  I rented the Edmonds Theater (it's where I live and I wanted to use a small hometown theatre not a megaplex) and I rented the movie from Spark Media".

Hugs,

Deborah

....................................................................
if you live in the D.C. area........

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is hosting a movie event in D.C. on October 1, 2014.  Please spread the word so that more money can be allocated to fight these cancers.

Capitol Hill Screening

First Street Southeast
Washington

Website  LINK Description Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz & Renee Ellmers present a Congressional screening of No Evidence of Disease, featuring a live performance and panel discussion with members of N.E.D. This special event will take place on October 1st, 2014 at 6:15 PM.
Email info@sparkmedia.org


N.E.D. The Movie Screenings link


Peace and Blessings,

Servivorgirl

Fibronectin And Our Cancer

Ovarian Cancer Dream Team Call for Ideas Now Open

The American Association for Cancer Research is now accepting submissions of ideas for the new Stand Up To Cancer Ovarian Cancer Translational Research Dream Team Grant that will offer up to $6 million in research funding, which includes $3 million provided by the leading funder, OCRF.

The Stand Up To Cancer-Ovarian Cancer Research Fund-Ovarian Cancer National Alliance-National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Translational Research Dream Team grant provides three years of funding for research projects that must include therapeutic interventions for ovarian cancer and deliver near-term patient benefit through investigation by a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional Dream Team of experts. Proposals for the grant must describe plans indicating how the group will use a transformative and synergistic approach, and how the work will be translated into the clinic. To maximize creativity, innovation, and collaboration, the projects should span multiple disciplines and use modern scientific tools to attack research questions in a coordinated effort.

Letters of Intent for SU2C-OCRF-OCNA-NOCC Translational Research Dream Team Grant are due by noon ET, Nov. 7, 2014, via proposalCENTRAL.

Read the full press here.

FIBRONECTIN AND CANCER

Please take a moment to link to the article below, posted by the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.   As a non-scientist, I found it invaluable towards my understanding of how ovarian cancer cells proliferate, specifically in the omentum.  Learn about fibronectin and its role in the spreading of cancer.

http://www.ocrf.org/news/research/ocrf-research-finds-metastasis-promoted-by-mesothelial-cells

Peace and blessings,

Servivorgirl

A Hippo Has My Campus

I grew up in Colorado.  I consider the Denver metro area fairly easy to navigate. One of my jobs after college involved daily travel, criss-crossing across town helping people regain independence after illness or injury.  I really should know the basics and major Denver area streets, even if I have been away all this time.

I always had considered myself someone who was good with directions.  I always knew where I was, even when I was in a new city or town.  I rarely got lost.  I was never afraid to drive for the sake of driving.  I used to love to get in my car and go, just see where I would be.  I could never do that now, after all of this chemotherapy....eeks.

Even after moving to California, I was still the same, had a great sense of direction and rarely got lost.  It was one of the few areas that gave me confidence, my sense of direction.

Well, my sense of direction has gone kablooey.  I am not sad and will try to remember to adapt, but I find it extremely interesting that "navigation" is such a specific area of loss for me.  I also have difficulty with estimating time.  I am always late now.......sorry everyone.

I just got back from visiting family and friends.  It was one of the best short little trips ever.  Just plain fun and it was a real treat to see everyone.  I can affirm though that I definitely am not the same confident navigator that I used to be.  I got lost 5 of the 7 times I went to meet people.

I got lost going from the airport to see my dad.  I got lost going to and from my brother's house.  I got lost going to see an old friend, where I had been before.

I got lost going to Denver International Airport.  My flight back home was after 9 pm and there I was driving around the countryside in the dark, looking for alternate routes to Pena Blvd.  Maybe next time I will get GPS.  To be honest, I was a little nervous.....and somehow it all worked out.  I barely got to DIA in time, whew.  I thought I was going to miss my plane!

I have no idea how I found the airport.  I would have called to get help after a few more minutes of driving in circles, but I am sort of concerned that this chemo brain is getting worse.  It seems that I forget what I am doing, lose track of time and get lost on a regular basis.  Maybe it is not worse, just more noticeable?

I get lost going to my dentist every time.  So strange.  

I am linking a few interesting articles on brain function and chemobrain.  It is an area of high interest for researchers and it does seem that the hippocampus, an area responsible for navigation, can be damaged by some chemotherapy agents.

I can't believe I got lost going to the airport.  Ha!  I think I should get a GPS, what do you think?


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC45501/

Low Doses of Cisplatin Can Damage Hippocampus


What Happens When A Neurosurgeon Cuts Out Your Hippocampus

Love, 

Servivorgirl

Penn Team Finds Ovarian Cancer Oncogene in "Junk DNA"

http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/2014/09/zhang/

For those of you interested in genetics, here is a fascinating article relating new findings with "junk DNA" and it's effect on BRCA genes and mutations.

I am not a scientist myself, it takes time to read.

What impresses me is that this particular type of research enables us to create a way to stop cancer if the links are proven and consistent.

There is always hope.  I thank my cousin for sending this to me from Penn State.


Peace and Blessings,
Servivorgirl

The Seattle Great Wheel Turns Teal

The Seattle Great Wheel is a hometown favorite, not just because it's lighting displays are so colorful, but also due to the company's contribution to the Seattle community. 

After my treatment last week I went down to the Wheel, it was  pure TEAL.  As you may be aware, September is ovarian and gynecological cancer awareness month.  Being able to benefit from this beautiful display of color makes us happy. 

The folks at The Seattle Great Wheel care.

I have been exhausted and extremely scatter-brained. For example, I have actually misplaced purchased groceries three times in the last 2 months.  I am overheated all the time. My hands have not really worked well for almost a year now.

I just stumble along doing my best to make a difference.

Thank you Seattle Great Wheel. www.seattlegreatwheel.com

Please share this with 100 women.......you will make a difference.

I hope you enjoy the ride and the beautiful view.

Love,

Servivorgirl

annotations will not show when viewing from an Ipad, so sorry