June 2016 Newsletter - Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance

June, 2016
~ June Meeting ~
T
Thhee G
Geenneettiiccss ooff O
Ovvaarriiaann C
Caanncceerr R
Riisskk
Guest Speaker: Jaime Lyn Stafford
Recent headlines point to a new era in the fight against cancer. Genetic testing in clinical cancer care has
become an indispensable tool for gaining knowledge regarding appropriate patient treatment and identifying
those at risk prior to a diagnosis. Celebrities like Angelina Jolie have spotlighted genetic testing, making millions
of women aware of options that are already
inherited risk of ovarian and breast cancer is
uninterpretable
meeting
necessary, as well as its limitations,
We have a new
meeting location
for the remainder
of the year
EXCEPT August
up Meeting:
J
June 9
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Center,
nd
floor
(The elevators are right inside the
building entrance doors.)
The Neuroscience Center is
located right next to the
Cancer Center. You may park in
either the Neuroscience Center
parking lot or the Cancer Center
parking lot. The buildings are not
connected.
Join us for dinner following
the meeting at The Avenue– located
on Woodward just north of 13 Mile on the
west side. The restaurant offers a nice
menu with separate checks.
challenging, and requires creativity. Jaime
decided to pursue her passion and obtained a
master's of science at University College London,
(UK) in "Genetics of Human Disease," with
highest honors.
At UCL, she researched the importance of the gene "Insulin­like Growth
Factor 1" in first term human fetal growth. She returned to Detroit to
begin her PhD studies at Wayne State University. Jaime is a second
year PhD student in Molecular Genetics and Genomics at Wayne State
University's School of Medicine. The focus of her research at Wayne State
is the genetics of hereditary ovarian cancer. She hopes to discover novel
inherited mutations that predispose women to ovarian cancer for more
informed risk prediction, prevention and targeted therapy in clinical
cancer care. After completion of her PhD, she hopes to find a post­
doctoral position as a Clinical Molecular Genetics Fellow.
Young and Involved
By Marilyn Brozovic
T
o my surprise and delight, my great-niece Cayla Byron contacted
me one day and asked if she could interview me about the ovarian
cancer support group. She is 15 years old and a sophomore at
Warren Mott High School. Her assignment was a research project in her
Honors English class. The directive was to select a nonprofit.
"I selected ovarian cancer because I remember my mom telling me about
you and the bowling event, and also how not many people know about it,
so I thought this was a good opportunity to educate my class."
Cayla began by searching the internet and discovered MIOCA. She also
made contact with Michelle Shepherd, Board of Directors Secretary, and
conducted a telephone interview.
Her essay begins,
"It is a warm, sunny day in a beautiful field with the scent of fresh-bloomed lilacs lingering in the air. One
would not know that she is standing in a land mine that is waiting to explode once it is found. This masked land
mine is much like ovarian cancer. All seems well on the outside, but once ovarian cancer is discovered, it
detonates in its worst way both in and outside. Despite many studies on this disease, there are numerous
obstacles that are thrown into the road of progress."
Cayla continues her essay with her research on types of ovarian
cancer, the effect it has on the victims, the two genes (BRCA 1 and 2)
connected to breast, ovarian and colon cancers, and the value of
support groups.
"Luckily the Michigan Ovarian
Cancer Alliance is aimed at
raising the awareness of this
destructive disease and funding
the much-needed research of
ovarian cancer. It is easy to see
that knowledge needs to be shared to women and their families around the
world regarding this cancer. With that, it is time to turn the tables, and it
is time for us to cause an explosion until the silent killer is killed."
I am very proud of Cayla in taking the initiative
for this project to educate herself and classmates
about ovarian cancer. She now knows that this
disease affects women of all ages. She intends
to continue to expand her knowledge and
increase awareness. Cayla has committed her
participation in MIOCA's Turn the Village Teal
in September and also in the One to One
Ovarian Cancer Support Group bowling event
in October.
Turn The Towns Teal® is a national campaign to
bring awareness of ovarian cancer to cities throughout
the country during the month of September. MIOCA
will once again be participating in the Turn The
Towns Teal® event here in Michigan by tying teal
ribbons around lamp posts in the downtown area of
many cities and towns, as well as by hanging posters
listing the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Our efforts
paid off last year with over 30 cities and 32 private
properties participating and we hope to grow the
event even more this year. If you would like to find
out about helping with this event or to coordinate
“tealing” your city or even your neighborhood, home
or work place, please contact me. Imagination and
creativity is welcome as not every city is a prime
location for “tealing,” however there are other ways to
get awareness out with the teal ribbons and
awareness posters which MIOCA supplies for this
event.
I can tell you from experience that being a coordinator
is a very easy job and we will help you get people to
tie the ribbons. There is no cost to you or to the city.
It isn’t a huge time commitment but it takes a leader to
make the initial contact with the city. How awesome it
would be to teal every city in the metro Detroit area!
Marcia Gurche
586-323-0838
[email protected]
A free Personal Health Manager kit is available to help you learn about your cancer and organize your health information. The Personal Health Manager kit provides cancer patients and their caregivers with a valuable tool to help manage and organize the multitude of information they receive from various sources. The kit's content is personalized to provide information and resources that help address the needs of a cancer patient or caregiver.
Ask your physician for this kit or contact the American Cancer Society at 1­800­227­2345.
Karen Hursin
July 11
Judy Nitz
July 12
Roena Sorrels
July 18
Christine Salata
July 19
Life comes with ups and downs;
everyone has them! What makes you great isn't how you act in the sunshine; it's in how you weather out your storms! ~ Unknown
Note
: Be sure to visit the
support page at mioca.org to
learn of upcoming meetings
and One to One events!
Many thanks to JOLINE
BOWDICH, SUSAN
DUBBS and HEDWIG
GEORGE for their generous donations to the support group!!!
Meeting dates
¾
¾
¾
June 9
Guest speaker: Jaime Lyn
Stafford
Topic: The Genetics of
Ovarian Cancer Risk
July 14
Guest speaker: Dr. Barry
Rosen
Topic: IP Chemo Treatment
and Its Challenges
August 11
(Meeting location and topic
to be determined.)
Support group meetings are held at the Beaumont, Royal Oak Neuroscience Center, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., in the 2nd floor conference room.
Parking is available in the either the Neuroscience Center parking lot or in the Cancer Center parking lot. (The buildings are not connected.)
Newsletter Editors:
Marcia Gurche
42508 JoEd
Sterling Hgts., MI 48314
586-323-0838
[email protected]
Marilyn Brozovic
4793 Alton
Troy, MI 48085
248-561-2027
[email protected]
Jeanine Dunaj
Asst. Editor/Layout
Newsletter information is presented in
summary form, is general in nature and
provided for informational purposes
only. It is not intended in any way to be a
substitute for professional medical
advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Mary Vincent
Vikki Goldstein
Christine Salata
Marcie Paul
Nancy Grifka
Katherine Grossnickle
Patty Kennedy
Lori Doggett
Elaine Roman
Margaret Huang
Kathy Martin
Karen Hursin
Sharine Jackson
20 years !
10
7
7
6
5
5
5
4
3
2
1
1
Objectives of support group:
group:
 Provide a forum for ovarian
cancer patients to address
concerns;
 Support each other through
initial treatment phase, during
potential recurrence, and with
issues related to long term
survival;
 Establish core group of patients
willing to visit newly diagnosed
patients;
 Increase awareness of ovarian
cancer, including its symptoms
and risk factors, in the hope of
achieving earlier detection and
treatment.