CanSurvive Support Group

an ovarian, endometrial, cervical cancer support and awareness group

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Most Common Types of Gynecologic Cancers

• Endometrical/Uterine is the most common GYN cancer. The primary symptom of endometrical cancer is abnormal bleeding.
  
• Ovarian cancer is the second most common GYN cancer. Since there are no effective screening tests, one must be aware of the earliest symptoms of ovarian cancer.
  
• Cervical cancer has been steadily increasing in incidence with the increased prevalence of pap smear screening. We encourage you to get an annual pap smear.
  

Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

• Because the signs and symptoms of GYN cancers may also be associated with other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, it is important that your physician take seriously the possibility that ovarian cancer may be present, especially if you have a family or personal history of ovarian, breast, or colon cancer, and have never borne children.
  

Politics

Washington Trip Review

My friend Beth Hosmer asked me to report to the CanSurvive Support Group my experience at the National Ovarian Cancer Alliance meeting held July 10–13 in Washington. I do not come to the Group meetings because I live 6 hours away. But Beth includes me in everything your group does and I am thankful for that because there is no ovarian cancer support group in my area.

First, I am so very thankful that I did not know ahead of time that no one from Alabama would be at the Alliance meeting. If I had known I would be alone, I probably would have lost my courage and stayed at home. I would have missed one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. I had requested to go to Capitol Hill with the Alabama delegation because I am a survivor patient of the UAB Oncology Group and I am also a native of Selma, Alabama. Florida living is just temporary retirement.

Out of character for me, I decided I had no choice but to overcome my fear and insecurity and keep the prearranged appointments at the offices of Senator Shelby ,Senator Sessions, Representative Davis, and Representative Everett. This was such an empowering experience! I learned that lobbying (or begging for money) doesn’t take experience; just sheer will. I learned to have the courage to be bold and tell the Legislative Assistants what we want from the elected officials. I encourage all of this group to e-mail your representatives and ask them to support our efforts to get the necessary funds for Ovarian Cancer research and education. You can find the specific requests that we made on the Alliance website. If I can ask, so can you and your family. E-mail is best because postal letters have to go through security checks and that takes time. For your information, I have recently learned from Sheryl Silver, Johanna’s Law, that Sen. Majority Leader Reid has decided not to bring the Senate Labor Health and Human Serviced (HHS) bill to a floor vote because of the President’s threatened veto. The HHS Appropriations bill will likely be folded into a larger Omnibus Appropriations bill in the fall. We should know more in mid September. I am not certain where we are on the other requests but the staff of the officials you write should keep you posted if you request them to do so. Remember, all of this is about money and politics and it takes a lot of both to get the funds we need. Read the OCNA website and get your voice heard.

The most meaningful part of the Alliance meeting was having the pleasure of meeting about 100 joyful, friendly, exciting, and profoundly spiritual ovarian cancer survivors. While some of the women were short term survivors like me, most had been keeping their cancer under control for many years. These were the first long time survivors I had met. Just being with them and hearing their stories gave me so much hope. There is a sisterhood among these courageous women who have been getting together for 10 years and they are using their experience to share their strength with others. Many have started support groups, several have written books and articles about their journey, and some have been on the front lines in clinical trials. Wow, what a group!

I would like to add that Tiffiny Denson, representing the Norma Livingston Foundation, was also at the meeting, reassuring me that I could represent Alabama well. Thanks Tiffiny.

Let’s start communicating about many of us going next year. It will likely be at a different time of year which will be more pleasant than the 100 degree heat we had in July. Meanwhile, we must continue to care and support one another as we strive to get funding for a screening test for ovarian cancer, better information and education for gynecological cancers, and more research for the ultimate goal...THE CURE! Looking forward to seeing all of you in Washington in 08.

Patti McCartney, St. George Island, Fl

Johanna's Law

President Bush HAS SIGNED Johanna’s Law, landmark legislation that authorizes development of a national gynecologic cancer awareness campaign. The federal campaign would educate American women and health professionals about the signs and symptoms of ovarian and other gynecologic cancers. The President signed the bill on Friday, January 12th. Both houses of Congress unanimously approved Johanna’s Law: the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act late last year. Johanna’s law authorizes $16.5 million over a three-year period to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the awareness and education campaign. It is named for Johanna Silver Gordon, who died from ovarian cancer in 2000.

Because Johanna’s Law is an authorizing measure, it does not include any appropriations, so we will all be working to urge Congressional funding for the campaign.

We will keep everyone informed as action is needed. You may look on the website www.johannaslaw.org for more information.