Latest Medical & OCAN News Articles

The Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada wants to help extend your knowledge by keeping you informed about the latest happenings in this area of your health. They consist of articles not only about medical breakthroughs, but of success, hope, and actions. The following links are to articles for the current month, that have appeared in newspapers and publications from sources throughout both the U.S. and world wide, and are available with on-line editions. Each listing has a short opening paragraph of the article. The listing of the links are by date published, with the most recent found listed first.

For archived articles prior to the current calendar month, please see: Ovarian Cancer Archived News


January 2006

Jan 29, 2006 - "USA Today",
Ovarian cancer test remains elusive
Shelly Rozenberg meets many women who think they don't have to worry about ovarian cancer because they had a normal Pap test. "We constantly have to educate women: The Pap test is not an early-detection test for ovarian cancer," says Rozenberg of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition in Boca Raton, Fla.

Jan 28, 2006 - "",
We say tomato, they say cancer protection
Talk about faint praise. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November allowed the processed tomato industry to claim — in a very limited way — that its products might protect people against cancer. At issue was lycopene, the substance that makes tomatoes red. Some studies have found that it might fight cancer by neutralizing free radicals that damage the body's cells.

Jan 27, 2006 - "Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center", Bronx, NY
National Cancer Institute Encourages New Treatment
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, recently issued an announcement encouraging treatment with anticancer drugs via two methods, after surgery, for women with advanced ovarian cancer. The combined methods, which deliver drugs into a vein (intravenous - IV) and directly into the abdomen (intraperitoneal - IP), extend overall survival for women with advanced ovarian cancer by about a year.

Jan 26, 2006 - "Salt Lake Tribune", SLC, UT
Heavy doses of chemo for ovarian cancer taxing but effective
Pumping heavy doses of chemotherapy drugs right into the abdomen boosted survival of women with advanced ovarian cancer by 16 months in what experts call the first big advance in more than a decade against one of the most lethal cancers in women.

Jan 24, 2006 - "Sun Times News", Perryville, IL
Help Find A Cure On The Illinois Income Tax Return
Illinois taxpayers have the opportunity to contribute to special research funds for Alzheimer’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease and breast, cervical and ovarian cancer when filing their 2005 Illinois income tax returns.

Jan 24, 2006 - "Courier-Journal", Louisville, KY
Annual screenings head off ovarian cancer
An ongoing, 18-year study shows that annual screening for ovarian cancer improves early detection and saves lives, the University of Kentucky announced yesterday.

Jan 23, 2006 - "Albuquerque Tribune", Albuquerque, NM
Real-life Role Models: Soaring inspiration
The best thing about engineer-pilot Tina Jenkin's first solo flight wasn't necessarily her time alone in the air. It was also the expression on her grandmother's face when Jenkin gave her a picture of the flight for Christmas in 2000.

Jan 23, 2006 - "LA Times", Los Angeles, CA
Surgery may lower cancer risk
For some women, hysterectomies could be a preventive move, study suggests. Women genetically predisposed to two types of reproductive cancer can virtually end that risk by having their uterus and ovaries removed after they are finished having children, researchers have found.

Jan 23, 2006 - "Doctors Guide",
TopAbstracts in Ovarian Cancer 01/18/2006
TopAbstracts™ in Ovarian Cancer are the abstracts most highly rated/most read by nearly 300,000 physicians who received a Doctor's Guide™ newsletter or visited a website Powered by Doctor's Guide™ in the past 28 days. Over 2000 peer-reviewed journals are covered by TopAbstracts.

Jan 23, 2006 - "KARE TV - Channel 11", Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
Ovarian Cancer treatment extends survival
It's being called a huge breakthrough for women with advanced ovarian cancer. The treatment is so promising, the National Cancer Institute is asking doctors to start using it. Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that a combination of traditional chemotherapy and drugs delivered directly to the abdomen can add more than one year to a patient's life.

Jan 21, 2006 - "Medical News Today", UK
Prophylactic Surgeries Prevent Two Gynecological Cancers In Women With Lynch Syndrome
Women diagnosed with Lynch syndrome, a condition often associated with colon cancer, also are at high risk for endometrial and ovarian cancers - both of which can be eliminated by having a prophylactic hysterectomy and oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries), according to a study published by researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in the Jan. 19 New England Journal of Medicine.

Jan 19, 2006 - "RedHerring",Belmont, CA
Tobacco Drug May Treat Cancer
A company that uses tobacco plants to produce drugs aimed at treating cancer announced Thursday it had received $6 million in a second round of venture financing. The St. Louis, Missouri-based firm, Chlorogen, plans to use the funding to underwrite extraction and purification of a therapeutic protein believed to be useful in treating ovarian, cervical, uterine, and prostate cancer.

Jan 18, 2006 - "Voice Of America (VOA)", Washington, DC
Treatment Gives Hope For Ovarian Cancer Patients
Ovarian cancer infected approximately 22,000 American women last year, and nearly 73 percent of those women died of it. Ovarian cancer is so deadly because it often goes undetected until it is in its advanced stages. However, a treatment called intraperitoneal therapy, or "IP therapy", which has now been endorsed by the National Cancer Institute, will help patients live longer.

Jan 18, 2006 - "Sun-Sentinel", Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Insist on tests for ovarian cancer
The Jan. 5 article, "Advance in ovarian cancer treatment," is most meaningful but lacks several important facts. Prevention and diagnosing the disease in the early stage is vital. There are symptoms that can help detect the cancer before the advanced stage. When a woman complains that she has a swollen abdomen, pain, bleeding or other discomfort, run, do not wait, go to a gynecologist and demand the proper tests.

Jan 16, 2006 - "Centre Daily Times", State College, PA
Early detection is key to overcoming ovarian cancer
While ovarian cancer is not as common as breast cancer -- affecting 1 in 57 women compared to 1 in 7, according to Johns Hopkins -- it is considered more deadly because of a higher percentage of terminal cases. According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer accounts for only 3 percent of all cancers among women, yet ranks fourth as a cause of their deaths from cancer. The society's statistics for ovarian cancer estimate that there are about 22,220 new cases, and 16,210 deaths, each year.

Jan 16, 2006 - "Reuters Health", NYC, NY
Painkillers may cut risk of ovarian cancer
Regular use of common painkillers is associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer, according to the results of a recent population-based study. Still, researchers say they are a long way from recommending these drugs solely for possibly preventing ovarian cancer. In the study, women who used any NSAID -- i.e., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen -- in the preceding 5 years were 28 percent less likely to develop ovarian cancer than were nonusers. The risk reduction was strongest with aspirin -- 37 percent.

Jan 16, 2006 - "Florida Today", FL
Ovarian cancer Rx no miracle, but one step closer
When it comes to outfoxing disease -- and, in the case of ovarian cancer, it's a challenge -- I have to approach it from several angles. First, I can educate patients on risk reduction. Many risk factors for ovarian cancer (advanced age, having a sister with the disease, a late-in-life menopause) are unavoidable.

Jan 15, 2006 - "The Courier-Journal", Luisville, KY
Working with cancer
Margot Morrell viewed her 2004 ovarian cancer diagnosis as a challenge. "From the minute I was diagnosed, my focus was completely on how do I get over this as fast as possible so I can get back to work," said Morrell, an author and speaker.

Jan 14, 2006 - "Press Box", UK
Aggressive ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer does not have to be a death sentence. Deanna Loftis, RN, BBA, author of Painless Cancer Cures & Preventions, describes many natural non-toxic avenues for the prevention and cure of not only ovarian cancer, but all major cancers.

Jan 13, 2006 - "Female First", UK
Vitamin D3 Can Reduce Cancer Risk
A large daily dose of vitamin D can lower the risk of developing common cancers by as much as 50%, scientists said. Researchers found that the "natural" form of the vitamin, D3 can dramatically reduce the chances of developing breast, ovarian and colon cancer, as well as others. Taking 1,000 international units (IU) of the vitamin daily could lower an individual's cancer risk by 50%, they said.

Jan 10, 2006 - "Times Leader", Wilkes-Barre, PA
Vitamin D is known cancer fighter
Actually, extra vitamin D may not only help reduce the risk of breast cancer, but colon and ovarian cancers too. We’ve known about an association between sunlight and cancer risk since the 1940s. Vitamin D, a vitamin synthesized in our bodies via sunlight on our skin, is naturally present in greater amounts in folks exposed to more sunlight. In observational studies, folks with higher vitamin D levels do seem to have a lower incidence of certain forms of cancer. Why that is so isn’t clear.

Jan 05, 2006 - "Kane County Chronicle", Geneva, IL
Study: Most cancer patients don't quit jobs
Margot Morrell viewed her 2004 ovarian cancer diagnosis as a challenge. "From the minute I was diagnosed, my focus was completely on how do I get over this as fast as possible so I can get back to work," said Morrell, an author and speaker.

Jan 05, 2006 - "USA Today",
Abdominal therapy shows ovarian cancer benefit
Delivering chemotherapy directly into the abdomen as well as through a vein can add more than a year to the lives of women with advanced ovarian cancer, a study reports today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Jan 04, 2006 - "National Cancer Institute", Washington, DC
NCI Issues Clinical Announcement for Preferred Method of Treatment for Advanced Ovarian Cancer
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, today issued an announcement encouraging treatment with anticancer drugs via two methods, after surgery, for women with advanced ovarian cancer. The combined methods, which deliver drugs into a vein and directly into the abdomen, extend overall survival for women with advanced ovarian cancer by about a year.

Jan 03, 2006 - "Washington Post", Washington, DC
A Weekly Shot of News and Notes
VITAMIN D-TALES Cancer researchers last week urged people to take more vitamin D to lower their risk of colon, breast and ovarian cancer, saying studies showed a clear link. "Our suggestion is for people to increase their intake" via diet or vitamin supplement, lead researcher Cedric Garland said.

Jan 01, 2006 - "Rochester Democrat and Chronicle", Rochester, NY
Work easier for cancer patients who get support
His co-worker, after all, was so exhausted by her treatments, she took a long absence from work. "I was afraid I was making her look bad," said Stello, an Eastman Kodak Co. lab technician who suffered from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Guilt also hit Lois Tipton, who is battling ovarian cancer.