Inhibition of functional HER family members increases the sensitivity to docetaxel in human ovarian cancer cell lines.

In conclusion, a combination of docetaxel with inhibitors of HER family members, such as cetuximab plus pertuzumab, may be considered for a clinical trial in ovarian carcinomas with functional receptors.

Parity and the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers

This is the third independent study to find that, as in the general population, parity appears to be associated with protection from breast cancer in women with mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Parity appears to be protective for ovarian cancer in BRCA1 mutation carriers, but its role in BRCA2 mutation carriers remains unclear. Whether later age at first birth is also protective for ovarian cancer in mutation carriers requires further confirmation.

Cochrane Colaboration review: Laparoscopy versus laparotomy for benign ovarian tumour

Cochrane Collaboration: Interval debulking surgery for advanced epithelial

* Rates of toxic reactions to chemotherapy were similar in both arms (RR = 1.3, 95%CI: 0.4 to 3.6), but little information is available for other adverse events.
* Only one trial reported quality of life (QOL), which was generally similar in both treatment arms.
* No conclusive evidence was found to determine whether IDS between cycles of chemotherapy would improve or decrease the survival rates of women with advanced ovarian cancer, compared with conventional treatment of primary surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. IDS appeared to yield benefit only in the patients whose primary surgery was not performed by gynecologic oncologists or was less extensive.

OCATS: Cancer survivor helps launch awareness campaign

media article:

Cancer survivor helps launch awareness campaign

e-letter of response:

Now, after close to a decade as one of the minority who has survived ovarian cancer, it is apparent that the message concerning this highly lethal woman's cancer, still is not receiving the respect nor attention it deserves. How, as a society, is it that we fail and continue to fail not only ovarian cancer women/families, but, all those who envision best care for this woman's cancer? The impact of hearing: "well, they are going to die anyway" is distressingly commonplace even today. Those are infuriatingly painful words to hear time and time again. Yet, here we have a small group of women fighting not only for themselves but for the future of Saskatchewan's children - your children. Each time we lose an ovarian cancer woman to this deadly cancer, a part of us dies with her - again and again. In good and bad economic times, little has changed, so it should be obvious that funding is not the issue. Policy makers need to be reminded that these women are not number-crunching statistics, but walking, breathing, caring Mothers, Sisters, Grandmothers and Citizens who have much Hope in the face of extreme adversity. Stick your neck out on this issue and make the obvious right decisions! You could make worse decisions. Sandi Pniauskas

OCATS: Cancer survivor helps launch awareness campaign

media article:

Cancer survivor helps launch awareness campaign

e-letter of response:

Now, after close to a decade as one of the minority who has survived ovarian cancer, it is apparent that the message concerning this highly lethal woman's cancer, still is not receiving the respect nor attention it deserves. How, as a society, is it that we fail and continue to fail not only ovarian cancer women/families, but, all those who envision best care for this woman's cancer? The impact of hearing: "well, they are going to die anyway" is distressingly commonplace even today. Those are infuriatingly painful words to hear time and time again. Yet, here we have a small group of women fighting not only for themselves but for the future of Saskatchewan's children - your children. Each time we lose an ovarian cancer woman to this deadly cancer, a part of us dies with her - again and again. In good and bad economic times, little has changed, so it should be obvious that funding is not the issue. Policy makers need to be reminded that these women are not number-crunching statistics, but walking, breathing, caring Mothers, Sisters, Grandmothers and Citizens who have much Hope in the face of extreme adversity. Stick your neck out on this issue and make the obvious right decisions! You could make worse decisions. Sandi Pniauskas