With our primary mission being to increase awareness of the signs, symptoms and methods of detection of ovarian cancer, Judy’s Mission is very proud of our signature program Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives ® (STS).  Created and administered by Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), Judy’s Mission partners by facilitating the one hour STS classroom course which  allows ovarian cancer survivors to share their experiences with medical and nursing students in the greater Houston area.   Survivors discuss their symptoms, doctors’ visits, diagnosis, misdiagnosis and eventual detection, treatment and current status.  Now in our fifth year of presenting this program, we are striving to reach every future health professional and send them into their medical practices with the knowledge and ability to recognize a possible ovarian cancer case.

I started facilitating STS classes seven months ago and I am amazed at how grateful and receptive the students are to learn that there is no screening for ovarian cancer and that the symptoms are very common and very frequently attributed to less serious, more easily treated ailments.  These students leave the class prepared to recognize a patient who should be tested for ovarian cancer.  They appreciate the survivors’ perspective and feel that the lesson of a “live case study” is a great enhancement to their curriculum.

In the first four years of the program, Judy’s Mission impacted approximately 300 students per year with 15-17 presentations to 9 campuses for a total of 1,200 students.  For the 2018- 2019 calendar year we are on target to double the number of students served each year. This year we have increased our presence to include 14 school campuses with 11 classes scheduled in spring and 11 classes schedule in the fall.  Several schools are scheduled for this summer as well.  This will mean more practicing doctors and nurses who are able to recognize an ovarian cancer patient at an earlier stage of the disease.

Several survivors, many students and I have said that if this class saves one life, it is worth it.  But, our hope, at Judy’s Mission, is that, as more future healthcare practitioners know the STS course material, the statistics for early detection and >5yr survival will significantly improve.

If you know of a medical, nursing, PA, nurse practitioner or other program in which graduates will be working with patients, please comment on this post or contact Judy’s Mission, so we can be sure all medical professionals are armed with this important, life-saving information.   And, if you are an ovarian cancer survivor or know a survivor who wants to make this significant difference by sharing her story, comment or contact us also.

“Nobody understands.”  I’ve heard that said by people in grief about the loss of a loved one, after a frightening experience, like abuse, military service, victim of a crime, and of course about being diagnosed with and dealing with cancer.   Research has found that patients with more social support tend to feel less anxious and depressed and report a better quality of life. People with cancer find it encouraging to have others who listen and help with the practical aspects of dealing with cancer.

Coincidentally, while I was preparing this blog post, a woman, who is currently battling ovarian cancer, contacted me about helping get her husband in touch with another husband who had recently lost his wife to ovarian cancer.  She said her husband feels that, “nobody understands” and he needs to talk to someone who has experienced what he is currently experiencing

This blog is about the value of support groups and the benefits of talking and telling all about your ovarian (or any) cancer experience.  These groups can supply much needed information/education or they can be therapeutic, fostering hope and/or acceptance or they can be a combination of both.

I spoke to a professional support group facilitator, a cancer survivor who was both facilitator and participant of a (ley-led) group and a participant who has been in support groups both as a newly diagnosed and currently as a recurrent cancer patient.  Here is what they had to say.

Alycia Hughes is the Senior Patient Affairs Specialist at MD Anderson (MDA).  As such, she facilitates a monthly support group, at MD Anderson.  Her group is primarily educational.  She brings in outside speakers, mostly medical professionals who work with cancer patients to present useful and necessary information to patients.

Alycia touts the merits of support groups specific to your specific disease.  She says treatments and psychosocial issues for ovarian cancer are different from those of other gynecologic cancers.  She says, when seeking a support group, some things to look for are a group that meets regularly, at a convenient time and setting.  She points out that there are support groups that include spouses and caregivers and you should determine if you want a group for patients only.

Barbara Garvin is 10+ years ovarian cancer survivor who, after hearing all the experts at the MDA support group, started her own group, in her home, to provide and more intimate, more therapeutic support group.  That group has since dissipated and she is back at a group at MDA.

Barbara says of her support group, “the caring and sharing was phenomenal!  Feeling safe to talk about aspects of the disease you couldn’t share with loved ones came easy.  We marveled just how effortless it was to talk about our bowel movements with each other.  We all were inspired with a new zest for life, (were) more hopeful and encouraged, felt less lonely, stressed and (less) depressed.  Your support group can literally become your lifeline and empower you.”

She says she continues to go to support group to inspire newly diagnosed women, for the camaraderie, to learn.  She goes to receive and give support.  “Mostly, I go to spread the Love.”

Janet Little is one of our Faces of Ovarian Cancer spotlight cancer survivors.  She was also one of the founders of the Teal Tales support group, that was a support group for ovarian cancer patients, survivors, spouses and caregivers.  She is currently a participant in the “Life in Between” group, for all cancer patients (breast, ovarian, pancreatic, etc), that meets at the wonderful Canopy center in the Woodlands.

The Life in Between group is a ley-led group, currently (coincidentally) comprised of only women.  Janet says that is what she likes about it.  “We laugh a lot and share stories and just everyday things.  We all get the seriousness of our disease but don’t take ourselves too seriously.  However, we are there for each other when one of us is going through tough times.  The women are welcoming.”

She says, when she was newly diagnosed, knowing the stories and experiences of those with recurrences gave her so much hope.  Cancer treatments can be so isolating and anxiety provoking.  Having someone who has walked that path before you and understands exactly what you are feeling and fearing is priceless.

If you are afflicted with ovarian cancer, you are not alone.  So, don’t try to go it alone.  To find a support group that is right for you, speak to your oncologist or a social worker at your hospital or treatment center or, talk to other patients receiving treatments around you or check out these websites:  https://www.mdanderson.org/patients-family/diagnosis-treatment/patient-support/support-groups.html or  https://www.cancer.org/treatment/support-programs-and-services.html.   Or post on this blog.

1. Why did you decide to practice gynocolgoic oncology in the first place as opposed to any other oncology specialty? 

When I was going through medical school, I realized that I really enjoyed taking care of women and promoting women’s health.   I chose gynecologic oncology specifically because it is the only field where a subspecialist has the skills to not only perform cancer surgery but also to administer chemotherapy.  This provides the optimal continuity of care for my patients and helps me achieve a higher level of understanding of my patients’ disease process.

2. What, in your opinion, is the biggest misconception about ovarian cancer? 

 That this is a deadly disease, like “pancreatic” or “brain” cancer.  We have traditionally only had surgery and chemotherapy to treat ovarian cancer.  However, in 2011, the FDA approved the first biologic agent for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.  Since then, several biologic agents have been approved and I anticipate that the addition of these agents will change the course of ovarian cancer in the long-term.  This is a very exciting time for ovarian cancer as new therapies are continually being introduced.  These biologic agents are quickly becoming a routine part of ovarian cancer care, and this brings hope to all patients with ovarian cancer.  Many clinical trials are available that study these new drugs, and the importance of being a part of a trial, if appropriate, cannot be emphasized enough.

3. Do you think that one day a screening for ovarian cancer will exist? Or is that precisely the problem with OC; that coming up with an effective universal screening is not likely based on the characteristics of the disease?

I would love to see a true screening test for ovarian cancer!  Many, many studies have been done looking at performing regular USGs, or drawing routine CA-125 levels, or performing both CA-125 and USG simultaneously, for the detection of ovarian cancer.  These methods are neither sensitive nor cost-effective.  Universal screening may be more possible in the future than it has been previously as we continue to uncover more about the behavior of ovarian cancer.  It is also clear that ovarian cancer is a multifaceted disease and what one tumor expresses may not be expressed in another, making screening ultimately very difficult.

4.  If you could text message every woman in the world, right this minute, what would you say to them in regards to ovarian cancer or their health in general?

Follow your instincts.  If you have some vague symptoms- (all symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague and can be explained by another disease process)- bloating, feeling full early, pelvic pressure, urinary or GI symptoms- trust your instincts and do not rationalize them (I’m not eating right, I’m not exercising, I ate Mexican the other night, etc).  Get input from your physician and keep questioning and get an answer for your symptoms.  Be your own advocate and push until you are satisfied that you have done what you can for yourself.

5. When you’re not ridding the world of ovarian cancer, what do you like to do in your free time?  

I’m an avid runner! And love to spin.  I enjoy my family greatly, and love spending time with them.  I also love to read, and recently read both books by Amor Towles.

23 is so young to be diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. That said though, were you tested for the BRCA gene? Do you have it?

I was incredibly young to be diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. It was the absolute last thing on my mind when I went to the doctor complaining of pain; by the time I was diagnosed the cancer had spread so much that it was very complex and complicated to treat. My grandmother passed away from Ovarian Cancer 6 months before I was diagnosed. When I was first diagnosed with the severity of my situation doctors thought I for sure was BRCA positive. It turns out I was negative for the BRCA gene.

We know chemo wasn’t working for you so you sought out a specialist in NYC that changed your prognosis. What, specifically, did that specialist do in NYC recommend that worked?

When you do 12 weeks of straight pumping poison into your body, you end up with ALOT of weird residual side effects. When the chemo didn’t work and I was deemed “inoperable” I ran out of options. My oncologist with Texas Oncology and another oncologist she worked closely with came up with the idea to send me to what they called a “legend” in New York and Memorial Sloan Kettering. Something he thought he could do would be to “TRY” to operate. He  said that he didn’t know what the outcome would be but he knew that he had to try. I was too young to just be tossed to the side. He felt with my age..I could endure the long procedure and wanted to give it a shot to try and remove as much cancer as possible. Chemo is meant to push your body as close to the edge as possible in order to kill the cancer cells in there, without killing YOU!! It was hard to wrap my head around the fact that my only option after this poison was surgery…but in the end..with 33 items removed, and as colon resection; I ended up with a chance at life because of Dr. Chi.

Is that doctor now your primary oncologist? If not, who is and how often do you go in for CA 125s and general check ins?        

My oncologist is Dr. Christine Lee. She is a phenomenal doctor and fought for me the entire time during my battle. She made sure I had the best surgeon operate on me even if it meant sending me to New York. (which it did) I still go see Dr. Chi in New York yearly and will be seeing him in October. I have regular CT scans, Chest x-rays, and labs drawn every 3 months with Dr. Lee.

During your darkest, sickest days, what did you turn to for inspiration, a laugh, or a break in the weight of your situation? A show? A song? A family member? Anything?

During my darkest days I kept thinking to myself that if I was going to go out…I would go out fighting. I have an incredible support system with my family, my husband and my best friend. My husband kept putting things in perspective for me making sure I took chemo, and recovery from surgery one day at a time…I would always watch the show The Office with my husband for a good laugh and first and foremost we got closer to GOD. My husband and I ended up becoming close with our Church pastors Chris and Kerry Shook and ended up getting re-baptised together this summer.

If you had a megaphone that spoke worldwide to girls your age, what would you tell them about ovarian cancer? Or just their health in general?

I would SHOUT OUT TO THE WORLD that you know your body better than anyone else does! Fight for yourself when others won’t and never give up fighting. Do me a favor and start doing that today. Use the able body you’ve got to fight because one day you may not have that option. I would give anything to have that choice, to have that option.

What are you up to these days?

I am currently trying to get my strength back and try to live life as comfortably with my husband. I have been going back to my job taking on more and more responsibilities. We are trying to grow our family through the help of an egg donor and surrogacy. The truth is that once you have gone through Cancer you will never be the same. Ovarian Cancer is the type of disease you constantly have to fight your entire life! I WILL spend the rest of my life fighting this awful disease and RAISING AWARENESS. I want to be an advocate for women and for girls my age that aren’t taken seriously. I want to help them find their voice.

How did being a paramedic effect your experience as a cancer patient? You must have had more medical knowledge going through this experience than the average person.

MW: Being in the medical field, I felt that I knew more information about different topics that I was “diagnosed” with, but also knew all the factors that could potentially occur. But I didn’t know anything about ovarian cancer when I was diagnosed, nobody ever told me I should, including my gynecologist.

How did you come across Dr. Lee and work with her? Describe the relationship you had with her.

MW: The ER doctor that I saw was in the in the same network as oncologist, Christine Lee (of Memorial Hermann Woodlands Hospital). I had an immediate connection with her and have more respect for that woman than I could ever convey.

Obviously cancer puts your whole life on hold, is there a specific moment when you were hit by this realization?

 MW: The moment for me, and I hate it when people characterize this as no big deal, was when the girl who does my hair came to my house. My family came over, we sat in my kitchen, hair below my shoulders, and we cut it all off. She gave me the most precious short haircut but the reason for the cut was not a happy occasion.

What helped keep your spirits up and gave you support during this period? 

MW: My angel of a husband never left my side and attended every single treatment and procedure!  His co-workers donated all their PTO to him so he’d still get paid. If it weren’t for him. I wouldn’t have made it.

Also, my family coordinated a benefit, which I was not initially happy about (I didn’t want handouts), and planned an enormous fundraiser. I was able to pay off all my medical bills in 2 months. Reunion and awareness, word of mouth, social media and more made it possible for 600 people to attend from all parts of the country.

 What did you learn from your experience that you want to impart on anyone reading this blog post?

Listen to your body; the most-vague symptoms can be the most important symptoms. And if you feel like something is wrong, don’t stop until you get an answer. Tell your doctor what you want. There is no acceptable screening for ovarian cancers and most woman are diagnosed in late symptoms. Had I known with the first symptom sign I had that it was cancer, I would have had a 3-month head start on treatment. And also…screw you cancer! You weren’t as bad as I thought you were!

(Misty’s pseudo bell ringing day)

Tell us about Teal Tales.

I now run a Facebook page called Teal Tales and it has women from all over the world: Australia, Switzerland, India and more. Once every 24 min a woman is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This gives an opportunity for women to connect with each other and provide information and support in a community setting.

1. Do you think that one day a screening for ovarian cancer will exist? (In other words, the equivalent to what the mammogram is to breast cancer.) If so, how far off do you think we are from that technology?

This is a tough question. Because ovarian cancer is much less frequent than breast cancer, it makes identifying an effective screening test more challenging. There has been promising information looking at algorithms for screening combining serial CA-125 with ultrasound that have looked good so far but I don’t think we are close to having routine screening for all women quite yet. Another strategy has been to identify women who may be at higher risk because of genetics and screening these women in a more aggressive way. We are hopeful that this strategy will decrease the overall numbers of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer with advanced stage.

2. What do you think the biggest misconception about ovarian cancer is?

From a detection standpoint, I think a common misconception is that if we just did a CA-125 on everyone we would find ovarian cancer earlier. I have heard many patients, family members, and even doctors say this. There have been large prospective studies that have shown CA-125 by itself should not be used as a screening tool. It can lead to unnecessary surgeries which can sometimes be harmful.

3. How did Angelina Jolie’s NY Times Article, Diary of A Surgery, change Gynecologic Oncology, if at all? Do you feel patients are generally more informed now about the BRCA gene?  

Anytime you have a celebrity be open about a cancer diagnosis or screening I think it helps get the word out.  I think more doctors, both primary care and general ob/gyns are more informed about BRCA for a number of reasons so I think that has increased awareness overall.

4. What is one thing you think people would be surprised to learn/know about your career as a gynecologic oncologist? 

People always seem surprised that gynecologic oncologists are both surgeons and chemotherapy doctors. This is not common in other types of cancers. The surgery and chemotherapy are often done by 2 different doctors for breast, colon and other cancers. This makes the relationship between gynecologic oncologists and their patients unique. We really take care of people through the whole course of their treatment.

5. People like Jessica Murnane (her brief story here) and Alisa Vitti (her brief story here) have found extreme success managing their ovarian conditions like endometriosis and PCOS by changing their diet. Do we know anything about the relationship between diet and ovarian cancer currently? Do you think we’ll know more in the future?

I would say that the relationship between diet and ovarian cancer is unknown. I am not aware that particular food or a particular diet can change the outcome of a patient with ovarian cancer. I usually tell people to have a well-balanced diet and continue to exercise. I do think that your overall health can help you make it through a big surgery and chemotherapy a little easier.

    Dr. Pamela Solimon

Below is everything you need to know about Memorial Hermann’s newest passion project.

WHO: Anyone who has been affected by cancer in some form or fashion (including friends and family members of cancer survivors) are welcome at Canopy’s warm, inviting space to receive support, learn something new, or simply relax. 

WHAT: Canopy is a cancer survivorship center with a mission of bettering the health and well-being of cancer survivors. They offer a wide variety of programs and services like yoga classes, tai chi, art therapy, cooking demos, small group counseling sessions, and more.

WHERE: Located on the campus of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, Canopy is the first of its kind in Montgomery County.

WHEN: Canopy opened its doors July 5, 2016. The center is open 9:00-5:00 PM Monday through Thursday and 9:00-3:00 PM on Friday.

WHY THE NAME ‘CANOPY’: Canopy was given its name to convey The Woodlands’ forest-like feel, and to represent the center’s sole mission: to serve as an all-encompassing safe haven where guests can rest easy the moment they arrive.

FUN FACT: Canopy is run on philanthropic dollars and individual donations. Click here to donate or become a sponsor.

Questions? You can learn more about Canopy and their mission by emailing Amanda.Poole@memorialhermann.org.

When Stephanie Parke was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in June 2013, she had no idea that such tragic news would turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Three years later–after a total hysterectomy, 18 weeks of chemo, and a 4-month clinical trial at MD Anderson–Parke is cancer-free and living life at its fullest as a loving mom, career woman, and ovarian cancer awareness activist.

Aside from running her own dental practice and raising three kids, Parke spends her days helping women who have been diagnosed with the ugly disease and aiding in finding a cure. The most important thing for women right now, she believes, is being aware.

“My main platform is to know your body—and to listen to it,” says Parke, who admits to ignoring her own symptoms for months before being diagnosed. “As women, we get so wrapped up in taking care of others that we forget to take care of ourselves. ”

Parke works with organizations like Memorial Hermann’s In The Pink (http://www.memorialhermann.org/give-volunteer/foundation/in-the-pink-of-health/) and Pink Pals (http://www.memorialhermann.org/news/%E2%80%9Cpink-pals%E2%80%9D-raise-over-$13,000-to-date-for–memorial-hermann-in-the-pink-of-health/) to get the word out about ovarian cancer and to encourage women to speak up when they know something’s not right.

“We’re all in this together,” says Parke. “I’m here to encourage women to talk about what they’re experiencing and to help them through it.”

As for her own journey, Parke has made it a point to appreciate every day as it comes, and to never take anything for granted. Three years ago, she was given the worst news someone could possibly receive from a doctor—and now, having come out from the other side, she has a new take on life and an extremely grateful heart.

“I’ve met so many wonderful people through this experience, and my relationships with both God and my family have never been stronger. I’m thankful for even the smallest things in life. Everything—even just to be alive—is a blessing.”

Joanne & her husband Ken

When I was first presented with the opportunity to write about my mother’s journey through Ovarian Cancer, I thought it would not pose near the challenge that it has indeed turned out to pose. Having taken many Creative Writing classes in college and writing countless short stories, poems and articles throughout the years, I thought this would be a breeze. Then it hit me. I would actually have to put into words something that changed that lives of my family and myself forever. On top of that, I would have to attempt to put into words a personality and a life that transcends words and stories. But here goes.

I was with her that first day we stepped into a cancer facility. The previous week she had been having heart palpitations and the doctor called her back in to discuss some results of tests or something they saw on an x-ray. I really didn’t think anything of it and, of course, agreed to accompany her. After some time sitting in that tiny room listening to the doctors and nurses discuss their weekend plans, the doctor finally emerged and gave vague explanations and more questions than answers. He then directed us to the Cancer Floor of the clinic. There must be some other reasonable explanation besides Cancer, right? The doctor said things and we listened in a fog of disbelief and surrealism then the sudden realization of the true potential gravity of the situation hit us, and we hugged each other and cried.

One of the many truly remarkable things about my mother was that this was one of only a few times throughout the journey that I witnessed her cry. After that moment, one of her most admirable qualities, her strength came out and she was determined to fight tooth and nail to beat Ovarian Cancer. Everyone that knew Jo had every reason to believe that she would succeed. She was the women that spent decades as a 4 foot 10 inch geriatric nurse lifting patients in and out of beds and wheelchairs. She was the women that would drag hoses around the yard day in and day out during the summer heat to tend to one of the most beautiful flower gardens imaginable. This was a woman full of strength and conviction, and she did things even when she was sick and exhausted from chemotherapy.

It wasn’t just her strength of body that convinced her family and friends that she could beat it, it was also her strength in spirit. Her humor and wit were unparalleled. After she would stop telling you that you didn’t have to come sit with her during chemotherapy, the room would be filled with true laughter. She had amazing stories to tell of life on the farm with her brothers and sister. She would recount for me stories from my brothers’ and my childhood as well as revel in the love she had with her grandchildren and their mother, her daughter-in-law. Laughter has always been at every Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday, Mother’s Day and every other day spent with nieces, nephews, cousins, aunt, uncles, and friends.

It was that humor and strength that truly bounded family and friends together as we watched her end her battle with Ovarian Cancer. She kept fighting until the very end and we kept laughing through the tears until the very end as we recounted the wonderful stories that she will leave with each one of us. I think about my mother every day, as I know many people do, and am thankful for every minute of our journey together.

Amy Sudbeck about her mother Joanne Sudbeck

Whether you’re an Avengers fan or a How I Met Your Mother junkie, you know (and surely love) Cobie Smulders. What you might not have known is that when Cobie was just 25 (and in the middle of season three of HIMYM she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

“I had tumors on both ovaries,” she says, “and the cancer had spread into my lymph nodes and surrounding tissues.” It took multiple surgeries over the course of two years to remove the cancerous tissue.

“I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I’m cancer-free,” she says. “Now that I’m five years out, I’m trying to think of it as a positive thing and what can I learn from it. And if I can create more awareness, I’ll do it.”

These quotes (and more) were given to Women’s Health Magazine. They also ran this article called The Deadliest Below-The-Belt Disease You Need To Know About which shared very good information about OC.

We’re so glad Cobie’s OC story has a happy ending (she went on to have two children!) and that she’s with us on our mission to spread awareness!