Jazzalot Benefit Concert
The 7th annual Jazzalot benefit concert will feature George Benson, Cliff Monear Trio and DSO Civic Jazz Ensemble. Tuesday, May 28, 7:00pm at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.
Upcoming events
Complete Event Calendar
Board of Directors meeting
The MIOCA board of directors will meet on Monday, June 3 at 7:00 pm at the Ann Arbor Regent Hotel meeting room. Everyone is invited to attend.
Survivors’ Celebration
MIOCA will participate in the 19th Annual U-M Cancer Survivors’ Celebration on Sunday, June 9th , 1 – 3:30 pm at Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Building. Keynote speaker, Dr. Paul McGhee, PhD. will examine the health benefits of humor in a presentation titled, "Humor Your Tumor". Join us - survivors, family, friends, and health care providers - for a variety of survivorship information, refreshments and door prizes.
Concert for a Cure
In memory of Mariel Almendras, Scars on 45 will appear at a benefit concert supporting MIOCA. Our young music lover, Mariel lost her life to ovarian cancer in 2011, but not before she formed a special bond with the band. Join us for this very special night, as they play for her once again at LIVE on Sunday, June 23 at 7 pm, (doors open at 6).
OCNA Annual Conference
Each year, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance hosts the largest ovarian cancer-specific conference in the nation, bringing together researchers, clinicians, survivors and caregivers to learn about the latest developments in diagnosis, treatment and quality of life. The conference culminates with an advocacy day on Capitol Hill.
Join many of the MIOCA leadership at the 16th Annual Conference on July 12-15, 2013, in Washington, DC. For more info and to register please visit the conference website .
Ovarian Cancer Survivor’s Course
Join us on April 27 for the Ovarian Cancer Survivor’s Course and MIOCA hosted reception, sponsored by Mass Mutual Financial Group. Marking the first time the Foundation for Women’s Cancer has brought this educational conference to the state, it will be held at the University of Michigan North Campus Research Complex in Ann Arbor.
We are excited to bring survivors, caregivers and providers together for this FREE one day event (9am-5pm). Click on the photo for more information and an outline of the topics.
Run In The Thumb
The 4th annual ovarian cancer awareness 5k/10k run/walk in memory of Michelle Chiotti.
September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
and we Turned The Towns Teal last year, as more than 15 Michigan towns went teal throughout September, with additional events held in Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Detroit, Farmington, Lansing, Northville, Rochester and Sturgis. TV, Radio and print coverage helped promote symptom awareness and the critical need for increased research funding. Planning for Awareness Month 2013 has already begun with even more events than last year currently scheduled, while our education and awareness efforts continue year round.
Breaking the silence about GYN cancer with Rock N Roll
An emotive and music-filled documentary, NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE, brings below the belt cancers out from under the radar and into the spotlight. Through the POV of a rockin' doc band, it aims to reach the widest possible audience with their message. Outraged by the silence surrounding these deadly cancers, the Six GYN cancer surgeons of the band N.E.D channel women's voices into powerfully authentic music. It artfully lifts GYN cancer taboos to raise awareness, vigilance and understanding.
N.E.D. premiers in Alaska on February 3. Check out the trailer , like them on Facebook , and watch for a screening coming to a theater near you.
SPEAKing About Early Detection
Hearing personal accounts from ovarian cancer survivors helps put a “face” to the disease. It also illustrates the real life subtleties of its symptoms and the challenges of early detection. Based on this premise, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s nationwide educational program, Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives® , brings survivors into healthcare classrooms to share their diagnostic and treatment experiences. Inspired by this highly successful experiential program, SPEAK: Survivors Promoting Early Awareness and Knowledge seeks to raise ovarian cancer awareness among all women in a similar manner.
See our event calendar for all the upcoming SPEAK presentations. To educate our community about life saving symptom awareness, please schedule one for your group or organization, contact SPEAK coordinator Michelle Shepherd .
Welcome
Established in 2011, the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance promotes saving women’s lives through the early detection of ovarian cancer and improved treatment outcomes. In addition to community outreach and education, MIOCA provides advocacy, resources and support throughout Michigan.
|
Society of Gynecologic Oncology 2013 Annual MeetingAt this year’s SGO Annual Meeting numerous presentations explored issues related to ovarian cancer. The Alliance summarized some of them, with topics including diagnosis, treatment, recurrence, prognosis and more, in a report here. more all news |
|
|
International Study Discovers New Genetic Markers for CancerA collaboration of more than 130 institutions analyzing data from more than 200,000 people revealed new genetic markers for breast, prostate and ovarian cancer. more all news |
|
|
The New York Times reports on study finding inadequate care for ovarian cancerThe New York Times reported on a study presented at the 2013 meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists that found most women with ovarian cancer do not receive adequate care or treatment. This study, from the University of California, Irvine, found women are more likely to get optimal care when treated at a medical center that handles a high volume of ovarian cancer cases. more all news |
|
|
Possible Link Between High Blood Calcium Levels and Ovarian CancerThe Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center reports that high blood calcium levels might predict ovarian cancer. The study found, “women who were later diagnosed with ovarian cancer and women who later died of ovarian cancer had higher levels of calcium in blood than women who did not before their cancer diagnosis.” more all news |
|
|
Pap Test Might Detect Ovarian CancerResearchers at Johns Hopkins showed that examining cervical cells can help identify ovarian and uterine cancers. In a recent small study of 46 women, DNA analysis detected 41% of ovarian cancer cases. more all news |
|
|
Metformin may increase ovarian cancer survivalA retrospective, case-control study at Mayo Clinic, found the diabetes drug metformin may increase survival in women with ovarian cancer. It reported that ovarian cancer patients with diabetes taking metformin during treatment had a 4 times greater 5-year survival rate, compared to non-diabetic ovarian cancer patients not taking the drug. Abstract here . more all news |
|
|
Supreme Court to hear case against BRCA1 & BRCA2 patentsThe Supreme Court will hear arguments challenging the patents of 2 genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer - the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations, which are currently owned by Myriad Laboratories. The lawsuit charges the patents stifle diagnostic testing and research that could lead to cures and limit a woman’s medical options. The Alliance has joined the suit; the ACLU and Public Patent Foundation first filed it in 2009. more all news |
|
|
Tell Congress to prevent harmful cuts to ovarian cancer programsIf Congress does not act soon, we will see across-the-board cuts to programs that are crucial to fighting ovarian cancer. These automatic cuts, called sequestration, will decimate programs that play an essential role in research to fight and prevent ovarian cancer. Read more about what you can do. more all news |
|
|
Drug Shortage Update: Janssen Announces End of Doxil ShortageJanssen Products, LP announced it has restored full access to Doxil® (doxorubicin HCl liposome injection) supply for physicians and their patients in the United States. “This is encouraging news for women with ovarian cancer and their health providers.” said Calaneet Balas, Chief Executive Officer of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Throughout the past year, the Alliance has worked with stakeholders—including FDA and the drug industry—to resolve current drug shortages and prevent future problems. more all news |
|
|
Genetic Analysis of Breast Cancer Reveals Similarities to Ovarian CancerA comprehensive genomic study of breast tumors has identified four genetically distinct types and revealed that mutations found in triple-negative breast cancer more closely resemble ovarian cancer than other breast cancers. The federally funded Cancer Genome Atlas Network found basal-like breast tumors showed many molecular similarities to high-grade serous ovarian tumors. The findings might help shed light on why PARP inhibitors appear to be promising in the treatment of both ovarian cancer and HER2+ breast cancer , as well as BRCA -associated breast and ovarian cancers. more all news |
