Ovarian Cancer Canada's latest advocacy tool is a video campaigning for better screeening tests for ovarian cancer. Production of the video has been motivated by the fact that, to date, no single test can reliably detect ovarian cancer before the onset of symptoms (or before symptoms are very noticeable). 70% of women diagnosed with the condition die within five years, because they are diagnosed too late. Early detection allows up to 90% of women to survive. The video calls on the public to donate to medical research, with the aim of developing an early-screening process for ovarian cancer. 

WEB FEATURE: Soul Nutrition is a new, interactive, online support resource for patients and carers, and aims to enable them to cope with a diagnosis. Soul Nutrition offers three tools to help people cope more easily with life's challenges:
* The 'Happiness Calendar' is used to record three moments of happiness each day, helping to maintain a positive outlook, and build up a virtual 'cloud' of happy memories.
* 'Nourish' is a food diary to promote wellbeing, and offers advice on appropriate foods.
* 'Shift' is a life-coaching model which helps patients and carers recognise their strengths, and shift their balance in life, with the aim of to experiencing happiness more often.

Soul Nutrition was launched by Katie Sheen, founder of UK brain tumour charity Astro Fund. Soul Nutrition is available on a 30-day free trial, with a charge after of £9.99 [Euros 12.40; US$15.60] for six months and £18.99 [Euros 23.57; US$29.63] for a year.  A minimum of 10% of the site's net profits go to the Astro Fund. 

Norfolk, UK-based Families Against Neuroblastoma (FAN) raises funds to enable children with a rare cancer, neuroblastoma, to access cutting-edge treatment.  The latest case is that of seven-year-old Olivia Downie, who had recently travelled with her parents to Mexico to receive specialist treatment. While in Mexico, the girl's condition worsened, and her family could not afford to pay for the expensive medical support that Olivia needed on the flight back to their home in Scotland. FAN raised the money to enable the family to return.

FAN is a port of call for any UK family with a child diagnosed with neuroblastoma. The group is dedicated to providing support, information and assistance to people with neuroblastoma. FAN also raises funds for research into new treatments.

WEBSITE FEATURE: The Florida-based Annie Appleseed Project was founded over a decade ago by Ann Fonfa to disseminate information about complementary, alternative cancer therapies. Ms Fonfa's site aims to challenge existing approaches to treatment and research methods. She has proposed bringing complementary, alternative therapies that have been subject to proper scientific scrutiny into mainstream therapy. Today, about 90,000 visitors view the Project website monthly. Ms Fonfa and volunteers supporting the project regularly produce reports on people's responses to treatments, conduct visits to clinics, and attend meetings and conferences. The Project offers financial support to advocates who become involved in similar activities. Ms Fonfa believes that much remains to be done: health insurance in the US does not yet cover complementary, alternative medicines.

Cancer Research UK has launched a podcast on breakthroughs in scientific research in breast cancer. Included are details on the impact of obesity on kidney and womb cancer rates; facts on why smoking patterns of the past continue to drive up lung cancer rates in women today; information about the first 'snap shots' of brain cancer; and descriptions of the latest treatments for bowel cancer.

Memoir of a Debulked Woman - Enduring Ovarian Cancer is a book by feminist and professor of English, Susan Gubar, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Part of her treatment involved the removal of many of her abdominal organs (a process described by Ms Gubar as ‘debulking’). Ms Gubar’s book recounts the unpleasant nature of the treatment, but also dwells upon areas of her life that have allowed her to find some joy: family and friends, works of literature and art, and the experiences of other people who have endured cancer. Memoir was published on April 30th 2012.

Advance Care Planning Day — a day for Canadians to talk to family members and friends about their wishes for end-of-life personal care preferences (just in case one of them should ever become incapable of consenting to, or refusing, treatment or other care).

METABRIC describes how the genetic profiling of women can help fine-tune cancer treatments. Medicines can be matched to personal genetic profiles, thereby enhancing effectiveness.

An initiative of the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC), entitled the Melanoma Independent Community Advisory Board (M-ICAB), is running a Brussels-based multidisciplinary meeting of melanoma stakeholders. The Monday April 23rd to Tuesday April 24th 2012 conference will consider how European patients with melanoma can secure access to the most up-to-date and effective  treatments.



 

Gabby Wilson, an 11-year-old girl who has survived being treated for lung cancer at the age of 7, spoke about the experience on the Women-4-Women Network's 'Cancer S.O.S.' radio programme, Monday April 16th. Details at http://www.W4WN.com