Teal Toes

It was great to see the board today for our quarterly meeting!

Times and styles are changing, and so is Teal Toes!

We’re excited to announce that Teal Toes' Board of Directors is embarking on new ways to meet the mission of our founder, Carey Fitzmaurice: promoting awareness about and early detection of ovarian cancer to save lives.

We take this effort seriously and with deep gratitude for Carey and each and every one of the hundreds of you who have already helped Teal Toes reach tens of thousands of people. We’ve done it together, symptom card by symptom card, salon party by salon party, and person to person — envisioning the end of OC, plus having some fun along the way to that joyful goal.

Check back soon for updates!

- Andrew, Sam, Lael, Caroline, and Tori

Hi friends!
I had planned on setting up a queue for us this week, but things became a little hectic and I wasn't able to do that--my apologies.
I'm having surgery tomorrow (Thursday, June 17th), and will be in the hospital for recovery for maybe 2 nights? The procedure has very low risks, and I'm not at all worried because my surgeon is very competent!
I will be out of commission for a couple of a days, but will try to respond and interact as much as I'm able!
Depending on how I'm feeling, I might be able to set up a queue on Sunday? We'll see. LOL. I'll be home by then, though!
I hope you all have a great, and I appreciate your understandings, friends!
Please be well. Be safe. Be kind.
I'll be thinking of you all!
Caroline

Be proud of it, too. You're doing great!



--Caroline

It seems like Lynparza (PARP inhibitor) has show some pretty good indications that it helps fight breast cancer too! That's cool!



--Caroline

https://abc7.com/pill-shows-promise-in-treating-aggressive-form-of-breast-cancer/10744742/

Pill shows promise in treating aggressive form of breast cancer A pill for breast cancer can prevent recurrence, symptoms, and death in a specific group of women, a new study finds.

This is pretty big deal? If your patient isn't 100% understanding the treatment, why it's happening, and why it's the best for them, then it's not patient centered and it's certainly not going to be as effective as it should be...these patients need to think and to talk it over with their families.

Does anyone have thoughts on this? This feels very wrong to me.
Opinions are appreciated!



--Caroline

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1443497/ovarian-cancer-patients-big-decisions-rushed

Ovarian cancer patients rushed on big decisions, cancer charities say A THIRD of women with advanced ovarian cancer feel they are not given enough time to discuss important life and treatment choices, cancer charities say.

This is a brief interview done with Dr. Robert Coleman who is the chief scientific officer at the US Oncology Network. Here, he discusses what it was like when he was a resident, and helping patients get through their chemo treatments at that time. Needless to say, we're better off today, but not nearly as advanced as we should be.



--Caroline

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/950217

An Ovarian Cancer Expert Looks Back to Residency Dr Coleman reflects on his first experiences with ovarian cancer patients.

Hey friends! If you need a refresh on some of your Teal Toes cards, you can always go here:

https://tealtoes.org/free-symptom-awareness-cards/

I hope your Thursday has been great!



--Caroline

Okay so, what this is saying is that surgery helps patients--especially platinum resistant ones. We know that surgery has been a standard of treatment for patients for a while, so this is nothing new, but it's good to know that this continues to be a great option for patients that may lack chemo treatments due to their platinum sensitivity.



--Caroline

https://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/home/cancer-topics/gynecologic-cancer/ovarian-cancer-secondary-cytoreduction-improves-survival-risk/

Secondary Cytoreduction Improves Progression-Free Survival in Platinum-Sensitive, Relapsed Ovarian Cancer - Cancer Therapy Advisor Chemotherapy can significantly prolong progression-free survival in platinum-sensitive, relapsed ovarian cancer.

Uh, so this is an interesting form of detection? We're always talking about how we need a test, but no one ever thought about developing an electronic nose so that it could smell the cancer. (lol).

This is a little cool, though. We would just need a lot of electronic noses. Haha.



--Caroline

https://www.survivornet.com/articles/electronic-nose-detects-cancer/

Can an Electronic Nose Sniff Out Cancer? A New Study Shows that an E-Nose System Can Detect Ovarian and Pancreatic Cancer | SurvivorNet Scientists found that a tool developed at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn's Perelman School of Medicine can distinguish between benign and pancreatic/ovarian cancer cells by 'sniffing' out vapors emanating from blood samples in a manner similar to how our noses work.

Diagnosed at 17 with stage 3b ovarian cancer, Bristol, had to have her ovaries removed and went through menopause in an attempt to save her life. At the time of diagnosis, she was told she had maybe a year to live (in December 2019). After a few months of chemo (which her cancer was not responding to), she decided to take a more holistic approach to treat the disease. She visited a holistic oncological clinic, went to a largely plant based diet, and started on a holistic regimen to treat her cancer. Since then, her CA125 has gone from 150 to 79, and her tumors are looking smaller, too.

There are lots of pics in the article, so definitely give it a read!



--Caroline

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9643377/Woman-ovarian-cancer-claims-vegan-diet-holistic-treatments-keeping-alive.html

Woman with ovarian cancer claims her vegan diet is keeping her alive Jasmine Kerr, 28, from St George, Bristol, was first diagnosed with borderline ovarian tumours - tumours with potential to become cancerous - after experiencing bloating and abdominal pain.

This is a brief read, but essentially, it is reviewing how often and how serious blood clots happen in ovarian cancer patients. The percentage was 13.3%, which is statistically significant. Blood clots are a huge problem--especially for patients who need (debulking) surgery and chemo. If you're platinum sensitive, that makes blood clots even more of a threat.

And since the average age of an ovarian cancer patient is 63, the risk becomes even more significant.

PARP inhibitors such a huge advancement in treatment because after the first month, typically, the risk goes down immensely, and patients tolerate it very well.



--Caroline

https://www.docwirenews.com/vte-knowledge-hub/venous-thromboembolism-in-patients-receiving-neoadjuvant-chemotherapy-for-advanced-ovarian-cancer-and-impact-on-survival/

Venous thromboembolism in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer and impact on survival - Docwire News J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2021 Jun 1:S1701-2163(21)00421-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2021.05.010. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: To determine the

We haven't been hearing much about these cases for a while. I suppose J&J has been trying to be heard in other courts until they reached the supreme court. We don't exactly know why the court decided not to hear the case? It could have been they decided that it wasn't worth their time, or they could have decided that the lower courts handled it as they should have.

Now, remember these things:

Just because a jury decided that this was what happened doesn't necessarily make it true. I'm simply saying that these jurors are ordinary people taking in a TON of information from both sides in a short amount of information.

Also, corporate America has been KNOWN for its negligence and indifference towards its customers; J&J is not exempt from that.

What do you think? Do you have any personal experiences with Baby Powder use and an ovarian cancer case in your family or even amongst your friends or acquaintances? Let's discuss!



--Caroline

https://www.npr.org/2021/06/01/1002149828/supreme-court-johnson-johnson-talc-verdict-ovarian-cancer

Supreme Court Says A $2 Billion Verdict In A Baby Powder Cancer Case Should Remain The Supreme Court is leaving in place a verdict in favor of women who claim they developed ovarian cancer from using Johnson & Johnson talc products. The company said it wasn't treated fairly.

Sonna will be missed, but her legacy of activism and care will keep her alive in our hearts and minds. Our condolences to her husband, daughter, and the rest of her family.

--Caroline

https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/clayton-county-commissioner-passes-away-from-ovarian-cancer/

Clayton County Commissioner passes away from Ovarian Cancer | The Atlanta Voice Clayton County Board of Commissioner's Vice-Chairwoman Sonna Singleton Gregory passed away on Thursday, May 27, after losing her long-standing battle with Ovarian Cancer. Gregory represented Clay

Okay, friends. THIS IS COOL! I'll let the article speak for itself:

"In a recent clinical trial, a vaccine was developed using multiple types of tumor antigens and some of the individual’s own white blood cells...

Researchers treated 25 patients suffering from ovarian cancer with their vaccine and were followed for 2 years to evaluate their immune response. A relatively small sample size was used because this study was conducted at only one hospital and the main purpose was to evaluate the overall safety and biological activity of the vaccination. They chose ovarian cancer due to its low survival rate, lack of effective treatments, and expression of a large quantity of tumour antigens.

The researchers found that of the patients participating in the study, 2 partially responded to the vaccine (tumor size decreased), 13 showed no response, and in the remaining 11 patients, the tumor shrunk below the limit of detection. All of those who responded to the vaccine were still living at the end of the 2-year study. However, only 25% of those that showed no response survived. These results are even more impressive considering the patients participating in this study have already tried other standard treatments with no beneficial outcomes."



--Caroline

https://sciworthy.com/a-personalized-vaccine-to-treat-ovarian-cancer/

A personalized vaccine to treat ovarian cancer An exciting recent clinical trial developed a personalized vaccination as a safe and effective approach in ovarian cancer treatment.

Have a lovely Teal Tuesday, friends!



--Caroline

Aw. This is so amazing. We're very happy for you, Mary Kaye!

I'm so glad that she was able to conceive after ovarian cancer, and that she and her little one are healthy! Good luck with everything!! 💙



--Caroline

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/lifestyle/health/mom-to-be-raising-awareness-about-ovarian-cancer-years-after-her-own-diagnosis

Colorado mom-to-be raising awareness about ovarian cancer years after her own diagnosis There are no tests for ovarian cancer and some of the symptoms, like persistent bloating, a sudden change in appetite, or even frequent trips to the bathroom, often go unnoticed. For Mary Kaye, it was a sharp pain in the abdomen that wouldn’t go away that led her to go see her doctor.

Hi friends!

I would really like your input regarding this before I decide to actually do this.

I've been considering reviewing the history of gynecological medicine in this group. Why?

Well, we often talk about how the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be mistaken for other things, right?

But then we see articles upon articles about how women are being told their pain (which turns out to be ovarian cancer) is a UTI or it's just a menstrual cycle, a cyst rupture, etc.

A lot of this has to do with the history of the field, and it has a lot of distinctions that many other fields of medicines do not--which would explain why we have tests and better treatments for other cancers.

So, if you're interested, just hit the like button for me? If you want to comment to add something, that would be great, too!

Thanks!



--Caroline

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a restful weekend and are ready for a brand new week full of new opportunities and possibilities. 💙

This morning, I want to share a study that evaluated Zejula (PARP inhibitor) for it's safety profile. For those that don't know, a safety profile indicates how toxic a drug is--the lower, the better.

This study indicates that Zejula has a low safety profile compared to that of a placebo. After the first month, it seems like the worst side effects (anemia, affected cell counts, etc.) passed, and the patients response and health improved.

This is great news for ovarian cancer patients, because we're continuing to find even more reasons why patients should evaluated as to whether or not PARP inhibitors would be an appropriate treatment for them.

--Caroline



https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/niraparib-produced-tolerable-safety-profile-when-treating-platinum-sensitive-recurrent-ovarian-cancer

Niraparib Produced Tolerable Safety Profile When Treating Platinum-Sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer treated with niraparib had an acceptable safety profile regardless of the dose being adjusted for weight.

A happy reminder for you all, today!

Enjoy your weekend!

--Caroline

Note: this article does discuss other cancer types and patients, but it's great information about how treatment has progressed, and the first part of it discusses what Nanita had to endure as a stage IV OV patient.

Congratulations, Nanita!

This is fantastic news, and we are elated to hear it! Wishing you and your family the best!

--Caroline



https://www.miamiherald.com/living/health-fitness/article251428368.html

‘I’m cancer free!’ How a diagnosis of stage 4 cancer is no longer a death sentence Nanita Edwards of Fort Lauderdale got the shock of her life last year.

A lovely article about someone who went through the same emotions many of us went through. I had to do some research, first because I hadn't expected to hear cancer at 30, but after I did I realized just how heavy this was, and how hard processing everything would be.

I'm glad she found support through this network, and I think it's so cool that she's giving back in the same way that she found it. She's creating a circle of love and peace where chaos and grief try to overwhelm.

--Caroline



https://www.curetoday.com/view/lucky-13-in-service-of-hope

Lucky 13: In Service of Hope Longterm ovarian cancer survivor Dee reflects on more than a decade of hope-filled service.

Happy Friday, friends!

I wanted to share this because it's an awareness type article out of Indonesia! I love finding these things because it means that ovarian cancer is getting the attention it deserves. 💙

--Caroline



https://en.tempo.co/read/1467178/awareness-of-risk-factors-can-help-catch-ovarian-cancer-early-doctor

Awareness of Risk Factors Can Help Catch Ovarian Cancer Early: Doctor Early-stage ovarian cancer is usually discovered by chance, therefore, women need to remain alert about risk factors

Hi friends! This is your weekly reminder that we send out informational cards about ovarian cancer to you at no cost!

All you have to do is fill out this form here, and I will send you some in the mail! :)

--Caroline



https://tealtoes.org/spread-the-word/

Spread the Word – Teal Toes

This article discusses how doctors are using PARP inhibitors in treatment, now.

There's a really interesting part, too, where the doctor answering questions discusses how Europe has been making use of a PARP + bevacizumab combination since 2011 (the US finally got FDA approval in 2018) and that seems to have had a lot of success for most patients.

They also note that platinum sensitivity and germline mutations have to do with what kind of treatments patients receive as well.

The article discusses several studies and approvals, but it's a great read--I encourage you all to check it out!

--Caroline



https://www.oncnursingnews.com/view/maintenance-parp-inhibition-decisions-in-ovarian-cancer

Maintenance PARP Inhibition Decisions in Ovarian Cancer Ultimately, the goal is for every eligible patient to receive PARP inhibition in the frontline maintenance setting alone or in combination with bevacizumab, one expert says.

This is lovely article where ovarian cancer patients discuss what it's like living with ovarian cancer. They discuss how how they discovered they had, what it was like dealing with treatments, and how everything affected them.

--Caroline



https://www.webmd.com/ovarian-cancer/features/living-with-ovarian-cancer

Living With Ovarian Cancer Learning to live with ovarian cancer can feel overwhelming. But there are ways to ease the transition.

It's the end of your Wednesday, friends! I sure hope your week is going well.

--Caroline

I just wanted to share this upcoming event with you all! If you're in the Colorado area and are able to participate or donate your time, money, I encourage you to do so!

--Caroline



https://englewoodherald.net/stories/mnth-0621-jodis-race-sa,377498

Jodi's Race for Awareness Ovarian Cancer Survivors gather for a group photo at the 2019 Jodi's Race for Awareness. The event last year took place virtually, and the 2021 Jodi's Race for Awareness, which is the 12th …

In this particular study, they added a drug called Tecentriq to a standard chemotherapy regimen (Avastin).

What is Tecentriq? Essentially, it's an antibody that helps your body fight cancer.

This study found that there was no benefit for patients, here.

--Caroline



https://www.curetoday.com/view/adding-tecentriq-to-chemotherapy-avastin-regimen-does-not-improve-efficacy-in-ovarian-cancer

Adding Tecentriq to Chemotherapy-Avastin Regimen Does Not Improve Efficacy in Ovarian Cancer Evidence from a phase 3 trial does not support the addition of Tecentriq to a specific chemotherapy regimen with Avastin for patients with newly diagnosed stage 3 or 4 ovarian cancer.

This article is a bit long, but it is written by one of the researchers who was a part of the study that discovered that screenings don't have a direct affect on survival rates. The author, Ian Jacobs, discusses his disappointment, his passion for helping the ovarian cancer community move forward, and how the future looks for current and former patients.

It is really a great read and very refreshing. Definitely worth your time!

--Caroline



https://theconversation.com/devastated-and-sad-after-36-years-of-research-early-detection-of-ovarian-cancer-doesnt-save-lives-160999

'Devastated and sad' after 36 years of research — early detection of ovarian cancer doesn't save lives I was motivated to improve the outcome for women with ovarian cancer by my experience as a junior doctor in London in 1985. But 36 years on, the results aren't what we'd hoped.