Not Giving In

A cancer diagnosis is assuredly a life-changing experience, but what happens when your receive that diagnosis when your life has just begun? When you are 14 years old and even plans for college seem a lifetime away? For Baltimore's, Mattie Bayne, the diagnosis of ovarian cancer at age 14 was a shock, but she learned to take control and not be defined by cancer.

"I couldn’t control cancer, but I could control how I faced the situation."

Mattie's story is too familiar in ovarian cancer circles - visits to doctor after doctor without getting any answers. Diagnosed with a rare Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor which presents itself in younger women, Mattie had to undergo surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy. With her last rounds of chemo completed in 2011, she is living the months in remission until she can be declared as cancer-free. She is more than passing the time.

She is on the board of directors of Baltimore Women's Classic, raising money and volunteering to help fight gynecological cancers. She is the outside hitter on the St. Paul's School for Girls volleyball team. She wasn't ready to give in.

That is what you will find when you are around ovarian cancer survivors. Women who want waste efforts on self-pity or what they can't control. Women who will put their strength and fighting spirit into living with grace - not ready to give in.

Because We REALLY Care

Thanks to everyone at Midmark Dayton Center who made it possible for Chasen A Cure to host a Ovarian Cancer Awareness Lunch and Learn presentation. The attendees were engaged and their feedback was positive. Your graciousness and hospitality fulfilled the mission to make a positive difference in every life we touch.

To all the Teal Warriors are looking for new ways to reach out, don't be afraid to ask to be the voice for ovarian cancer awareness. Your passion will show through. Never be concerned that your audience is too small. You will be speaking to someone who needs to hear. The NOCC Imagine the Impact video brought the message home that each of us can make a difference. Because we REALLY Care.

Another Great September

We are ready to start another September filled with great events for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The variety of opportunities and outlets to spread the word are phenomenally large – teal lightings from the Pacific Northwest to Niagara Falls and locations in between - to as tiny as our toes.

Keep the calendar open for these upcoming events:

September 14^th – The Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness Walk for the Goose 5K at the Great Western Trail in St. Charles, IL. Friendly dogs are invited to attend and can be sporting the OCSA teal leash as part of OCSA’s Veterinary Outreach Program.

September 20^th –The culminating NOCC Illinois Teal Lights Celebration at VenueOne in Chicago, IL. From ads on buses and subways, to the teal skyline, Chicago will be ready to answer "Why Teal?"

September 22^nd – This year’s FamiliesROC 5K for St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness will be held in downtown St. Louis, MO. In their 7^th year, this event has moved to a larger venue that should bring additional exposure, and has a new goal of $75,000.00. Team Chasen A Cure is strong and ready for the race.

Team Chasen A Cure ready to rock at the 2012 FamiliesROC.

September 30^th – The OCSA Golf Outing for the Veterinary Outreach Program. The event is hosted by OSCA board members Dr. Cindy Charlier DVM and Dr. Kurt Klepitsch DVM, and will be held at the Boulder Ridge Country Club in Lake in the Hills, IL. The day will include golf, dining and a silent auction. The Veterinary Outreach Program promotes ovarian cancer symptom awareness on two levels – to both the veterinary professional and to clients of the veterinary clinic. Every life that we touch can be an opportunity to spread the word. Team Chasen A Cure is very pleased that Midmark Animal Health chose to support the cause by becoming a silent auction donor. 

This is just a small sample of the events that will be held to raise funds and promote awareness for ovarian cancer. We can continue to make a difference -  by opening up the conversation about our fun teal wardrobe,  sharing symptom awareness bookmarks or forwarding a link on social media to a friend. Ovarian cancer awareness day is everyday for survivors. Let’s support our teal team at every opportunity.

Decoding Annie Parker

I was thrilled to be at the Chicago screening of Decoding Annie Parker on July 25th. 

Karen Kramer, Marketing VP of FORCE likened the evening to prom night with all the excitement and anticipation. Photos on the red carpet, a packed theater of an appreciative audience, and standing ovations for the director, Steve Bernstein, and Annie Parker, made it a memorable evening. Here are a few of my take-aways from the screening:

Stand with Your Teal Sisters - This evening called for the full teal wardrobe. Sidling up to two sisters in teal, I was pleased to meet Sandy Cord and Karen Young of NOCC. It was great to hear first-hand of the plans for Teal Lights Celebration on September 20th and exchange ideas about the 2014 Walk to Break the Silence. Thanks Sandy and Karen for letting me share the evening with you.

Hollywood has Heart -  It was wonderful to hear that actresses Helen Hunt and Samantha Morton were so moved by Steven Bernstein's mission behind the film that they chose to take no salary. Steven spoke of the struggles of independent film making and the ups and downs of cash flow. But even in the lean times, the crew remained committed to completing the project.

Steve Bernstein shares at the struggles in independent film making at the post screening panel discussion.

What Annie Didn't Know - Annie Parker was overwhelmed with anxiety over prevalence of breast cancer in her family, as she watched her mother, cousin and sister suffer and die. She became immersed in medical textbooks to the point of obsession.  Sympathetic medical professionals befriended her. But ovarian cancer was not on her radar. Eight years after her first cancer diagnosis, she was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. And the journey begins again. Some of the most heartbreaking scenes of the movie are of Annie's struggle through the pain and wretched side effects of chemo. The battle was not only physical but also emotional, as Annie will refuses to let cancer define her.  Before the BRCA discovery by Mary-Claire King, risk reduction did not exist and the Annie Parker of 1988 did not even consider a choice of a prophylactic oophorectomy.

Families have Resources -  Decoding Annie Parker is not a documentary. The struggles between Annie and her husband are not necessarily factual and could have  been dramatized for the screen. In the post film discussion, Parker reassured that there are resources available for cancer patients and their families. There is help available. Do not to project the hurt and infidelity portrayed on the screen into your own story.

There is More to the Story -  There are more members to Annie's family tree - a son, brother, nieces and  nephews. Each will make a personal, private decision regarding genetic testing. Because of the perseverance of Mary-Claire King and her team, along with GINA, which prevents discrimination on health care coverage due to genetic predisposition, they will make an informed choice.

You've Got to Believe in Something -  Working under a clock that ticked off the diagnosis of breast cancer every twelve minutes, Mary-Claire King believed that this was not random and persevered to find the key.  Annie's belief in her own suspicions, despite what the man in the white coat and stethoscope told her. Despite how cancer ravaged her body, it could not squelch her spirit. She was driven with an obsessive desire to find answers. Not in a selfish, sorrowful "why me" melancholy, but with pluck and determination that there are truths. Truths that allow you to open the door and not live in fear about what is on the other side.

We Are All Connected - Like a String of Pearls - A string of pearls serves as a motif -  Annie wears her mother's strand on special occasions; to celebrate her NED and to meet Dr. King. Dr. King wears a strand at her meeting to discuss research funding. We are strung together -  genetically - mother to aunt to sister. Miles apart, King and Parker were connected - both working towards the same goal. Although Dr. King may have appeared aloof, her praise of Parker demonstrated that she did not lose her connection to every woman diagnosed with cancer.

Part of my strand of pearls - my beautiful Mother

Leverage Social Media - The battle cry of millennial marketing and Steve Bernstein is out to market his movie. With the support of the sold out gala events, the buzz on social media and a high ranking on IMDB, there will be a chance that Decoding Annie Parker will have commercial release in November. Just as Kern spoke of increased exposure since Angelina Jolie's May 14th op-ed in the NY Times, the opportunity for commercial release brings a better opportunity to educate and spread the word. Every opportunity to educate and every new outlet is appreciated.

Samantha Morton's portrayal of cancer warrior Annie Parker was haunting and most worthy of awards. Decoding Annie Parker is a true portrait of strength, survivor-ship and a reminder that each one of us has a role in the battle.

We're Not Chicken

Thanks to everyone at Progeny who participated in the "We're Not Chicken" Raffle that helped put Team Chasen A Cure over goal for the NOCC Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer! Every raffle participant received a NOCC Symptom Awareness bookmark. Thanks also to Real Urban BBQ of Vernon Hills, IL for their donation of gift cards to the yummy Ovarian Cancer Awareness lunch basket.

Every effort counts to spread the word - don't be Chicken Little - know your body, know the symptoms, know where to go for proper care and LIVE!

Darcy Allen, Tony Bavuso, winner of the Chicken BBQ Basket, and Team Chasen A Cure captain, Lydia Nadolski celebrate "We're Not Chicken Day" at Progeny.

I Wish I Would Have Known

"The most beautiful woman in the world."
"Fun, such good fun."
"Tired, so tired.""I wish I had known."
 These are the words of a man who loves a woman with ovarian cancer. Because once ovarian cancer touches the life of someone you love, you are forever looking back. Looking back at the silent symptoms and wishing you would have known. There was something wrong, that much was clear. But the symptoms were similar to growing older and the busyness of a life of someone who gives so much to others. I wish I had known. Had encouraged her to seek help, to keep asking questions, to find a doctor who would listen.
This is why Team Chasen A Cure is continually motivated to spread the word about ovarian cancer. Why we walk and wear teal. Why we tell everyone who will listen. Even if thinking about your body "down there" makes you uncomfortable, we want you to listen - listen to your body. Symptom awareness is a topic for everyone - men and women.  The encouragement to listen to the whisper of the symptoms and to take control of your health may come from a husband, a sister, daughter or a friend. There should be no one left without a mom, a sister, without the love of their life, left saying I wish I would have known.

Holy Ground - 2013 NOCC Walk to Break the Silence

Thank you Team Chasen A Cure. Thank you for your support and encouragement. Thank you for putting that support into action and walking strong and proud.

We will be back next year to celebrate again.