Quality of Ovarian Cancer Treatment Varies Widely

The city of Los Angeles hosted the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology , held Saturday through Tuesday. A variety of topics was presented by clinicians and researchers in the field of gynecologic cancers, with one resonating not only among the conference's attendees, but also with the general public -- that of the varying degrees of the quality of treatment provided for ovarian cancer.

Study Results Presented on Quality, Outcome of Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Robert Bristow, M.B.A., M.D. , of the University of California, Irvine, presented the results of his research team's findings on Monday , explaining that of the more than 13,000 women with epithelial ovarian cancer listed on the California Cancer Registry from 1999 to 2006, only 37 percent received treatment that adhered to the guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network , NCCN, the gold standard for best treatment.

Responding to the study's findings, Deborah Armstrong, M.D. , of Johns Hopkins University and an oncology specialist, told the New York Times that if most women weren't receiving best care for survival in breast cancer treatment, there would be much public backlash. Ovarian cancer, Armstrong explained, has a smaller advocacy community, likely because many women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are a little older, a little sicker, and less likely to advocate for themselves and others.

What Affected the Treatment Quality for Ovarian Cancer Patients?

Bristow's study pointed to two major factors that determined whether patients with ovarian cancer received treatment according to NCCN protocols or something less: Surgeons who operated on 10 or more women a year for ovarian cancer, and hospitals that treated 20 or more women with ovarian cancer each year were more likely to adhere to the NCCN guidelines -- and more likely to live longer.

Why Are the NCCN Guidelines so Important in Ovarian Cancer Treatment?

Ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer deaths among women, and the most deadly of all the gynecologic cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute . Fortunately, the incidence of the disease is low, with a lifetime risk factor of 1.38 percent. Unfortunately, for the majority of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer -- approximately 85 percent -- the disease has already spread beyond the ovaries.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 90 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are over the age of 40, with most women first diagnosed at age 55 or older.
Combine the fact that by age 40 and over, some women also have other chronic conditions with the fact that ovarian cancer has such a high mortality rate and it becomes easy to see why prompt and correct treatment of the diagnosed disease is vital.
The NCCN guidelines are evidence-based guidelines developed by an alliance of 21 major cancer centers with an expert panel that comb through research and recommend treatments. In the case of ovarian cancer, the surgical procedures and chemotherapy regimen are given, based on the stage of the disease.
Bottom Line
Who you choose to provide treatment, both surgical and in chemotherapy, makes a big difference in the success of your ovarian cancer treatment. Ask prospective doctors and surgeons if they follow NCCN guidelines. If circumstances permit, choose a gynecologic oncologist and a hospital or treatment center that has regular experience with treating this disease. As Bristow's study results show, the quality of your life and its longevity depend on your wise choices.

Cancer Clinics Around the World

Many cancer therapies start out as 'alternative'. When enough information has been gathered, they could transfer to the conventional world. This has happened with hyperthermia, dendritic cell therapy, and many others accepted long ago.
The medical community is very, very slow to accept new ideas, and the rules, regulations, laws and sometimes persecution stop many practitioners from doing all that they can for people with cancer. Many people go to clinics abroad in order to access some treatments that are not available in the USA*.

(Photo: Ralph Moss, PhD speaking 2011 Annie Appleseed Project conference)
We've got listings for these as well as some short bursts of information from people who have been to some of the clinics. We do want to point out that in the past many of the people who accessed 'alternative' treatments had advanced cancer and had exhausted conventional therapies.
That's less likely nowadays, although still a common way to decide to go abroad - Mexico, Germany, or elsewhere. This is not an easy decision so that is why we have the patient stories. Family members can be angry and upset by the idea of their loved one going off to another country and often people contact us for support.
At many of our annual educational conferences, we've hosted speakers from other countries describing the protocols used at their clinics.  (Photo: Ralph Moss, PhD speaking 2011 Annie Appleseed Project conference)
Many of these clinics now keep ongoing information about their patients and their wellbeing. It is unlikely they will be conducting Level 1 clinical trials.
Still, some people do benefit from their stay. And it is wonderful that some people benefit even when using a cancer clinic like these as a 'last resort'. Ann Fonfa (founder of the Annie Appleseed Project) was one of them. You can find her diary in this section, summarizing her stay(s) at the Gerson Clinic, CHIPSA.
We cannot make any promises about any of these locations. We simply list them so you will know the options.
*When Ann Fonfa was first diagnosed with cancer in 1993, a young man she worked with told her his mother had gone to IAT clinic in the Bahamas for tongue cancer treatments. She lived a completely normal life after that although she occasionally went back for 'pick-me ups'. Before we knew much about science, we formed the idea that if something could work for someone, it could work for someone else.
Now we call this personalized medicine because it is known we are all a bit different, but some things work - some of the time, for some of the people. And as soon as this gets sorted out, it will be a heck of a lot easier to make informed decisions. Until then, we all use intuition and information to do so.
This area has a lot of information, already posted in our Archives (link at bottom lower right).

Understanding Your Diagnosis

Finding out that you or a loved one has cancer can be overwhelming. You may have many questions. Or you may not even know where to begin or what questions to ask. In this section, we'll help you understand how a diagnosis of cancer is made and what it means. We'll answer some of the most common questions about cancer and offer suggestions to help you talk about it with your health care team and with people close to you.

Cancer Basics

Information from our Learn About Cancer section can help you learn some of the basics about cancer, such as what it is, what causes it, and how many people it affects.

Exams and Test Descriptions

Learn about the tests doctors commonly use to look for and diagnose cancer, to help determine if it has spread, and to monitor it during treatment.

After Diagnosis: A Guide for Patients and Families

Finding out you have cancer can present many changes for you and your loved ones. Simply having answers to your questions can help you feel more in control and less worried about what lies ahead. To help you and your family as you work through your fears and concerns about cancer and its treatment, we offer answers to some common questions and give you an idea of what you can expect from the people and services that are there to help you cope with cancer.

Staging Your Cancer

Staging is the process of finding out how much cancer there is in the body and where it is located. Doctors use this information to plan treatment and to help predict a person's outlook (prognosis).

Understanding Your Pathology Report

This series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) was developed by the association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology to help patients and their families better understand what their pathology report means. These FAQs have been endorsed by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and reviewed by the American Cancer Society.

Advanced Cancer

Advanced cancers have usually spread from where they started to other parts of the body. This is known as metastatic cancer. But not all advanced cancers are metastatic.

Bone Metastasis

Cancer cells that break off from a primary tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymph vessels can reach nearly all tissues of the body. Bones are a common place for these cancer cells to settle and start growing. Tumors that result from these cells entering the bones are called bone metastases.

Talking About Cancer

Talking about cancer can be hard. Here you'll find tips to help make it easier to talk with others about cancer, including the health care team and your family, friends, and co-workers.

I Can Cope Online Class - Learning About Cancer

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Find Support Programs and Services in Your Area

SEARCH FOR SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN YOUR AREA »

The American Cancer Society has programs and services to help people with cancer and their loved ones understand cancer, manage their lives through treatment and recovery, and find the emotional support they need. And best of all, our help is free.

Read below and follow the links to learn more about how we can help.

Online Communities and Support

If you're facing a cancer diagnosis, connecting with others who've been through one already can be a source of comfort and support. Learn more about the American Cancer Society's online communities including  What Next (cancer support network), Circle Of Sharing™ (personalized cancer information), and Cancer Survivors Network, then join the one that's right for you.

Road to Recovery (Rides to treatment)

Every day, cancer patients need rides to treatment. Some may not be able to drive themselves, and family and friends cannot always help. Our Road To Recovery program provides rides to patients who have no way to get to their cancer treatment.

Hope Lodge (Lodging)

Getting the best care sometimes means cancer patients must travel away from home. This can place an extra emotional and financial burden on patients and caregivers during an already challenging time. The American Cancer Society is trying to make this difficult situation easier for both cancer patients and their families through Hope Lodge.

tlc: Hair loss and mastectomy products

“tlc” is the American Cancer Society’s catalog and website for women coping with the appearance-related effects of cancer. It offers helpful information and affordable products, including wigs, hairpieces, breast forms, mastectomy bras, hats, turbans, mastectomy swimwear, and accessories. All proceeds from product sales are reinvested into the American Cancer Society’s programs and services for patients and survivors.

Reach To Recovery (Breast cancer support)

If you have breast cancer, you may want to talk to someone who knows what you’re feeling – someone who has “been there.” Through our Reach to Recovery program, we can match you with a volunteer who will talk with you about coping with your breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Man To Man (Prostate cancer support)

If you have prostate cancer, you may have many questions. Sometimes even asking for help can be hard. Our Man to Man program helps you learn about diagnosis, treatment options, side effects, and ways to cope with prostate cancer.

I Can Cope (Cancer education classes)

If you or someone you love gets cancer, you will have questions. Our I Can Cope classes can help you and your loved ones learn about cancer and how to take care of yourselves. The more you know about cancer, the better you can handle your treatment and decisions about your care.

Look Good...Feel Better (Help with appearance-related side effects of treatment)

In a Look Good…Feel Better session, trained volunteer cosmetologists teach women how to cope with skin changes and hair loss using cosmetics and skin care products donated by the cosmetic industry.

Look Good... Feel Better for Teens

Look Good...Feel Better for Teens is a unique, free program for teenage cancer patients ages 13 to 17. It helps them cope with how cancer treatment and side effects can change the way they look. The program addresses the needs of both boys and girls.

Tell Your Story

Share your story and give hope to someone else facing cancer.

Patient Navigator Program (Personal cancer guide)

The American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program connects you with a patient navigator at a cancer treatment center. You can talk one-on-one with a patient navigator about your situation. This person will listen in your time of need. Call us at 1-800-227-2345, and we can tell you more about this program.