[2024-04-22] Hope through research
Today, I took part in Ovarian Cancer Canada's Board of Directors meeting in Toronto. I always welcome the opportunity to hear about the organization's accomplishments. Since our last meeting,
- OCC's Walk of Hope made the 2023 list of top 30 peer-to-peer fundraising programs in Canada, as determined by the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum.
- In its recent budget, the Government of Saskatchewan designated $1 million to Ovarian Cancer Canada for ongoing ovarian cancer research.
- Ovarian Cancer Canada appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health as part of the committee's first-ever Women's Health Study.
- Ovarian Cancer Canada recently announced its Ovarian Cancer Prevention Task Force, bringing together researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience to work toward reducing the incidence of the disease.
- The ovarian cancer community has shown high support for Ovarian Cancer Canada's new brand and bold messaging.
But what excites me the most is Ovarian Cancer Canada's work to fund and conduct research and to convene and collaborate with others in the ovarian cancer research community.
Today, OCC's Scientific Advisor Alicia Tone provided the Board with an overview of the organization's research program. This includes supporting fundamental work (such as establishing ovarian cancer research models, patient tissue banks and biorepositories, and a rare tumours database) as well as pre-clinical research and clinical trials. OCC's research program also includes convening and growing the ovarian cancer research community, investing in the next generation of ovarian cancer researchers and scientists, and ensuring that research takes into account patient perspectives.
Alicia presented OCC's Research Showcase, which highlights important studies and groundbreaking discoveries in ovarian cancer research. "It offers a detailed look into the vast array of research efforts aimed at understanding, diagnosing, treating, and ultimately curing ovarian cancer, documenting the progress and impact of these initiatives on the cancer community and beyond."
In my view, research is our best hope to reduce, treat, prevent and ultimately cure ovarian cancer. I still recall the words of my oncologist at my first meeting with him after being unofficially diagnosed: "Ovarian cancer is a tough disease," Dr. Faught had said. This is true, but perhaps one day—as a result of research being conducted now—oncologists will have more options to offer the newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patient, including a cure. And perhaps one day, healthcare providers will have more options to prevent people from developing ovarian cancer in the first place. I hope to see this in my lifetime.
