Abstract LB-67: From Patient to Advocate

Abstract

Abstract Peg Ford is a living example of two causes that have become her passion: early detection of ovarian cancer and timely referral of patients into the care of a gynecologic oncologist. Before Ms. Ford's experience with ovarian cancer, she had mostly chosen alternative healing methods. Impressed and appreciative of the diversity of care the western medical system now offers, she was directed toward advocacy to spread awareness of the benefits of interweaving both types of care. She chose to pursue advocacy for many reasons, but most importantly to put ovarian cancer at the forefront of medical doctors' minds. Early diagnosis is crucial to saving more women's lives. The overall survival rate for ovarian cancer for five years is only 45 percent, but when the cancer is diagnosed early, survival rates greatly improve to over 90 percent. Until there is a screening test for ovarian cancer, women must rely on the awareness of medical doctors in all fields. She strives to ensure that all women have a great understanding of their bodies and act as their own advocates to get care in a timely fashion. Ms. Ford's poster outlines her journey to becoming an advocate. After discovering an innovative educational program, “Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women's Lives,” created by the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, she successfully launched the program at UCSD School of Medicine for Third Year Medical Students. The course brings ovarian cancer survivors right into the classroom to share their stories with the goal of increasing awareness of the symptoms and risk factors needed for the early detection of ovarian cancer. Her poster reflects the outstanding success of the program in two short years. Seeing the need and opportunity to reach practicing medical doctors, she teamed up with the esteemed Dr. Afshin Bahador, Gynecologic Oncologist, to participate in his grand rounds at major hospital campuses. Her commitment to tell her story whenever the opportunity presents itself: as a guest speaker, facilitator, or writer for community outreach efforts, blossoms into a voice for the ovarian cancer community on a local, state, national, and international level. Her poster outlines her diverse advocacy efforts from DoD Funding, a Research Advocacy Network's 2010 Scholar at ASCO, as a member of the Core Planning Group of COCAP, as a consumer reviewer for The Cochrane Collaboration, and as an attendee of the Salzburg Global Seminar in Salzburg, Austria. With her appreciation for the advances in research, her poster highlight's patient advocates' roles as the bridge between the scientific/medical world to the patient community and to work hand-in-hand to advance research and impact change to better serve both communities. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-67. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-67