OCRF News

"Hope Line" for Ovarian Cancer: 877-OV-HOPE-1
09/01/2009

"Hope Line" for Ovarian Cancer:  877-OV-HOPE-1

On September 1, the start of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, OCRF is proud to announce the L'Oréal Paris Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Hope Line - a new call center that helps ovarian cancer patients cope with the challenges of diagnosis.

The Hope Line, 1-877-OV-HOPE-1 (877-684-6731), is a new, free telephone counseling and referral service launched today by a unique partnership:  L'Oréal Paris, OCRF, and CancerCare, a national non-profit which provides free counseling and education services to individuals and families affected by cancer.

"Any cancer diagnosis is a frightening and stressful experience that can be difficult to cope with," noted Rosalie Canosa, director of program services for CancerCare.  "When the diagnosis is ovarian cancer, too many women have no place to turn for help with the emotional and practical impact of their situation.

"Now, with the L'Oréal Paris OCRF Hope Line, women facing ovarian cancer can have their questions answered and find the resources they require to ensure they receive the best care possible," said Canosa.

"We at L'Oréal Paris are deeply committed to providing tangible hope for women battling ovarian cancer," said Karen T. Fondu, president of the L'Oréal Paris Division of L'Oreal USA, Inc.  "With the L'Oréal Paris OCRF Hope Line, we hope to continue to work to improve the five-year survival rate for women and provide support along the way."

"OCRF and our dedicated corporate partner, L'Oréal Paris, have been working together for over 12 years to empower women, and to give them hope when they face a diagnosis of ovarian cancer," said Elizabeth Howard, CEO of OCRF.  "By joining forces with CancerCare and creating the call center, we are all better able to help women across the United States."

L'Oréal Paris and OCRF funded the Hope Line, which is staffed by CancerCare's professional oncology social workers.  The Hope Line operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

Call 877-OV-HOPE-1.













 
 

The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer has increased by only 8% in the last 30 years.
We are at a critical crossroads for supporting research into unlocking the mysteries of ovarian cancer. You can make a difference by supporting the research of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

Help us find a cure for ovarian cancer. Donate online and make a difference.




Every day throughout September, OCRF will present one new fact about ovarian cancer.

1. In 1809 Dr. Ephraim McDowell of Danville, Kentucky became the first surgeon in the world to successfully remove an ovarian tumor. The patient survived the surgery and went on to live a long life.

2. Some researchers are investigating evidence for the premise that an effective therapeutic vaccine against ovarian cancer is useful not only for inducing remission of the disease but also for preventing disease relapse. (Journal of Hematology & Oncology 2010, 3:7, Liu, B., Nash, J., Runowicz, C., Swede, H., Stevens, R., and Li, Z.)

3. A woman's lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer is 1 in 71, with most cases developing post-menopause.

4. The symptoms of ovarian cancer, such as bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling of fullness or urinary issues, can be subtle but are often present early.

5. Approximately 22,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year.

6. Approximately 37% of OCRF grantees have been women; 43% are racial or ethnic minorities.