Our Sincere Thanks to all of the Sponsors and Attendees of the Second Annual Teal Steps Walk held at 8 AM September 10, 2017, Tidelands Park, Coronado!
Ovarian Cancer Alliance of San Diego Pop-up Exhibit at West Elm in the Mission Valley area of San Diego – August 19 and 20, 2017
The Ovarian Cancer Alliance of San Diego hosted a pop-up exhibit at West Elm, Mission Valley, California. It was a busy time as Cindy Silver and Peg Ford shared information and materials describing symptoms of not only ovarian but all gynecologic cancer and risk factors as well as answered questions to West Elm’s customers on Saturday and Peg and Kathy Hagan did the same on Sunday! Amazed that on Saturday, two young women shared (photo) that they are ovarian cancer survivors and, most wonderful and extremely rare, they were both diagnosed at early stage!!! They joined Peg who has always considered herself blessed as she was diagnosed at Stage I at the age of 60 in a photo with Cindy (who is a Stage IV 9+ year survivor)!!!! Diagnosed at early stage increases the overall 5-year survival rate to over 90%!!! Our mission is to get awareness out to empower women and their families to be aware of the symptoms and risk factors to save more women’s lives. In addition, individuals registered for the upcoming 2nd Annual Teal Steps 1K/5K Walk including one who set up a team!!! Our thanks to West Elm for this opportunity to get awareness out into the community.
Cancer Survivor Peg Ford Assists In Effort To Fight Ovarian Cancer
August 2, 2017 Article in the Coronado Eagle & Journal by David Axelson
One of the great traits of Coronado resident Peg Ford, is her indomitable spirit. The Toronto, Canada native is approaching her 50th year living in the United States and holds dual citizenship in the two nations. A survivor of Stage 1 Ovarian Cancer, the 70-year old Ford has transformed herself into a nationally and internationally-renowned Cancer Research Advocate and Patient Representative, and is the co-founder and president of the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of San Diego. Ford is in constant pursuit of promulgating the once radical concept for cancer survivors to have a voice in their treatment options.
Ford’s path included graduating from Mimico High School, where she had a wide and varied educational experience. “I was an honors student, and president of the Girls Athletic Association. Volleyball and Basketball were the only sports available for us and we were kind of shunned. I was editor of the student yearbook, on the school newspaper and all those kind of things. I believe that ‘fail’ is the first attempt in learning. I look at life experiences as being a gift and a lesson, where some of the experiences are a little more difficult. Then you can look back and understand why that happened.” Click here to read the rest of the article
Live Well San Diego 5K – July 30, 2017
On Sunday, July 30. 2017 at Waterfront Park in San Diego three of our members, Barbara Horton, Peg Ford and Renata Lutz (photo to the right, wearing T-Shirts from our last year’s Teal Steps 1K/5K Walk) hosted an exhibit booth at the Live Well San Diego 5K. The event was larger than last year and activity at the booth was hectic and lively with unfortunately too many people sharing they lost or knew of a woman dealing with ovarian cancer. Women of all ages were introduced to community outreach programs of Ovarian Cancer Alliance of San Diego receiving the Symptom Diary in both English and Spanish not only for ovarian cancer but also all gynecologic cancers’ signs and information on our upcoming walk! In addition, we were able to accept paid registration from several individuals to participate in the upcoming 2nd Annual Teal Steps 1K/5K Walk; others signed our volunteer list to get involved!!!
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medial Discovery Institute’s Open House – June 8, 2017
Recently, several members of Ovarian Cancer Alliance of San Diego attended Sanford Burnham Prebys Medial Discovery Institute’s Open House “The Science Behind: Cancer and Aging.”
The photo to the left shows Renata Lutz, Cindy Silver, Naomi Edelmuth and Peg Ford hosting OCA of San Diego’s exhibit table at the event. Other members who hosted the exhibit table were Barbara Horton and Trupti Multani.
Peg Ford was invited, and accepted, to become a member to the Community Advisory Board (CAB) of Sanford-Burnham’s National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center. Board members serve the Center’s mission through their passion for advancing translational research and their determination to raise awareness and support.
For Cancer Center scientists, survivors are a steady source of inspiration. “They makes us realize just how important our research is,” said Center Director Garth Powis, D.Phil. “When you’re talking to someone who has benefited from existing treatment, and might someday need new treatment, that personalizes your pursuit of therapeutic breakthroughs. The Board provides both the mechanism and the people to help the Cancer Center engage with the community. These advisors know the scope of our scientific investigations and the quality of our research, and they engage the community on our behalf.”
Advocates’ call to keep Obamacare falls on deaf ears By Sebastian Montes
Del Mar Times MAY 9, 2017, 10:35 AM
Kathleen Murray was fortunate enough to have two types of health insurance when doctors put her through extensive and costly treatment after discovering her ovarian cancer in 2009. The chemo sent her cancer into remission but took a heavy toll on her body, leaving her with conditions that depleted her savings and prompted her to move to Del Mar to be close to Scripps Hospital.
Still, she knows that others in her situation face prospects far bleaker than hers. She’s met several of them as a volunteer with the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of San Diego.
“If a preexisting condition prevented health coverage for women like these, I shudder to think where my friends would be today,” she said. “These are smart, strong women who lost their jobs and their insurance due to circumstances beyond their control. We must not deny them the possibility of long productive life.” Click here to read the balance of the article