Publications > Newsletter
Winter 2006
Contents
Looking Forward to "Looking Back, Living Forward"
PROSE: Research Provides Answers
BRCA1/2 Mutations Cause Many Ovarian Cancer Cases
Passing of the Torch
(to search past issues of our newsletter)
Passing of the Torch
by Sheila Galland
Our Passing of the Torch event was held in Boston on the evening of October 1, marking the transition from Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (September) to Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October). Our goal was to raise awareness of the two cancers and highlight the hereditary link between them by passing a symbolic lighted torch from an ovarian cancer survivor to a breast cancer survivor. We hoped for 50 people and would have been satisfied with that many attendees. We were astounded when 200 people came to watch the ceremony.
With soft classical guitar playing under a warm sky, people purchased pink and teal light-stick luminaries, decorated them, and placed them around the park to honor or remember loved ones who had faced cancer. At our information table, FORCE distributed hundreds of brochures on hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
Sue Friedman opened the ceremony by speaking about hereditary cancer, mutations that cause breast and ovarian cancer in families, and the connection between the two cancers. She then discussed the work of FORCE.
As an ovarian cancer survivor who inherited BRCA1 from my father, I talked about the often vague symptoms of the disease and my own one-year struggle to pinpoint the cause of weight loss and abdominal distension. I urged the audience to be proactive and persistent if they had symptoms.
Breast cancer survivor Kim Clark spoke about her family’s hereditary link to the disease, and her own diagnosis, even in the absence of an identifiable mutation. She emphasized the need for better preventative and treatment options. Kim urged people to support FORCE to unite the hereditary cancer community and rally for more research. She then presented Event Chairperson Linda Pedraza with a crystal sculpture of a torch in honor of her dedication to FORCE, and her advocacy efforts towards hereditary breast and ovarian cancer awareness. Diagnosed with both breast and ovarian cancer, Linda was beginning treatment for a breast cancer recurrence to her brain.
Keynote speaker Dr. Judy Garber, Director of the Cancer Risk and Prevention Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, spoke about research efforts to fi nd better prevention, detection and treatment for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. She offered hope of better medical options for future generations.
Linda’s 16-year-old daughter stole the show, dedicating her a cappella rendition of the Hilary Duff song “Someone’s Watching Over Me” to her mother. She sang of enduring strength, of not giving up, even when all around goes wrong. She sang of still believing someone was watching over her. Her beautiful voice touched everyone in the audience; there wasn’t a dry eye in the park.
Our finale was the passing of the ceremonial torch. Using my own teal torch, I sparked the flame of the pink torch held aloft by Linda, who then led a procession around the park. It was dark by then and the scene was beautiful and surreal.
Sue Friedman offered the closing words: “May the passing of this torch symbolize our current and future efforts to spread awareness of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and the hereditary link between the two. May the fire symbolize our burning commitment to work towards eradicating cancer. May the luminaries remind us to remember and honor those whose lives have been affected or cut short by cancer.”
Sheila Galland has worked on behalf of Jews in the former Soviet Union for the last 25 years. Diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in February 2004 at age 62, she has been cancer free since December 2004.
Editor’s note: On January 6, Linda Pedraza lost her courageous battle with breast cancer. An active FORCE member, Linda was a profound inspiration within the FORCE community. She served on our Board of Directors, and tirelessly lent her energy, wit and spirit to those in need of information or comfort. We send our heartfelt thoughts to her family and everyone who knew and loved her. We will miss her and remember her every day.
Links Between Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer
About 10-15% of cancers are hereditary, depending on the type of cancer. Signs of an hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome may include but are not limited to:
- Breast cancer at age 45 or younger
- Breast cancer in both breasts in a woman at any age
- Breast and ovarian cancer in the same woman
- Two or more family members with ovarian cancer and/or breast cancer, especially if the breast cancer was diagnosed at or before age 50
- At least one family member with breast cancer and one with ovarian cancer
- Breast cancer in men
- Ashkenazi Jewish heritage and ovarian cancer at any age or breast cancer before age 60
- A number of relatives on the same side of the family with breast or ovarian cancer and one of these cancers:
- Prostate cancer
- Melanoma
- Pancreatic cancer
It is important to seek the opinion of a specialist in cancer genetics if you believe the cancer in your family may be hereditary. Visit FORCE’s information section on this topic.
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