September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, and there are encouraging developments in the fight against the deadly disease. New treatments that are more precise than ever before are being tested right here in Southern California
Ruthie Marek found out she had stage three ovarian cancer last year, at the age of 43. As the mother of two children, she was determined to fight it.
In the past, that kind of diagnosis might have meant that she would have just a couple of years to live. But advancements in cancer treatment are changing that.
Doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center are conducting several clinical trials of a new kind of cancer drug, one that attacks the tumors at the source of their vulnerability.
“With these new targeted treatments, they actually go to the underlying mechanism that causes a cell to become a cancer cell, and often adds another trip-up. The cell is not just malignant but it can’t even live any more and begins to die," said Dr. Beth Karlan, director of the Women’s Cancer Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai.
This new class of drugs, called PARP Inhibitors, attack enzymes in cancer cells that help them to live and divide, which is what often causes the cancer to come back in a patient.
And, unlike chemotherapy, which kills all cells, this targets only the cancer cells.
The drugs -- one in particular called Oliparib -- are in clinical trials right now. So far, they are showing promising results.
“We’re quite optimistic that the targeted treatments, that we hope will be available to patients within the next one or two years, will allow remission and them to live their life to the fullest,” said Karlan.
Ruthie intends to do just that. She got a different kind of treatment but is encouraged that women like her now have options.
“I’ve met so many women who have had it 20-plus years, so if they’re out there, I’m going to join that group; that’s my plan," she said.
Ovarian cancer is curable when caught early. So patients should see a doctor at the first sign of bloating, pain, or other unexplained symptoms.
On Nov. 14, there will be a walk to raise funds and awareness of ovarian cancer research. The event was started six years ago by the daughter of one of Karlan’s patients. It has raised $3 million to date and 13,000 people have participated. For more information go to www.runforher.com.
