Posted September 26, 2013
Mary Daly, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, Fox Chase Cancer Center
The Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) funded the initial development of the Ovarian Cancer Consortium for Research and Surveillance through a Program Project Award in Fiscal Year 1997 (FY97). During the course of the award, researchers led by Dr. Mary Daly at Fox Chase Cancer Center enrolled 955 participants with a family history of ovarian cancer. These individuals represented 329 families, including 247 with one case of ovarian cancer, 60 with two cases, and 22 with more than two cases. Health and family history, clinical, epidemiological, socio-demographic, psychosocial, and laboratory data and tissue samples from these individuals were stored in a large databank, which continues to be used in research designed to understand and reduce ovarian cancer risk. The experiences of many women diagnosed with ovarian cancer were tracked, as were a subset of women with a family history of ovarian cancer but not yet diagnosed. Dr. Daly was then awarded an OCRP Idea Award in FY99 to evaluate quality of life after prophylactic oophorectomy in women with an increased risk of ovarian cancer (i.e., those with BRCA mutations). This led to the production of her book to aid in decision making regarding preventative surgery entitled "Ovarian Cancer Risk-Reducing Surgery: A Decision-Making Resource," which is available at no cost both online (http://www.igcs.org/files/TreatmentResources/OCRRS_2008.pdf) or as a paper copy, obtainable by emailing surgerybook@fccc.edu with your name, address, and reason for requesting the book.
Links:
Public and Technical Abstracts: Ovarian Cancer Prevention Program
Public and Technical Abstracts: Quality of Life after Prophylactic Oophorectomy