"We hope that we can have an influence on bone pain caused by the myeloma; peripheral neuropathy; and the quality of life of patients, especially those in remission," says Dr. Hillengass.
What matters most in terms of whether ovarian cancer will recur is the stage of disease at the time of diagnosis and if all visible cancer was removed at the time of surgery.
“Experiencing Roswell Park’s tight-knit family is what compelled me to come back for a second year. Getting a thank you from a neighbor can really change your day.”
Dr. Clinton willingly traveled from Ohio to Buffalo every month, and sometimes more often, because the clinical trial “was the most advanced immunological treatment for my genetic type of cancer.
“Other than a shot once a month, I’m in no pain,“ Judi says. “Instead, I’ve already lived three years longer than I thought I would at the beginning of this diagnosis. I’m happy to be alive and feeling well, and one day, I hope to ring that Victory Bell at Roswell Park.”
The Monarch system means patients can get the diagnosis they need without unnecessary surgery and begin treatment at a stage when treatment is likely to be more effective.
One of the biggest challenges in treating ovarian cancer is the fact that most women are not diagnosed until the cancer has already advanced and five-year survival is around 30%. By contrast, early-stage disease is highly treatable, with a survival rate of 90%.