LINDA IN YORKSURE

I can think of almost no reasons to live in Los Angeles. One exception is the presence there of Cedars-Sinai Caner Institute, one of the very best in the world. They have recently published the results of some research, summarized below, done in conjunction with Cambridge University. The work involved the influence of “copy variations” on ovarian cancer susceptibility. Copy variations occur when dividing cells misplace or miscount a segment of DNA. The segment may be duplicated, misplaced, or eliminated altogether. If that “segment” is a gene associated with cancer prevention, such as BRCA, bad things may occur, It isn’t clear to me how this bit of knowledge will help eliminate OVCA – but, then, I’m just a dumb geologist. Anyway, read the article; it’s interesting. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221011/Two-new-studies-help-improve-the-understanding-of-ovarian-cancer.aspx

TEMPLE FOR RAMSES II CHIEF WIFE

Here is some information I hope you will never need. It emanates from MD Anderson, one of the very top cancer clinics in the world. It is deficient in that it doesn’t explain how the cancer is further divided into sub-stages A, B, and C. I will leave that to you. https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/ovarian-cancer-stages--how-they-are-determined.h00-159543690.html

JUST A NICE PICTURE OF LINDA AND CAROLYN

It appears to be a slow news day, regarding ovarian cancer that is. Swedish Hospital in Seattle has leaped into the breech and posted a general description of their efforts to combat OVCA. The web address – the longest I have ever seen – is given below. (Thank God for copy and paste!) Swedish is a top notch oncology hospital. My daughter was treated there, and it was home to the efforts of my favorite human being. Dr. Saul Rivkin. The Rivkin Institute is housed there. So I think it okay to pass on what is essentially their add. Maybe it will do some good. https://www.swedish.org/services/cancer-institute/cancer-types/ovarian-cancer?placement=&target=&keyword=ovarian%20cancer&matchtype=e&hgcrm_channel=paid_search&hgcrm_source=google_adwords&hgcrm_agency=mh&hgcrm_campaignid=10479&hgcrm_tacticid=16131&hgcrm_trackingsetid=23273&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=sp22-1151_ps_onc_centralps-ovariancancergrowth&campaign_id=18253982799&adgroup_id=140475936426&utm_term=ovarian%20cancer&target_id=kwd-24208680&matchtype=e&network=g&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkt6aBhDKARIsAAyeLJ0Prcs26td77TyK5rv_j1MJweTVCS6FZMyRAEishMakv8Cc1WIaBPoaAhljEALw_wcB&gad_acct_id=751-070-6692&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkt6aBhDKARIsAAyeLJ0Prcs26td77TyK5rv_j1MJweTVCS6FZMyRAEishMakv8Cc1WIaBPoaAhljEALw_wcB

KEEPING WARM AT THE CABIN

Here is more evidence against the quasi-evolutionary theory of Intelligent Design. If I read this article correctly, three OCRA-funded scientists have shown that development of the fallopian tubes – essential for reproduction BUT the place where the most deadly kind of OVCA develops – requires a protein which, together with another protein, PROMOTES the development of the cancer! If that isn’t a Rube Goldberg to build a body I don’t know what is! Geez! One can only hope that new therapies will devolve from this peculiar discovery. I have faith, by golly. https://ocrahope.org/2022/05/study-pax8-sox17-proteins-may-contribute-to-ovarian-cancer/

OUR SKINNY PHASE

You should read this straight through. It highlights the extremely good quality of the people on the front line of the battle against ovarian cancer. It left me encouraged, but with a renewed appreciation of how far we still must go. https://ocrahope.org/2022/09/ie-ming-shih-md-phd-ovarian-cancer-researcher/? utm_source=OCRAEmail&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_content=Oct2022

WITH CAROLYN ON DUNGENESS SPIT

Oh, God! Bill Gates has screwed around with my OS again. It will be touch and go if I manage to post this tidbit. If it doesn’t show up you will know Bill & Co won. Oh, that doesn’t make sense, does it? Anyway, I am trying to tell you that Jeff Bezos, who is even richer than Bill, has just laid more than $700 million on Fred Hutch, for some highly commendable purposes: see below. This amounts to about $70 million per year for the ten year duration of the grant. That will sure buy a lot of test tubes. Bernie Sanders might, in his disgruntled, killjoy fashion, point out that, relative to his net worth, that is less than I contribute to the Hutch annually. However, Jeff undoubtedly contributes to worthwhile causes elsewhere, whereas anything left over after my lavish life style mainly goes to Irish Death beer. Besides, Jeff-sized contributions spur new avenues of research where my pittance probably DOES go for test tubes. So, let’s hear it for greedy capitalism! https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?pli=1#search/fred+/FMfcgzGqQvvRpSsjtMdkSQqRNPrzMXvb

BETTER TIMES

More use for genetic analysis in combating OVCA and BRCA. Maybe, eventually, this will sink into the brains of those who divvy up the research money. At least I sincerely hope so. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-gene-mutations-routinely-ovarian-cancer.html

i'm trying

sO, i used to be able to assemble these posts easily, and in a manner that made them easy to peruse. No more. Windows has foisted an "upgrade" on me which has screwed it all up. Or was it Google? Anyway from now on I will put links in the comments section, which I hope will make them easier to navigate. I will do so for the last few entries. I sure hope it works.

PICKING OUT A GOURD TO DECORATE

Mutations cause cancer, right? Well, not always. In fact, rarely. Our bodies are riddled with mutations, but a cancer results only under (blessedly) rare circumstances. Why? Well, it seems largely to be because of the cellular environment; neighboring cells somehow stifle bad tendencies on the part of a flawed cell. How and why are the subjects of this Fred Hutch research report. Easy to read, largely untechnical. But long. Go to it. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/Fred+Hutch/FMfcgzGqQSTbXpzCdgwlZwLpnQhSRHxC

A KALAMAZOO AUTUMN

I am embarrassed to keep peppering you with general discussions about OVCA; the fact is that this seems to be a slack time in reportage of really significant news. Anyway, here is a useful video that takes about five minutes to watch. The two ladies are gynecological oncologists from the well regarded Roswell Park clinic in Buffalo, New York. https://www.roswellpark.org/cancertalk/202209/frequently-searched-questions-ovarian-cancer