Description
Mayo Clinic gynecologic cancer specialists Jamie N. Bakkum-Gamez, M.D. and John Weroha, M.D., Ph.D. discuss the signs and symptoms women should be aware of for detection of ovarian cancer, understanding treatment options, and the importance of new clinical trials. Mayo Clinic medical geneticist Myra J. Wick, M.D., Ph.D. discusses the importance of family history and genetic counseling in preventing ovarian cancer. A live question and answer session followed the presentation. You can still ask questions using the chat box to the right. Speakers include: - Jamie N. Bakkum-Gamez, M.D. - John Weroha, M.D., Ph.D. - Myra J. Wick, M.D., Ph.D. Would you like to: Request An Appointment Learn More About Ovarian Cancer
cynthiawick
@cynthiawick
@cynthiawick
Posts: 4
Joined: May 07, 2015
Dr. Weroha: participating in clinical trials DOES cost patients $$. Insurance doesn’t pay for the trial drug, true, but it may have to pay for the administration of it – even if it’s not SOC. And so patients end up paying the copay for the admin. of the drug. I paid over $110 every 3 weeks for the admin. of Avastin for a trial, plus $30 for each checkup required every 6 weeks, plus parking fees and gas etc., for 22 cycles! My mother participated in a trial at NIH and although they arranged her plane flights, they didn’t provide a place to stay, when she had to be near Bethesda, MD for about 3 days every month. Hotels in the area start at $200/night!
Please understand : I am the patient who got Avastin, along with and after Frontline treatment, which is not SOC. I am now in the SOLO2 trial. My mother participated in a trial of carboplatin & olaparib for treatment of recurrence, including measurement of the pharmacokinetics of their interaction, in an attempt to determine which to administer first. My experiences with my own clinical trials have been positive aside from unexpected costs. However, my experiences with my mother’s clinical trial were vastly different and often quite negative. Part of the problem seemed to be that nobody cared for her as a person, but rather as patient # whatever. But please don’t tell patients that clinical trials will be “at no additional cost”; it’s just not true.
cynthiawick
@cynthiawick
@cynthiawick
Posts: 4
Joined: May 07, 2015
With 2 sisters with Ovarian cancer and a third one with Breast, will I be eligible to do the gene testing and be covered by insurance?
What about the PPAACA provision saying that genetic counseling & testing must be covered for high-risk women?
Alex White
@aiwhite
@aiwhite
Posts: 45
Joined: Feb 08, 2011
I have been experiencing severe pelvic/abdominal pain. My u/s and ct showed I have a small mass on my left ovary and one on my uterus (a small cyst in my liver) and my alpha feta protein test was abnormal, CA125 was normal. My doctor says there is nothing to worry about, I see my gyny on the 2nd June. My question is: can a doctor tell by my test results that the mass is benign? I am a 58 yr old female. I took HRT for 7 years stopped 1 year ago. The pain is increasing in severity now extending into my back and the groin area, I have had to stop work and am taking painkillers Tramadol 24/7. Thank you for you help.
In a postmenopausal woman, ovarian masses are usually a growth of some sort—could be benign, could be cancer, could be something in between called a borderline tumor. Imaging and tumor markers may not be enough to rule out a cancer as cancers and benign tumors can look the same on imaging. And there is a small proportion of ovarian cancers that have a normal CA125 level. Further evaluation in the setting of an ovarian mass and pain is warranted. If you would like to be evaluated at Mayo Clinic, you may make an appointment by calling: 507-284-4137.
@aiwhite
Yes, international patients are eligible to participate. However, I would suggest you consider staying in the US rather than trying to travel back and forth. In addition, you should have complete records submitted with your “new patient registration” with a specific question to the Medical Oncology team to review candidacy for clinical trials prior to making an appointment. This could save you the potential problem of being disqualified based on prior treatments or other criteria.