By Dariana Sedeño Delgado

Cancer continues to affect millions of people in the United States. For women, one of the most dangerous forms of the disease is ovarian cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), roughly 21,410 women will receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis this year and about 13,770 women will die from it as well. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, which is the most deaths compared to any other cancer of the female reproductive system . 

Ilana Feuchter, Ovarian Cancer Survivor & Advocate; Courtesy of Author

The impact of different factors surrounding a patient, such as socioeconomic status, living conditions, social support, or access to healthcare, can add a lot of stress for someone with a diagnosis or their caregivers. In addition, women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are subject to a lot of misinformation surrounding their condition and treatments. That is why it is important for these women to have a support system and access to substantial and accurate information.

Many women who have a higher than average risk of breast cancer also have a higher than average risk of ovarian cancer. So in partnership with the Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund (TDJBCF), the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center has organized a Virtual Community Grand Rounds on Wednesday, May 19, at 6 p.m. (information below). 

The virtual event will feature guest speakers Ilana Feuchter, an ovarian cancer survivor, and Dr. Ebony Hoskins, a board-certified gynecologic oncologist from Medstar Washington Hospital Center, to help provide such needed information to everyone.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins, Gynecologic Oncologist, Medstar Washington Hospital Center; Courtesy of Author

With over 15 years of experience, Ilana Feuchter has dedicated her career to finding care and a support system for ovarian cancer survivors and their caregivers. As an ovarian cancer survivor herself, she created a peer-support system for ovarian cancer survivors in the DC Metro area and designed an online program to provide self-care and coping skills for survivors and caregivers.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins has great expertise in caring for ovarian cancer patients through her continuous work in the medical profession. She cares for women with a wide range of cancers in the reproductive system and strives to offer the best care for her patients with the use of robotic surgery. Dr. Hoskins was named a Washingtonian Top Doctor in 2016, 2017, and 2018 and has published many articles about her work.

Everyone is welcome to join the Virtual Community Grand Rounds on Wednesday, May 19, at 6 p.m., via Zoom and TDJBCF Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/TDJBreastCancerFund/). For more information on this community grand rounds, please email thelma@tdjbreastcancerfund.org.

Dariana Sedeño Delgado is a Research Assistant at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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