Wny Ovarian Cancer Project Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE THE WNY COMMUNITY ON THE SYMPTOMS AND RISKS OF OVARIAN AND ALL GYNECOLOGIC CANCER, AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING THESE CANCERS.

SUPPORT PROGRAM DESCRIPTION SUPPORT- ANNUAL SURVIVOR RETREAT: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A WEEKEND RESPITE FOR WOMEN WITH OVARIAN AND GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP REDUCE STRESS BY EXPLORING WAYS TO FIND RENEWAL AND HEALING. IN GROUP SETTINGS WE DIVE INTO HOW TO FIND MEANING, HOPE, JOY & GRACE AFTER A DIAGNOSIS OF OVARIAN OR GYNECOLOGIC CANCER. DURING THE WEEKEND PARTICIPANTS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE HOW MEDITATION, A GENTLE YOGA PRACTICE OR JOURNALING CAN ENHANCE THEIR LIVES. WE LEAVE TIME FOR PARTICIPANTS TO REST, SOCIALIZE AND EXPLORE NATURE ON THE GROUNDS OF THE RETREAT CENTER. SUPPORT SUPPORT GROUP PROGRAM: INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FOR WOMEN WITH OVARIAN AND ALL GYNECOLOGIC CANCER ARE ESSENTIAL. STUDIES SHOW THAT SUPPORT GROUPS IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND SURVIVORSHIP BY HELPING REDUCE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. STUDIES ALSO SHOW THAT WOMEN EDUCATED ABOUT THEIR DISEASE IN THIS TYPE OF GROUP MAKE BETTER DECISIONS, HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, AND HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES THAN WOMEN WHO DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS TYPE OF SUPPORTIVE FORUM. OUR GROUPS ARE PROFESSIONALLY FACILITATED AND OFFER WOMEN WITH GYNECOLOGIC CANCER VITAL, FACE-TO-FACE CONNECTIONS WITH OTHERS LIVING WITH GYNECOLOGIC CANCER IN SAFE, CONFIDENTIAL SURROUNDINGS. SUPPORT - CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP: OFFERS A SUPPORTIVE ATMOSPHERE FOR CAREGIVERS TO GATHER INFORMATION AND CONNECT WITH OTHERS WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO CARE FOR A GYNECOLOGIC CANCER PATIENT, TO HELP FEE LESS ISOLATED. MONTHLY SESSIONS ARE PROFESSIONALLY FACILITATED AND PEER-LED, WITH THE FOCUS OF EACH SESSION DETERMINED BY THOSE PRESENT.SUPPORT "COMFORT & HOPE TOTE" PROGRAM: SINCE 2013, THE OVARIAN CANCER PROJECT SIGNATURE COMFORT & HOPE TOTES HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO EVERY NEWLY DIAGNOSED GYNECOLOGIC PATIENT IN THE WESTERN NEW YORK REGION. THE TOTES CONTAIN CHEMOTHERAPY ESSENTIALS AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM THE OCP, THEIR LOCAL SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDER.SUPPORT "WOMAN TO WOMAN" MENTOR PROGRAM: IN LATE 2016, THE OCP WAS AWARDED A ONE-TIME GRANT FROM THE OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH FUND ALLIANCE TO BEGIN A MENTORING PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM CAREFULLY PAIRS OVARIAN AND GYNECOLOGIC CANCER PATIENTS WITH TRAINED VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR OWN GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER EXPERIENCE. MENTORS HELP NEWLY DIAGNOSED WOMEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE RECURRED COPE BY PROVIDING ONE-ON-ONE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND INFORMATION. OUR MENTORS GIVE HOPE AND UNIQUE INSIGHTS THAT CAN ONLY COME FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ON THE SAME JOURNEY.SUPPORT PATIENT ADVOCACY: THE GYNECOLOGIC CANCER PATIENT ADVOCATE PROVIDES EDUCATION AND INFORMATION ON OVARIAN AND GYNECOLOGIC CANCER TREATMENT OPTIONS, SUCH AS CURRENT RESEARCH, AVAILABLE CLINICAL TRIALS, AND MEDICAL AND SUPPORT REFERRALS. PATIENT ADVOCATES HELP WOMEN WITH OVARIAN CANCER PATIENTS NAVIGATE TODAY'S COMPLEX HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS.SUPPORT - COMMUNITY MEDICINE: NEWLY LAUNCHED PROGRAM TO PROVIDE MONTHLY OPPORTUNITIES FOR SURVIVORS TO SOCIALIZE AND RELAX WITH EACH OTHER IN THEIR TOWN.SUPPORT - COFFEE TALK: INFORMAL GROUP MEETS FOR COFFEE AT DIFFERENT SHOPS EACH MONTH TO PROVIDE CONVERSATION AND SUPPORT/SUPPORT - YOGA AND MEDITATION: WEEKLY VIRTUAL YOGA AND MEDITATION LED BY A CERTIFIED ONCOLOGY YOGA INSTRUCTOR.

EDUCATION PROGRAM DESCRIPTION EDUCATION - GYNECOLOGIC CANCER IS DEADLY. THERE IS NO SCREENING TEST FOR MOST GYNECOLOGIC CANCER. THE CRITICAL FACTOR IN THE SURVIVAL IS EARLY DETECTION. STUDIES AND MEDICAL CONSENSUS SHOW THAT GYNECOLOGIC CANCER DOES HAVE SYMPTOMS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT SOME WOMEN HAVE RISK FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING GYNECOLOGIC CANCER. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SMALL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE OVARIAN CANCER PROJECT ARE MAKING INROADS IN EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES, AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITH INFORMATION ON THE SYMPTOMS AND RISKS OF ALL GYNECOLOGIC CANCER. THE OVARIAN CANCER PROJECT DISTRIBUTES THIS INFORMATION AND INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT ACTION TO TAKE IF AN INDIVIDUAL HAS SYMPTOMS OR RISK FACTORS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.