>>> CANCER CAN BE A DIFFICULT SUBJECT IT TALK ABOUT.

TONIGHT, MEET ADVOCATES RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT TESTICULAR AND OVARIAN CANCER TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY THEY SHOULDN'T BE EMBARRASSED TO TALK ABOUT THEIR BODIES.

"METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪ >> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACQK FORD AND GEN JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, THE AMBROSE MONEL FOUNDATION AND BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JACK FORD.

NEW YORK CITY IS HOME TO THE, QUOTE, MOST CHECKED BALLS ON EARTH.

SO NOW THAT I'VE GOT YOUR ATTENTION, THAT'S THE NEW AD CAMPAIGN COMING FROM THE TESTICULAR CANCER SOCIETY.

THEY ARE USING HUMOR AND THE FAMOUS WALL STREET BULL STATUE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-EXAMINATION.

ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH FROM THE TESTICULAR CANCER SOCIETY, OVER 40% OF AMERICAN MEN NEVER BOTHER TO CHECK THEMSELVES FOR TESTICULAR CANCER.

THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT DOCTORS RECOMMEND A SELF-EXAMINATION AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH.

TESTICULAR CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF CANCER FOR MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 35.

WHEN IT'S CAUGHT EARLY ENOUGH, IT HAS A 99% SURVIVAL RATE.

HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF FREQUENT SELF-EXAMINATION.

JOINING US NOW TO DISCUSS WHY YOU SHOULD BE CHECKING YOURSELF OR YOUR PARTNER PERHAPS DOING THAT FOR TESTICULAR CANCER AND TO HIGHLIGHT HIS ORGANIZATION'S NEW CAMPAIGN IS MIKE CRAYCRAFT.

MIKE IS A SURVIVOR AND THE FOUNDER OF THE TESTICULAR CANCER SOCIETY.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I THINK TO GIVE US A SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE AND BACKGROUND, IT MAKES SENSE TO START WITH YOUR STORY ABOUT YOUR OWN CONDITION, HOW YOU FOUND IT AND TREATMENT AS HOW YOU ARE NOW.

>> SURE.

I'M ACTUALLY A CLINICAL PHARMACIST BY TRADE.

HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL.

I WAS LIVING DOWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA RIGHT AFTER HURRICANE WILMA.

WENT TO ADJUST MYSELF AND FELT A LUMP.

I KNEW IT WAS CANCER.

ENTERED A CYCLE OF FEAR, DENIAL AND NOT WANTING TO UPSET OTHERS SAYING, I'M SICK.

I REMAINED SILENT ABOUT IT.

CONVINCED MYSELF I WAS GOING TO DIE, EVEN THROUGH EW MY OWN GOI AWAY PARTY.

WENT TO THE DOCTOR SEVEN MONTHS LATER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE ONE DISEASE.

I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE TESTICLE REMOVED AND MONITORED TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T COME BACK.

>> TALK ABOUT THEN HOW YOUR EXPERIENCE DROVE YOU TO THE CREATION NOW OF THE ORGANIZATION.

>> I MEAN, IT WAS OUT OF NEED.

THERE WEREN'T VERY MUCH RE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR TESTICULAR CANCER IN 2006.

WHAT WAS THERE WAS HARD TO FIND.

WITH MY SURVIVOR EXPERIENCE IN HEALTH CARE, PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, I THOUGHT I WAS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO CHANGE THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE WENT ABOUT DOING.

>> WHAT'S THE IDEA BEHIND THIS SOCIETY?

>> REALLY, WE ARE INCREASING AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ABOUT TESTICULAR CANCER AS WELL AS PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE, WHETHER THAT'S THE ONE DIAGNOSED, CAREGIVER OR OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I SAW THAT IS MENTIONED HERE IN TERMS OF THE PURPOSE IS FOCUSING ON THE CURE AND YOU USE THE TERM, AND THE BURDEN OF THE CURED.

THAT MIGHT SOUND CURIOUS TO PEOPLE.

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY -- WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BURDEN OF THE CURED?

>> YEARS AGO, A SURVIVOR SAID, THE DOCTORS CURED MY CANCER BUT THEY DIDN'T CURE MY SOUL.

WITH IT BEING A YOUNG CANCER, THERE'S A LOT OF LIFE TO LIVE AFTER DIAGNOSIS.

IT'S NOT JUST GETTING THROUGH THAT SHORT-TERM BUMP OF IMMEDIATE TREATMENT BUT IT'S MAKING SURE THE TREATMENTS DON'T CAUSE LONG-TERM IMPACTS DOWN THE ROAD.

I LUCKED OUT.

I HAD STAGE ONE DISEASE AND WAS ABLE TO GET BY WITH SURGERY.

OTHERS NEED CHEMOTHERAPY.

THERE'S LONG-TERM AFFECTS TO THAT.

THERE'S SURGICAL PROCEDURES THAT CREATE LONG-TERM AFFECTS.

IT'S THE BURDEN OF THE CURED IS MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE A LONG, HEALTHY LIFE AFTER DIAGNOSIS.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT A CONCERN IN HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT PEOPLE, ABOUT A STIGMA THAT MIGHT BE SURROUNDING THE NOTION OF TESTICULAR CANCER.

EXPLAIN THAT.

>> WELL, I MEAN, THE CONVERSATIONS AREN'T NORMALIZED ABOUT TESTICULAR CANCER.

IF YOU THINK TO YOURSELF, IF YOU ARE AT WORK OR AROUND A GROUP OF FRIENDS AND SOMEONE SAYS BREAST CANCER, IT'S OPEN AND TALKED ABOUT.

IF SOMEONE SAYS TESTICULAR CANCER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD IT IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT AND IT'S USUALLY HUSH-HUSH.

I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST PROOF THAT WE JUST -- CANCER IS CANCER.

IT DOESN'T MATTER THE BODY PART.

WE NEED TO RAISE AWARENESS SO PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING DIAGNOSED AT LATE STAGES.

>> LET GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE STATISTICS.

I MENTIONED SOME IN THE INTRODUCTION.

TELL BUS THE SURVEY THAT THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED AND SOME OF THE IMPORTANT FINDINGS.

>> OUR RECENT RESEARCH WE DID SHOWED, AS MENTIONED, THAT OVER 40% OF GUYS AREN'T CHECKING THEMSELVES FOR TESTICULAR CANCER.

THEN THOSE THAT ARE CHECKING, 50% OF GUYS ARE SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WE SAW IS THAT 79% OF THOSE SURVEYED, MEN AND WOMEN, AGREED THAT MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE OUT THERE.

IT'S NOT REALLY COMING FROM US.

IT'S COMING FROM THE PUBLIC.

HOPEFULLY, WE WILL MEET THOSE NEEDS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFICS NOW THAT THE GROUP IS ADVOCATING.

LET'S START OFF WITH THE NOTION OF SELF-EXAMINATION.

WHAT IS IT THAT MEN SHOULD BE DOING OR OTHERS HELPING THEM?

I MENTIONED A FREQUENCY.

BUT WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING IT SHOULD BE IN TERMS OF FREQUENCY?

>> YEAH.

BASICALLY, WE SUGGEST A MONTHLY SELF-EXAM.

IT'S ROLLING THE TESTICLE BETWEEN YOUR FINGER AND THUMB TO MAKE SURE THERE AREN'T LUMPS OR BUMPS, MAKE SURE IT'S NOT CHANGING CONSISTENCY, GETTING HARDER OR SOFTER, MAKING SURE IT'S NOT GETTING BIGGER OR SMALLER IN SIZE.

USUALLY TESTICULAR CANCER PRESENTS AS A SMALL, PAINLESS LUMP.

IT GIVES YOU TIME TO FEEL CHANGES.

YOU ARE NOT WAITING SO LONG THAT IT HAS A CHANCE TO ADVANCE.

IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING ABNORMAL, LETTING YOUR DOCTOR KNOW AND GOING FROM THERE.

>> TALK MORE ABOUT THE RATES.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CANCERS, WE DON'T ALWAYS USE THE TERM CURE.

SOMETIMES WE CAN.

CERTAINLY, WE CAN LOOK AT STATISTICS IN TERMS OF RECURRENCE AND THE SUGGESTIONS THAT THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN.

WHAT DO YOUR STUDIES AND THE SCIENCE YOU HAVE SEEN SUGGEST ABOUT THE IDEA OF THE DISCOVERY, THE TREATMENT AND THEN WHAT THE RATES OF SUCCESS CAN BE?

>> I MEAN, OVERALL, THE SURVIVAL RATE FOR TESTICULAR CANCER IN GENERAL IS 95%.

IF CAUGHT IN STAGE ONE DISEASE, IT'S ESSENTIALLY ALMOST CURABLE.

IT IS JUST A MATTER HOW FAR THE STUDIES MEASURE IT.

THE KEY REALLY IS THE EARLY DETECTION.

WE HAVE INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS.

IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING GUYS IN EARLY AND GETTING THEM.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN THAT YOU ARE DOING.

RAISING AWARENESS.

WE KIND OF JOKINGLY -- YOU HAVE INTRODUCED THE ELEMENT OF HUMOR INTO THIS.

IN OUR INTRODUCTION TALKED ABOUT IT.

WHY DECIDE, FIRST OF ALL, TO USE THE WALL STREET BULL AS THE MAIN CHARACTER IN THIS?

AND WHY DECIDE TO INCORPORATE THE NOTION OF SOME ELEMENT OF HUMOR INTO WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THE WALL STREET BALLS.

THE MOST CHECKED BALLS ON EARTH.

PEOPLE WILL LINE UP TO GET THEIR PICTURE WITH THE BULL AND CHECK OUT THE BALLS.

YET, THEY ARE NOT CHECKING THEIR OWN.

THEY ARE HESITANT.

IT DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

THE ONE THING IS THAT TO REACH THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AROUND THEM, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WOMEN ARE POKING THEM ABOUT THEIR HEALTH, IS TO REACH OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IF SOMEONE POSTS A PICTURE WITH THE WALL STREET BULL, WE COME BACK WITH A FUN MESSAGE ABOUT AWARENESS AND POINT THEM ON HOW TO DO A SELF-EXAM AS A WAY TO BREAK THE ICE AND HELP NORMALIZE THE CONVERSATION ALONG WITH THE EDUCATION.

>> WHEN YOU MENTION THAT YOU HAVE RESPONSES, LIGHT-HEARTED RESPONSES, DESIGNED TO BASICALLY SAY TO SOMEBODY, OKAY, YOU FOUND THIS AND WE WILL BE HUMOROUS ABOUT IT, BUT WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.

GIVE US A COUPLE OF PBS APPROPRIATE, IF YOU WOULD, RESPONSES, THE THINGS THAT MIGHT GO OUT BACK AND FORTH AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, OBVIOUSLY, THE BULL'S BALLS, THE STATUE IS HUGE.

SO ARE THE BALLS.

WE WILL RESPOND BACK, THOSE ARE HUGE BALLS TO START A CONVERSATION ABOUT.

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING A SELF-EXAM?

THEY WILL POST A PICTURE CHECKING IT OUT.

NOW ARE YOU CHECKING YOUR OWN?

IT'S REALLY WELL RECEIVED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COMMENT BACK.

MY GOSH, THANKS.

THAT'S WAY TOO FUNNY.

IT'S GOING INCREDIBLY WELL.

WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF IT.

>> CLEARLY, ONE OF THE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND YOUR CAMPAIGN IS THE NOTION OF RAISING AWARENESS, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE HAVE SEEN IT SO OFTEN IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCERS.

AS YOU SAID, CANCER -- THE PROCESS IS THE SAME.

IT'S JUST WHAT PART OF THE BODY IS BEING INVAD ED.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AWARENESS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

WE TALK ABOUT THIS AFFECTING YOUNG MEN.

YOU HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT, ARE THEY GETTING ANY AWARENESS EDUCATION IN HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE THAT COULD HELP TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS MIGHT BE?

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING RIGHT NOW?

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING IT CAN BECOME?

>> THERE ARE A FEW STATES THAT HAVE MANDATED TESTICULAR CANCER EDUCATION AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

THOSE ARE FAR AND FEW IN BETWEEN.

WE ARE IN OHIO RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S 975 HIGH SCHOOLS THE LAST TIME WE LOOKED.

IT'S A HUGE TASK TO GET IN WITHOUT MANDATES.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REACH THESE GUYS IN A DIFFERENT AVENUE.

HENCE, SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE AWARENESS AND EDUCATION IS KEY.

WE WORK IN THREE DIFFERENT PILLARS.

IT'S AWARENESS AND EDUCATION, ACCESS TO CARE AND QUALITY OF THE CARE.

IF YOU ARE WORKING IN ONE AREA, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET YOU SOMEWHERE.

THEY MIGHT NOTE ABOUT IT BUT THEY CAN'T SEE A DOCTOR OR THEY SEE THE DOCTOR BUT THEY DON'T GET THE BEST LEVEL OF CARE.

OVERALL, WE WORK IN ALL THREE.

>> IF SOMEBODY -- LAST QUESTION HERE.

A LITTLE LESS THAN A MINUTE.

IF SOMEBODY IS WATCHING OR HEARS THIS STORY AND THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, HOW DO THEY REACH OUT TO GET GUIDANCE?

>> GO TO TESTICULARCANCERSOCIETY.ORG.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP.

GIVE PERSPECTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING.

GET THE BEST CARE.

IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING TO YOUR DOCTOR.

>> ONCE AGAIN, THE TESTICULAR CANCER SOCIETY, VERY IMPORTANT WORK AWARENESS WORK.

MIKE CRAYCRAFT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE GOOD WORK YOU ARE DOING.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU TAKE CARE NOW.

♪ >> ACCORDING TO STATISTICS, IT'S ESTIMATED THIS YEAR APPROXIMATELY 20,000 WOMEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH OVARIAN CANCER.

APPROXIMATELY 14,000 WOMEN WILL DIE FROM THE DISEASE.

DESPITE THESE TROUBLING NUMBERS, PROGRESS IS BEING MADE ON BOTH THE DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT FRONTS, WHICH MAKES IT EVEN MORE ESSENTIAL FOR WOMEN TO BE AWARE OF RISK FACTORS, SYMPTOMS AND AVAILABLE TREATMENT OPTIONS.

JOINING US NOW TO HELP WITH THIS AWARENESS IS DR. ASHLEY HAGGERTY, DIRECTOR OF GYNECOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND IS MY DAUGHTER.

WELCOME.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> LET'S START OFF WITH SOME OF THE BASICS HERE.

WHAT SHOULD WOMEN BE AWARE OF IN TERMS OF RISK FACTORS FOR OVARIAN CANCER?

>> THE FEW MOST IMPORTANT RISK FACTORS FOR OVARIAN CANCER DOES TEND TO BE AIGE.

WOMEN ARE POSTMENOPAUSAL.

A HEREDITARY RISK OR OTHER CANCERS LIKE BREAST CANCER, COLON CANCER.

30% OF OVARIAN CANCERS WILL BE HEREDITARY.

>> LET'S LOOK NOW TO SYMPTOMS.

I MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION THAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE ACROSS ALL OF THESE FRONTS.

CLEARLY, AS WE SAID IN BEGINNING, AWARENESS IS ESSENTIAL.

WHAT SORT OF SYMPTOMS SHOULD BE RAISING FLAGS FOR WOMEN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE SYMPTOMS THAT ARE OF CONCERN ARE SYMPTOMS THAT ARE NOT GETTING BETTER OR GETTING WORSE.

SYMPTOMS LIKE ABDOMINAL BLOATING, CONSTIPATION OR CHANGING TO BOWEL HABITS, BACK PAIN, CHEST PAIN OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH.

MANY OF THE SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME AND HAVE BEEN PURSUING OTHER TREATMENT OPTIONS.

IF THOSE SYMPTOMS DON'T IMPROVE, FURTHER TREATMENT AND WORKUP IS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT OVARIAN CANCER CAUSING THOSE SYMPTOMS.

>> IN TERMS OF ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE THIS, WHAT BARRIERS DOES -- LET'S CALL IT CONFUSION WITH OTHER TYPES OF SITUATIONS THAT COULD MANIFEST THESE SAME SYMPTOMS.

>> YEAH.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THINGS LIKE BLOATING AFTER EATING OR CONSTIPATION AND NOT ALL OF THOSE PATIENTS HAVE OVARIAN CANCER.

SYMPTOMS THAT ARE PERSISTENT, SYMPTOMS THAT MAYBE A PATIENT NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE IN THE OFFICE HAS SEEN A GI DOCTOR OR THEIR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR, HAD MEDICATIONS TO MAKE THOSE SYMPTOMS IMPROVE.

IF THEY DON'T, THIS IS WHERE THE AWARENESS OF OVARIAN CANCER IS IMPORTANT.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING, AND I HAVE SEEN YOU SAY THIS.

THAT IS ABOUT WOMEN BEING THEIR OWN ADVOCATES.

THEIR OWN CHAMPIONS IN TERMS OF THEIR HEALTH CARE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

HOW DOES THAT APPLY TO THIS QUESTION OF SYMPTOMS?

>> YOU KNOW, HISTORIC ASSUMPTION IS THAT OVARIAN CANCER WAS A SILENT KILLER.

MOST PEOPLE STARTED WITH A VERY ADVANCED STAGE AND HAD NO SYMPTOMS.

ACTUALLY, WE ARE JUST NOT LISTENING FOR THE SYMPTOMS.

WHEN YOU HEAR PATIENTS DESCRIBE THEIR JOURNEY BEFORE THEY GET TO A GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGONCOLOGIST HAVE BEEN HAVING SYMPTOMS AND WERE UNAWARE THEY COULD BE RELATED TO CANCER OR DIDN'T ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES TO KEEP FINDING A DIFFERENT REASON WHEN THEIR TREATMENTS WEREN'T IMPROVING THEIR SYMPTOMS OR EVEN AS SIMPLE AS GETTING IMAGING, LIKE A C.A.T.

SCAN TO LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ABDOMEN AND PELVIS.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO WOMEN ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD DO IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THESE SYMPTOMS AND THEY ARE JUST NOT GOING AWAY?

>> WE KNOW THAT ALL OVARIAN CANCER PATIENTS ARE BEST TREATED WHEN THEY ARE SEEN BY A GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGIST.

MAKING SURE YOU PURSUE WORKUP, ESPECIALLY IMAGING.

IMAGING IS GOING TO RAISE OUR CONCERN THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE AN OVARIAN CANCER HAPPENING.

MOST PATIENTS DON'T HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF OVARIAN CANCER WHEN THEY SEE US FOR THEIR NEW CONSULT.

THEY HAVE IMAGING FINDINGS THAT ARE CONCERNING.

WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY IN THE UNITED STATES HAS GOOD ACCESS TO GYNECOLOGICAL ONCOLOGISTS.

THANKFULLY HERE IN THE METRO NORTHEAST, WE DO.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT YOU SEE ONE WHEN THERE'S CONCERN FOR OVARIAN CANCER.

>> THERE ARE SPECIFIC SCREENING TESTS THAT CAN LEAD TO THIS DIAGNOSIS?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, IS THERE NOT GREAT SCREENING FOR OVARIAN CANCER.

THERE WERE SEVERAL STUDIES THAT TRIED TO LOOK AT AGAIN POPULATION SCREENING TO SEE IF A COMBINATION OF THINGS LIKE ULTRASOUND AND BLOOD WORK WITH TUMOR MARKERS COULD IDENTIFY EARLY OVARIAN CANCERS.

M MORE IMPORTANTLY, CHANGE THE SURVIVAL.

UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE TRIALS DID NOT SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN DOING GENERAL SURVEILLANCE FOR OVARIAN CANCER.

THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WOMEN KNOWN TO HAVE AN INCREASED GENETIC OR HEREDITARY RISK.

THERE MAY BE A ROLE FOR SURVEILLANCE IN THOSE PATIENTS.

RIGHT NOW, PROGRESS THAT IS REALLY BEING FOCUSED ON IN RESEARCH FOR OVARIAN CANCER IS WORKING ON EARLY DETECTION.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT RISK FACTORS.

WE TALKED ABOUT SYMPTOMS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TREATMENT OPTIONS S THAT ARE AVAILABLE FO WOMEN EXPERIENCING OVARIAN CANCER.

>> HERE IS WHAT I SAY WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME WITH A PRESUMED OR KNOWN DIAGNOSIS OF OVARIAN CANCER.

UNFORTUNATELY, 20% PRESENT AT AN EARLY STAGE.

MOST PRESENT AT 3 OR 4 STAGE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT TREATABLE OR CURABLE.

THAT'S COMMONLY WHAT WE SEE FOR PRESENTATION.

TREATMENT IS THEN USUALLY A COMBINATION OF BOTH SURGERY TO REMOVE ALL OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF TUMOR THAT CAN BE SEEN AND FELT AND THEN CHEMOTHERAPY.

USUALLY INTRAVENOUS CHEMOTHERAPY FOLLOWED BY MAINTENANCE CHEMOTHERAPY.

>> WE HEAR OFTEN TIMES IN YOUR FIELD, THE CANCER FIELD AND CANCER TREATMENT, ABOUT THE EM EMERGENCE OF IMMUNOTHERAPY.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S HELPFUL WITH REGARD TO OVARIAN CANCER?

>> IMMUNOTHERAPY IS USING YOUR BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM TO FIGHT CANCER CELLS.

CANCER CELLS ARE VERY SMART.

THEY HAVE CREATED WAYS TO AVOID YOUR BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM FROM ATTACKING THEM AND KEEPING THEM UNDER CONTROL.

THE SHORT ANSWER FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR OVARIAN CANCER IS NOT YET.

ALTHOUGH, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT EFFORT BEING MADE WITH CLINICAL TRIALS TO LOOK AT OPTIONS FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY.

WHERE WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS IS TARGETED THERAPY IN O OVARIAN CANCER.

SIMILAR TO IMMUNOTHERAPY.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MUTATIONS WITHIN THE TUMOR AND USING THOSE SPECIFIC MUTATIONS WITH DRUGS THAT TARGET THAT.

THE GREATEST SUCCESS STORY WE HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES IS ANNIN ORAL DRUG AFTE THEY HAVE COMPLETED CHEMOTHERAPY.

IT GOES OVER ABOUT 18 WEEKS OF TREATMENT.

THE STUDIES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED PEOPLE'S OUTCOMES WITH OVARIAN CANCER AND HAVE IMPROVED THE TIME IT TAKES FOR CANCER TO RECUR BY YEARS AS OPPOSED TO MONTHS.

IN SOME PATIENTS, MAY BE PUSHING TOWARDS A CURE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE NOTION OF GENETIC TESTING AND THE ROLE THAT THAT CAN PLAY HERE WITH REGARD TO CARE AND TREATMENT OF OVARIAN CANCER?

>> GENETIC TESTING IS SO IMPORTANT IN OVARIAN CANCER.

THE NATIONAL GUIDELINES SAY ALL WOMEN WITH AN OVARIAN CANCER DIAGNOSIS SHOULD BE OFFERED GENETIC TESTING.

WE KNOW RECENT STUDIES IN THE U.S. SHOW ONLY 30% OF PEOPLE HAVE UNDERGONE GENETIC TESTING.

>> EXPLAIN TO US, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GENETIC TESTING AND THEN PICK UP YOUR THOUGHT THERE.

>> GENETIC TESTING IS TESTING OF SOMEONE'S OWN HEREDITARY GENES THAT CAN BE PASSED ON TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT CARRY A MUTATION, CALLED A PATHOLOGIC VARIANT, THAT PUTS THEM AT GRACEGRACE -- AT GREATER RISK FOR OVARIAN CANCER.

THERE'S RISK TO COLON CANCER.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IF THEY HAVE A GENETIC MUTATION THAT PUT THEM AT RISK OF GETTING THIS CANCER.

THOSE GENETIC MUTATIONS HELP US PICK WHICH TYPE OF THIS INHIBITER TO GIVE TO PATIENTS.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN THE SETTING OF A NEWLY DIAGNOSED CANCER.

THESE GENES CAN BE HEREDITARY.

IN A 50/50 CHANCE, SO ALL MALE AND FEMALE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE AT A 5 INHERITING ONE OF THE GEEM GENES.

THERE ARE OPTIONS AVAILABLE IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THERE MUTATION.

THERE'S A ROLE FOR RISK REDUCING SURGERY TO REMOVE THE OVEOVARIE.

IT STARTS IN THE FALLOPIAN TUBES.

TO PREVENT GETTING A CANCER IN SOMEONE WHO IS AT KNOWN INCREASED RISK.

>> WHAT SHOULD WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH OVARIAN CANCER KNOW AND BE AWARE OF ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF CLINICAL TRIALS?

>> I THINK PEOPLE DON'T OVERALL HAVE A GREAT UNDERSTANDING ABOUT CLINICAL TRIALS.

YESTERDAY'S CLINICAL TRIAL IS TODAY'S STANDARD OF CARE.

THAT'S HOW WE MAKE ADVANCED IN TREATMENT.

THAT'S HOW WOMEN HAVE HAD AMAZING OUTCOMES OVER THE LAST FIVE TO TEN YEARS.

THEY WERE ON A CLINICAL TRIAL.

MANY PEOPLE FEEL LIKE CLINICAL TRIALS ARE ONLY AN OPTION WHEN YOU HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT THE BEST ROLE FOR A CLINICAL TRIAL.

THAT MAY BE A ROLE FOR SOME PATIENTS.

BUT MANY TRIALS ARE DESIGNED TO BE USED VERY EARLY IN YOUR CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT COURSE.

I FEEL STRONGLY THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLINICAL TRIAL AND TO SEEK OUT CLINICAL TRIALS WHEN THEY ARE DIAGNOSED WITH A CANCER.

>> SAYING I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR A CLINICAL TRIAL OR TALKING TO YOUR PHYSICIAN ABOUT IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE REACHED A POINT WHERE THERE'S NO PROSPECTS FOR YOU?

>> NOT AT ALL.

IN FACT, MANY TIMES THE CLINICAL TRIAL IS DESIGNED USING A STANDARD OF CARE CHEMOTHERAPY OPTION AND ADDING SOMETHING ON TOP THAT USUALLY HAS STRONG SCIENCE BEHIND IT TO SAY, WE THINK THAT THIS COMBINATION WILL NOW MAKE THESE DRUGS WORK BETTER.

WE REALLY HAVE CHANGED HOW WE'RE DESIGNING THESE CLINICAL TRIALS.

IT GETS BACK TO THE CONCEPT OF TARGETED THERAPY.

WE USED TO TREAT OVARIAN CANCER ONLY.

OR COLON CANCER ONLY.

NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE MUTATIONS IN THE CANCER, LOOKING AT THE IMMUNOLOGY OF THE CANCER AND LUMPING SOME OF THE CANCERS TOGETHER WHEN THEY HAVE SIMILAR MUTATIONS AND USING ONE DRUG THAT TARGETS THAT SPECIFIC MUTATION.

>> LAST QUESTION.

I GOT ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF OR SO HERE.

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE -- YOU HAVE GIVEN US A SENSE OF R PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE TROUBLING NUMBERS.

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEING MADE?

>> I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC.

THE LANDSCAPE OF OVARIAN CANCER TODAY IN 2022 IS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO, FIVE YEARS AGO AND CERTAINLY TEN TO 15 YEARS AGO.

THERE IS NOW A FOCUS AND AWARENESS, ANN ADVOCACY TO REALY MOVE THE SCIENCE FORWARD AND WORK ON NOT JUST BETTER TREATMENT OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THE RECURRENT SETTING, BUT AS I MENTIONED, TRYING TO FIND THOSE EARLY SCREENING AND THOSE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS.

TO REALLY CHANGE THE STORY AND TRAJECTORY OF THEIR CANCER.

>> WE STARTED THIS CONVERSATION TALKING ABOUT SEPTEMBER BEING OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT CARRY THROUGH THE CALENDAR YEAR AS YOU MENTIONED FOR WOMEN TO BE THEIR OWN CHAMPIONS OF THEIR HEALTH CARE.

DR. ASHLEY HAGGERTY, AS WE MENTIONED, THE DIRECTOR OF GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY IN RED BANK.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF THIS.

WE WILL TALK AGAIN SOON.

TAKE CARE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

♪ >>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WALKENHEIM, THE AMBROSE MONEL FOUNDATION AND BY --