When I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer it really did not come as a surprise. I had always been suspicious that cancer would work its way into my life. I am an optimist by nature but in reviewing my family's health history I found that most of my family is either living with cancer or has died from cancer; so I just didn't know what type I would get or when it would come my way. But, I never thought it would be ovarian cancer, and when I reviewed the risk factors they really didn't seem to fit my profile. That is, until I reviewed my family history with a genetic counselor and agreed to be tested for the BRCA gene. It was then that I found out that my cancer was related to a genetic mutation in the BRCA gene. Even if I had known ahead of time that I had inherited this gene, the options on what to do are less than ideal: either closely monitor and wait for cancer or prophylactic removal of breasts and ovaries to reduce the lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Don't we need better choices?! Cancer and its treatments are challenging and may leave physical and emotional scars. To gain some more understanding, you can take a look at the video clip (see side bar) "In the Family" and www.thescarproject.org. Both are very moving and give much food for thought.
By funding research perhaps we can develop new approaches that give us more choices.

* Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers.
* The mortality rates for ovarian cancer have not improved in forty years.
* Women diagnosed at an early stage have a much higher 5-year survival rate than those diagnosed at a later stage- only about 15% of ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed early.
* A positive BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene mutation means that a person has an inherited mutation and is at increased risk for certain cancers:
* Lifetime cancer risks for women:
BRCA1: Breast 60-80% Ovarian 30-45% Pancreatic 2-3%
BRCA2: Breast 50-70% Ovarian 10-20% Pancreatic 3-5% Melanoma 3-5%
Avg. U.S. Woman without BRCA:
Breast: 13% Ovarian 1-2% Pancreatic 1% Melanoma 1-2%
* Researchers have recently found a mutation on the PALB2 gene which increases the risk of Breast Cancer

For this project I was inspired by writers, actresses and social activists who use their craft to convey important messages. They sparked an idea that I could combine my craft - spinning yarn - with an important message: to promote awareness of ovarian cancer and associated genetic mutations with open conversation and come up with what I've called the Spin-Yarn-a-Thon, to raise donations for research and treatment.

As I see it, spinning yarn is just one stop on a journey, creating a strand of yarn, connecting separate people across time and distance, then knitting/crocheting the freshly spun yarn. Every stitch is a commitment to the future.

Please join me to raise funds with your donations, purchase of handspun yarn, handknit items or spend some time with me talking/ knitting/crocheting or spinning.

Donations will be directed to the Basser Research Center for BRCA, the only center in the US devoted to research on prevention and treatment for cancers related to BRCA mutations.

You can make a donation by credit card on line or by contacting Carolyn Brownat 215-573-0550 or brownca@upenn.edu. If you would like to pay by check, please make checks payable to "Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania" and in the memo section please note "Spin-Yarn-a-Thon" and mail to Penn Medicine Development, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Attention: Carolyn Brown