In partnership with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance [OCNA], we represent the only ovarian cancer survivor’s group with a sustained presence on Capitol Hill – successfully advocating for ovarian cancer funding and resources. Each year, OCNA leads the effort to increase federal funding for ovarian cancer research. Activists support the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program, The National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute and generate support from advocates across the country to ensure the continuation of this funding earmarked for innovative ovarian cancer research.

OCNA leaders were in the forefront of the campaign to pass a Congressional Resolution urging the NIH to speed up its research on proteomics, which is yielding promising findings that could result in the development of an urgently-needed screening tool for ovarian cancer.

Overview of National Advocacy and Legislation

Department of Defense Appropriation for Ovarian Cancer Research

Each year since 1997, the Department of Defense [DoD] has allocated funding to ovarian cancer research. In 2005, $10 million was allocated for ovarian cancer, which was flat over the 2004 allocation of $10 million. In 2005 and in comparison, $150 million was allocated for breast cancer research.

MOCA members become engaged in ensuring allocations are increased each year by communicating with their legislators. Timing of these communications and progress on research funding for ovarian cancer is posted on the MOCA website at relevant times. Also, additional information can be found at Congressionally Directed Research Programs – Ovarian Cancer Research http://cdmrp.army.mil/ocrp/.

President Bush Signs ‘Johanna’s Law’ to Launch a National Gynecologic Awareness Campaign

President Bush has signed Johanna’s Law, landmark legislation that authorizes the development of a national gynecologic cancer awareness campaign. The federal campaign would educate American women and health professionals about the signs and symptoms of ovarian and other gynecologic cancers.

The President signed the bill on January 12. Both houses of Congress unanimously approved Johanna’s Law: the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act late last year.

Johanna’s Law authorizes $16.5 million over a three-year period to the U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services for the awareness and education campaign. It is named for Johanna Silver Gordon, who died from ovarian cancer in 2000.

“This is an exciting development in our efforts to save women’s lives through earlier detection of ovarian cancer,” said Johanna’s sister, Sheryl Silver, who conceived Johanna’s Law and has worked tirelessly for its passage. “By educating the public about the risk factors and symptoms of gynecologic cancers, Johanna’s Law will help women recognize potentially dangerous symptoms and seek appropriate medical attention sooner.”

MOCA members can be proud of the work that has been done by the network of gynecologic cancer advocates throughout the country.” But our work is not done”, says Kathleen Gavin, MOCA’s Executive Director, “We need to continue to push for Congressional funding to make the provisions in Johanna’s Law come alive. There cannot be a national awareness campaign without the appropriation to fund it.”

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Stamp

By women signing this petition for an Ovarian Cancer Awareness Postage Stamp, it will help improve the chances of early diagnosis. One of the best ways to bring about earlier diagnosis is through awareness and education. We can save women’s lives through Ovarian Cancer awareness and education and a U.S. Postage Stamp for Ovarian Cancer Awareness will be an enormous help in these efforts. For more information, visit www.petitiononline.com/ovca2005/petition.html