Ovarian Cancer Genetic Or Is The Immune System Failing?

Hi,

I think most cancer is because the Immune system is failing!! I have a hard time believing it is Genetic. The Medical Community has been looking at Genes for years and cannot come up with an answer. If it was genetic and a gene was turned off I believe the body would die more quickly. I suppose there are those out there that belive it is both.  The way Cancer will be treated successfully one day it by Biological agents tricking the Immune system into killing cancerous cells and tumors.

Tom

Those of us that are in the 10% of ovca survivors that inherit the BRCA genes sure have to believe and take action regarding genetics.  Too many survivors do not have this testing and I think that is so sad.

On 9/6/2007 Sleepy123 wrote:

Hi,

I think most cancer is because the Immune system is failing!! I have a hard time believing it is Genetic. The Medical Community has been looking at Genes for years and cannot come up with an answer. If it was genetic and a gene was turned off I believe the body would die more quickly. I suppose there are those out there that belive it is both.  The way Cancer will be treated successfully one day it by Biological agents tricking the Immune system into killing cancerous cells and tumors.

Tom

Hi.

I have researched this extensively and am considering a prophalytic mastectomy.  I have an appt. with a breast surgeon this week.  I can't have surgery until I have completed my trial in Dec.  I could leave the trial but don't want to.  It's trial GOG 218, so just google it for info.  Hope I am getting the Avastin.  I strongly recommend trials.   You can go to the Ovarian National Cancer Alliance site and they have a matching service for trials.  You just put in your info and it tells you trials you are eligible for. Also, www.acor.org is a really good site.

Lucy

Tom,

I've had ovarian cancer for 6 1/2 years now, and I have not achieved remission.  I have attended the ACS research day at Tulane University and a national meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncolgists, as well as having done lots of independent research.  (Research was my profession, by the way.)

I can assure you that ovarian cancer is a genetic disease.  This statement was made during the first 3 minutes of the presentation of every single researcher who spoke at the ovarian cancer symposium at the national meeting of Gynecologic Oncologists I mentioned above.  Genetic causes are not limited to a BRCA 1 or 2 mutation.

 It is also a failure of the immune system, but only in the same way that a human standing with his fist out is unable to stop a meteor from crashing to the earth.  Ovarian cancer is a big, powerful creep stepping on a gnat (a normal human immune system). 

The good news is that researchers have plenty of avenues to explore.  By no means have they completely figured out genetic causes!  The bad news is that ovarian cancer receives very little funding from ACS or the US government.  So I hope that you can continue your interest in this disease and spread awareness of the disease and its need for funding.  I also hope and pray that whoever has sparked your interest in this disease is a stong warrior who will prevail.

Peace and good wishes to you and yours,

Christie

On 9/6/2007 Sleepy123 wrote:

Hi,

I think most cancer is because the Immune system is failing!! I have a hard time believing it is Genetic. The Medical Community has been looking at Genes for years and cannot come up with an answer. If it was genetic and a gene was turned off I believe the body would die more quickly. I suppose there are those out there that belive it is both.  The way Cancer will be treated successfully one day it by Biological agents tricking the Immune system into killing cancerous cells and tumors.

Tom