GA Gives Day to Support the GOCA Mission

The mission of the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance (GOCA) is to increase awareness and educate Georgia’s women, of all ages, and their families as well as the healthcare community about the risks and symptoms of ovarian cancer that may lead to earlier detection and treatment.

In 1998, 13 Atlanta women met each other at a gynecologic cancer support group.  They were all ovarian cancer patients and survivors, each at a different stage in their journey, with different experiences and stories to share.  They quickly figured out that before being diagnosed, not one of them knew anything about ovarian cancer nor anybody who had ever been diagnosed with the disease.   So, around a dining room table, they identified the many areas lacking in the ovarian cancer world.  They pooled their ideas, energy, and passion to develop the groundwork for the organization’s ideals of “Awareness, Education, and Outreach” which are still the focus of GOCA today.  It is our privilege and honor to continue these ideals in memory of the 12 original members no longer with us and to honor the lone surviving original member. 

Here is how the founding members ideals stay true to the current programs of “Awareness, Education, and Outreach” made possible by supporter like you.

Awareness and Education – Simply put, these programs are designed and executed to increase public and individual awareness as well to educate Georgia’s women, of all ages, their families and the healthcare community about the risks and symptoms of ovarian cancer.   As well as make them aware that there is NOT a definitive diagnostic test for ovarian cancer detection.  We accomplished this by reaching out to as many people as possible via any means necessary.   Health Fairs, Teal Teas, Let’s Talk Teal awareness sessions, lunch & learns, television, radio, social media, print, video, and any other way we can get in front of an audience.  Now is not the place to conduct an awareness session however, I will be here and available the rest of today and this evening to talk about the risks and symptoms with anybody who might be interested.

In conjunction with the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), GOCA presents Survivors Teaching Students – Saving Women’s Lives® to future medical professionals.  This program is not designed or intended to teach the science of ovarian cancer, we leave that to the professionals.  The program brings the faces and voices of ovarian cancer survivors, caregivers, and family members into the classroom of future physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and physician assistants to hear the unique yet common stories of those that have heard and experienced those four dreaded words, “you have ovarian cancer.”  The objective, through these firsthand stories and experiences, is to leave a lasting memory with the students so when they begin seeing patients, they are more sensitive to and aware of the risks and symptoms of ovarian cancer that, in turn, may result in an earlier diagnosis and treatment, thus increasing a woman’s odds of survival. 

Outreach – Our outreach programs are designed to provide support and comfort to women and families who have or are going through ovarian cancer.  We have a peer-to-peer component that matches a patient with a survivor peer as well as spousal and family peers that can assist during the diagnosis, treatment, and unfortunately passing.    These peer-to-peer volunteers are an invaluable resource, as they are so much more knowledgeable, and “understand” what the other is experiencing.

The outreach program we are submitting for the charity grant request is our nationally recognized Bag of Hope Program, featured on the handout provided.  

After listening to many ovarian cancer patients describe what would have helped them through their surgery, chemotherapy, and recovery, it became clear that a sense of “ownership” of ovarian cancer was very important. This, just as our founders experienced, is because they knew nothing about the disease and didn’t know anybody who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  Another reason being they are probably the only ovarian cancer patient in the chemo suite and they feel lost, being surrounded by all the other more common cancers support and swag.  Functionality, durability, and comfort were other very important elements they were looking for.  In mid-2007 GOCA gathered current and past patients and enlisted chemo nurses to help identify and design items that met those needs. And, in late 2007, the first GOCA Bag of Hope was given to a patient. Since then, over 3,400 GOCA Bags of Hope have been distributed, free of charge, to newly diagnosed, Georgia based, ovarian cancer patients, to let them know they are not alone on their journey.