Ovarian cancer has long been called the "silent killer," its symptoms going unnoticed until the disease is so advanced it is all but untreatable.
Moffitt Cancer Center researchers have helped identify four DNA hotspots associated with higher risk of chip card the fifth-deadliest cancer among women. Two large studies compared the genetic material of more than 18,000 women who had ovarian cancer with that of 26,000 healthy women.
Mutations in the so-called BRCA genes were identified years ago as a high genetic risk factor for breast and ovarian cancers. By zeroing in on new regions of the genome, the Moffitt studies indicate there are other genes or other mechanisms that might contribute to ovarian cancer, said Tom Sellers, Moffitt director and a senior author on the two new studies.
While the findings are not yet ready for clinical use, they are another step toward creating a genetic test to identify women with higher-than-average risk for ovarian cancer.
"It's very early in the game still, but I think it's inevitable" that such a test will be developed, Sellers said.
What if women knew from genetic testing they stood a strong chance of developing ovarian cancer? Sellers said they could not only make sure their doctors monitor them for the earliest signs of disease, they also could take steps to help prevent it.
"Ovarian cancer is one of the malignancies for which we can greatly lower risk," he said.
Using oral contraception reduces ovarian cancer risk, for instance, Sellers said. Women in the highest-risk categories may also consider having their fallopian tubes tied or even their ovaries removed before disease begins, he said.
The Moffitt studies are part of a massive international investigation into the genetic basis of hormone-related cancers, including those of the ovaries, breast and prostate. That project, known as the Collaborative Oncological Gene-environment Study, nearly doubled the number of genetic signposts known to be linked with these cancers.
The project resulted in a coordinated series of 13 publications in scientific journals late last month. Most of the research was financed by the European Union, the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Cancer Research U.K.
Moffitt joined that work due to Seller's ongoing affiliation with the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium.
Each year, about 20,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The five-year survival rate is over 90 percent if the disease is caught in the early stages, according to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. But due to ovarian cancer's vague symptoms and the lack of early detection tests, less than 20 percent of all cases are found at this early stage.
Knowing one's genetic history doesn't necessarily make medical decisions easy. Consider women who test positive for changes in the BRCA gene mutations. They face any number of difficult choices — from intensive monitoring to preventive mastectomies or removal of healthy ovaries. Not even doctors agree on the best approach.
But one breast cancer study that was part of the international project suggests researchers may one day be better able to better guide women with the BRCA mutation by separating those at the highest cancer risk (more than 80 percent) from those with lower risks.
Prepare ahead of time. If certifications, licenses, and diplomas, need to be gathered or copied, this is a great time to do the footwork. Many times a resume never gets updated because the candidate cannot find the time to gather needed documentation.
A candidate needs to realistically identify what they want to accomplish in their professional career. If the list of goals is longer than one, the goals should be prioritized. Job goals could be a new job, a new career, a promotion within the same organization, etc. Establishing what one is after helps make the rest of the decisions easier.
Action plan. After establishing and prioritizing career goals, this would be a list of the required steps to take in order to get underway. The list needs to be written, and each step should have a realistic timeline. Putting a date on the day an updated resume will be done gives more teeth to the task.
Brush up on job skills. Even if a candidate is good at what they do, they can take the time to become better at it. If a perspective employer sees that the candidate has the latest training and expertise, their resume looks all that much better. Options include brushing up on skills from a local community college or an online learning center.
Interviewing. A candidate needs to arrive ten minutes early for an interview, and be dressed for success. One tip is to drive to the interview location the day before so there is no chance of getting lost.
Follow-up. Following-up on an interview or a sent resume is critical in a job search. Hiring managers see hundreds of resumes when they advertise for a job. Keeping in touch, whether it's through a phone call, email, or a card, keeps a name and face in front of the hiring manager.
Stay on top. Reading the latest business journals and industry news will keep a candidate informed of what is going on in their respective field. When an interview comes up, a hiring manager will keep candidates in mind who know the latest news and findings in that particular field.
Tenacity. It is very easy to get discouraged when looking for a new job. It doesn't take long for doubt to creep into the mind of the most qualified candidates. But anyone who has been through the job wringer will share their story, and the word tenacity will come up. It's never easy to achieve lofty goals.
没有评论:
发表评论