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June 4, 2004
Bonds can help OvCaRe
Ashkenazi Jews have a higher risk for ovarian cancer.
KYLE BERGER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
The Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and University of British
Columbia (UBC) Hospital Foundation and the British Columbia Cancer
Agency (BCCA) have joined together with Israel Bonds to help find
a cure for ovarian cancer.
As part of their double mitzvah program, Israel Bonds is offering
community members the opportunity to support Israel and a proposed
ovarian cancer research centre, to be called the OvCaRe Centre,
by purchasing a bond to be donated to the centre through the hospital
foundation.
Robert Fisher, city director for the Vancouver office of State of
Israel Bonds, said there are a lot of community members who are
regular donors to the VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation, which already
funds a long list of research programs. However, he explained, ovarian
cancer research has become an issue of significant importance to
the Jewish community.
"There have been studies done in the United States in recent
years that indicate that [ovarian cancer] has a relatively high
prevalence in Ashkenazi Jewish women," he said.
Dr. Dianne Miller, one of the founders of the OvCaRe project, agreed
that some ethnic groups, including Ashkenazi women, are at a higher
risk for the development of ovarian cancer through the inheritance
of mutations in certain genes.
"Ashkenazi Jews are at higher risk of being carriers of mutations
in the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes," she explained. "Though
testing is available for BRCA 1 and 2, currently we have little
to offer known carriers other than removal of the ovaries. One of
our researchers is currently working on a gene which interacts with
BRCA 2 and may be important in understanding how these genes work,
ultimately leading to improvements in prevention and therapy."
Miller added that cancer treatment doctors have become painfully
aware of the toll that ovarian cancer takes on both the women with
the disease and their families.
"Frankly, we were tired of watching our patients [have a recurrence]
and die of this disease after initial good responses to treatment,"
she said. "We realized that by combining the resources of VGH
and BCCA we had a unique opportunity to make a real difference in
the diagnosis and treatment of this illness."
Leslie Howard, the director of gift planning for the VGH-UBC foundation
said that they are working toward raising $16 million to make the
OvCaRe Centre a reality.
"The initial scientific and medical goal of the OvCaRe Centre
is to discover the genetic marker for ovarian cancer that can lead
to an early detection screening test, thereby saving the lives of
thousands of women around the world every year," she said.
"Ultimately, a cure for ovarian cancer is sought."
On June 29, at 2:30 p.m., Israel Bonds and the VGH and UBC Hospital
Foundation is hosting a tour around some of the new research facilities
around UBC.
"People who want to see some of the latest equipment in research
or surgery are welcome to phone us and join that tour," Fisher
said.
Fisher has had specific discussion with the foundation about setting
up the double mitzvah program for the OvCaRe Centre. However, this
program can also be applied to any other charity of a donor's choice.
Israel Bonds can be purchased for $146 and up and tax receipts are
offered for bonds donated to charities. For more information about
the hospital tour or State of Israel Bonds, call 604-266-7210.
Kyle Berger is a freelance journalist and graphic designer
living in Richmond.
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