COLLETTA ORR SHARES SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT FOR OVARIAN CANCER

Colletta Orr, an award-winning research scientist, spoke to Motivated Woman on the dangers of ovarian cancer. Orr is a 2002 Voorhees University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She received a Master of Public Health degree from Capella University, and she is currently a candidate to earn a Doctorate in Public Health from Walden University.

Orr is a trained cancer research scientist with 21 years of experience in research, biology and oncology. She has held positions at Georgetown University Lombardi Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute in Washington, D.C. She is currently a senior scientist at Merck Pharmaceuticals. Orr also serves as the chief executive officer at Colletta Orr & Associates, where she educates women about breast and ovarian cancer. She is married to Douglas Orr III, and they have one son, Douglas Orr IV. They reside in Rockville, Maryland.

MW: What made you decide to enter this career field?

CO: I became interested in this field after losing my maternal grandmother to ovarian cancer and her mother to breast cancer.

MW: What is ovarian cancer?

CO: Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells in your ovaries or fallopian tubes grow and multiply out of control. Symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal bloating or swelling, quickly feeling full when eating, weight loss, discomfort in the pelvic area, fatigue, back pain, changes in bowel habits and a frequent need to urinate.

MW: What are the screening tests for ovarian cancer?

CO: Unfortunately, there currently are no screening tests for ovarian cancer.

MW: What are the treatments for ovarian cancer?

CO: Treatments for ovarian cancer usually involve a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.

MW: Is ovarian cancer curable?

CO: Yes, many women fully recover from ovarian cancer following surgery and/or chemotherapy. Ovarian cancers caused by stromal or germ cell tumors have high survival rates. However, epithelial carcinoma is the most common type of ovarian cancer and has lower survival rates. It also depends on the stage of ovarian cancer at the time of diagnosis.

MW: What are the various stages of ovarian cancer?

CO: Ovarian cancer stages range from Stage 1 through Stage 4. As a rule, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number means the cancer has spread abundantly through the body.

During Stage 1, cancer is confined to one or both ovaries. With Stage 2, cancer has spread to the uterus or other nearby organs. In Stage 3, it has spread to the lymph nodes or abdominal lining. Lastly, Stage 4 is when cancer has spread to distant organs, such as the lungs or liver. disproportionately affected by high-grade and aggressive ovarian tumors?

Listen to your body. No one knows your body better than you do. It might take more than a second, third or fourth opinion to get the answers you need, but keep fighting for the care that you deserve. Lastly, file a formal complaint if you feel you’ve been mistreated by your healthcare provider.

MW: What is the life expectancy of ovarian cancer?

CO: For all types of ovarian cancer combined, about 78 percent of those with ovarian cancer live for at least one year after diagnosis. More than 60 percent live for at least three years after being diagnosed, and over 50 percent of patients with ovarian cancer are still alive at least five years after diagnosis.

MW: I saw a recent article where it stated the new recommendation to prevent ovarian cancer is for women to have their fallopian tubes removed. Why is this a recommendation for women?

CO: People who are at increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, such as those who carry the breast cancer genetic mutation, are recommended to have a stand-alone surgery to remove fallopian tubes with both ovaries.

MW: Are there potential side effects or risks with having the fallopian tubes removed?

CO: As with most surgeries, there are risks associated with the surgical removal of the fallopian tubes, such as bleeding at the surgery site, reaction to general anesthesia, blood clots, damage to surrounding organs and tissues and infection.

MW: What steps do you recommend women take to determine if they are at risk for the genetic mutations with ovarian cancer?

CO: Women should speak to their primary care physician about genetic testing for hereditary ovarian cancer. This testing looks for mutations in the BRCA1 (Breast Cancer gene 1) and BRCA2 (Breast Cancer gene 2) genes. Your doctor might suggest testing using a multigene panel, which looks for mutations in several genes at the same time, including BRCA1 and BRCA2.

CO: The biological underpinnings of this are unclear. There is some evidence that Black women are more likely to inherit DNA changes involved in ovarian cancer, including the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.

MW: How would you advise women to better advocate for their health?

CO: Do your research. When you’re in a situation where your doctor is dismissing your symptoms, it’s easy to get flustered and blank on specific concerns. The fix for that is to write it all down. Listen to your body. No one knows your body better than you do. It might take more than a second, third or fourth opinion to get the answers you need, but keep fighting for the care that you deserve. Lastly, file a formal complaint if you feel you’ve been mistreated by your healthcare provider.

MW: Why are Black women

For all types of ovarian cancer combined, about 78 percent of those with ovarian cancer live for at least one year after diagnosis. More than 60 percent live for at least three years after being diagnosed, and over 50 percent of patients with ovarian cancer are still alive at least five years after diagnosis.