Cure Our Ovarian Cancer is now the Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Initiative!
It’s hard to believe that nearly seven years have passed since I founded Cure Our Ovarian Cancer – the first organisation in the world dedicated to low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC). My journey began when I was diagnosed with LGSOC at 32 years old. Managing my own diagnosis while running the organisation as a full-time volunteer hasn’t been easy, but seeing the impact we’ve made with the incredible support of the LGSOC community fills me with pride.
As our organisation has grown and evolved, we’ve stayed true to our core values and purpose as we continue to support LGSOC research across Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and at home in New Zealand.
Since 2018 we’ve built strong relationships with leading LGSOC researchers and established partnerships with local organisations, creating pathways for people to donate and fundraise for LGSOC research globally. In 2020, we expanded our activities in New Zealand to focus on ovarian cancer more broadly, evolving into the national ovarian cancer charity, now known as the Ovarian Cancer Foundation New Zealand (OCFNZ). I continue to be deeply involved in both the NZ-based activities and our global LGSOC work, and our team has grown to include two fantastic team members – our General Manager, Whitney, and our Operations Coordinator, Holly – and our passionate Board of Trustees.
Today, on the first-ever World Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Day, I’m proud to announce that our global LGSOC work will now be known as the Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Initiative, with the launch of our new and improved website. This new name reflects our unwavering dedication to the LGSOC community worldwide.
Our mission is to radically improve survival of women with low-grade serous ovarian cancer through research and to provide good information to enable and empower them to make informed decisions about their care.
When I was diagnosed in 2017, I was shocked to find there wasn’t a single ovarian cancer charity anywhere in the world that I could donate to and know even 1% would goto LGSOC. That year, only 24 research papers were published on LGSOC, compared to thousands on ovarian cancer, and over ten thousand on breast cancer! And reliable patient information was impossible to find.
Today, with our community’s support, we’ve helped fund over $500,000 of LGSOC research. From identifying potential new treatments to pinpointing key genetic changes associated with treatment resistance, our funding is making a difference. You can read exciting highlights from our incredible LGSOC researchers here. We’ve also developed the largest LGSOC information resource and run two Facebook support groups to ensure those diagnosed and their loved ones have access to reliable information and community support.
I’m also thrilled to say that we’re no longer the only LGSOC-focused organisation in the world. Two organisations based in the United States – STAAR Ovarian Cancer and Not These Ovaries – share our commitment to finding a cure for LGSOC.
While we’ve made significant strides, there’s still so much work ahead. Our commitment to people with LGSOC and their loved ones is unwavering. We will continue to push for progress, working towards the day when everyone diagnosed with LGSOC can have the assurance “We know what this is and we can cure it. You’re going to be okay.”
Thank you to everyone who has supported us thus far.
Together we are helping change the future of LGSOC.
Jane Ludemann
Founder LGSOC Initiative
