Please complete our Prescreen Questionnaire and submit to us. We will review the questionnaire and send you a packet of information and enrollment packet if your family is eligible. Thank you. ENROLL IN THE REGISTRY TODAY!

What is the Gilda Radner Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry?

The Registry is a national computer tracking system that stores data on families of women with two or more close relatives who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It offers ovarian cancer information, a Newsletter, and a Hotline (1-800-OVARIAN) answered by trained cancer information specialists.

What is the purpose of the Registry?

The Registry is pursuing research into causes of familial ovarian cancer in collaboration with investigators at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), Stanford University School of Medicine, Cambridge University at London, National Cancer Institute, SUNY at Buffalo and Myriad Genetics Corp. Our first goal is to identify new genes associated with familial ovarian cancer, thereby improving genetic and psychosocial counseling for individuals and families. We also seek to characterize lifestyle choices (i.e., oral contraceptive use, tubal ligation, number of pregnancies) that affect ovarian cancer risk in women who may be more susceptible to the disease. We hope to acquire information that will lead to better methods for detecting ovarian cancer, for reliable predictive testing for cancer predisposition and ultimately, preventing the disease in this and future generations.

Who should join the Registry?

Women, over the age of 18, in families with two or more diagnoses of ovarian cancer, are eligible to join the Registry.

Why should I join the Registry?

The more data and biosamples (blood) the Registry obtains, the more it can learn about familial ovarian cancer. Research conducted by the Registry will also help the scientific and medical communities learn more about ovarian cancer in general.

What do I need to do as a Participant in the Registry?

You will be asked to complete a Family History Questionnaire and sign a consent document. You may be asked to sign authorization forms for the Registry to obtain your medical records and to obtain your pathology slides for Registry review. You may also be asked to sign authorization forms for deceased relatives for whom you may legally authorize such release. You and family members may be asked to give a blood sample for research purposes. You may be asked to assist the Registry in contacting your family members so that we may invite them to participate with you in the Registry.

Where is the Registry?

The Registry is located at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), Buffalo, NY. RPCI was founded in 1898 and is one of the oldest comprehensive cancer centers in the world. It is dedicated to providing total care for cancer patients, conducting research into the causes, treatment and prevention of cancer and to public and professional education.

Will I need to travel to RPCI, Buffalo NY to participate in the Registry?

No, you will not have to travel to RPCI to be a participant. We will correspond with you by mail, email or telephone, as you prefer. No messages will be left mentioning ovarian cancer for reasons of confidentiality

Is there any cost involved in joining the Registry?

There is no cost involved in joining the Registry. If you are charged for anything, such as the blood sample, just ask the doctor or lab to bill the Registry for this service, or send us a receipt and we will reimburse you immediately.

What is the benefit of joining the Registry?

Your participation in this research project will not result in direct medical benefit to you or your family. The benefit will be in knowing that you contributed to our research efforts to ultimately benefit ovarian cancer patients, potential cancer patients, and cancer-prone families. This being a research project, we will not be able to give you any personal results from tests that we run on your biosamples, but the overall results of the research will be made available.