We Remember

On the morning of October 7, 2011 a renowned gay rights activist, Paula Ettelbrick, passed away at the age of 56 after losing her battle with aggressive peritoneal ovarian cancer. 

A lawyer by profession, Ms. Ettlebrick was instrumental in gaining passage of one of the first domestic partnership laws in 1997.  She is heralded as a groundbreaking activist, working tirelessly with legislatures both domestically and internationally to fight for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender population.  After serving at the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Ms. Ettelbrick became executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.  She also taught law at New York University Law School and Barnard College.  Ms. Ettelbrick’s cancer diagnosis in the Fall of 2010 forced her to resign as executive director of the Stonewall Community Foundation in July 2011.

While we do not know Ms. Ettelbrick’s specific risk factors, research has proven that the lesbian population faces an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.  This is due to the fact that, in most instances, lesbians do not use oral contraceptives.  Additionally, they are less likely than heterosexual women to have biological children.

In fact, inn a press release issued on October 26, 2011, the British Journal of Cancer revealed the results of new research indicating that women who take oral contraceptives for 10 years or more may reduce their risk of developing ovarian cancer by 45%.  Further, women who took the Pill for any length of time showed a 15% lower risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to women who never took the Pill.

The study also verified that having a full-term pregnancy translates to a significant reduction in the risk of developing Ovarian Cancer.  Women who have had a full-term pregnancy had a 29% lower risk rate when compared with women who had never been pregnant.  Each additional pregnancy further reduces a woman’s risk of developing Ovarian Cancer by 8%.

REDUCED risk of developing Ovarian Cancer

It is important to mention that while the Pill has a protective effect against ovarian cancer, women who use oral contraceptives do develop an increased risk of breast cancer while they are on the Pill.  The report reveals that this risk ceases to exist after oral contraceptive use ends.

To learn more about this recent study, please follow these links:

·       The Pill Halves the Risk of Ovarian Cancer

·     Pill and Pregnancy Have the Biggest Effects on Ovarian Cancer Risk

And if you would like to learn more about the legacy of Paula Ettelbrick, we have provided a link to her New York Times obituary.

Evelyn H. Lauder, a refugee of Nazi-occupied Europe who married into an illustrious family in the beauty business and became an ardent advocate for breast cancer awareness, raising millions for research, died on Saturday at her home in Manhattan. She was 75.

“We cannot tire, we must not give up, we must persist.”

On September 25, 2011 we lost yet another brave and powerful woman to Ovarian Cancer.  Professor Wangari Maathai was the first African woman and the first environmental activist to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She received this honor in 2004 for creating the Green Belt Movement (GBM) – a grassroots effort empowering rural women in Kenya to plant trees and reverse a catastrophic trend of deforestation. 

Professor Maathai was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in July 2010 and received treatment in both Nairobi and the United States. The cancer was already at an advanced stage when it was discovered last year. 

Wangari Maathai was born in the central highlands of Kenya on April 1, 1940. At a time when most Kenyan girls were not educated, she went to school at the insistence of her elder brother. In 1960 she participated in the “Kennedy Airlift” scholarship program that brought her to the United States where she completed a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences at Mount Scholastica College. In 1966 she earned a master’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh. That year she returned to a newly independent Kenya, and soon after received a Ph.D. in veterinary medicine from the University of Nairobi.  She eventually became the first woman to be appointed a professor and chair a department at the University.

In the 1970s Professor Maathai became active in a number of environmental and humanitarian organizations in Nairobi, including the National Council of Women of Kenya (NCWK). She spoke to rural women and learned from them about the deteriorating environmental and social conditions affecting poor, rural Kenyansundefinedespecially women. The women told her that they lacked firewood for cooking and heating, clean water was scarce, and nutritious food was limited.

Professor Maathai suggested to them that planting trees might be an answer. The trees would provide wood for cooking, fodder for livestock, and material for fencing. They would also protect watersheds and stabilize the soil, improving agriculture and providing a sustainable livelihood for the community. This was the beginning of the Green Belt Movement (GBM), which was formally established in 1977. Since its inception, GBM has since mobilized hundreds of thousands of women and men to plant more than 47 million trees, restoring degraded environments and improving the quality of life for people in poverty.

But Wangari Maathai paid dearly for her beliefs.  When she condemned plans for a 60-story skyscraper that was to be built in the heart of Nairobi’s largest park, security forces came to her office and home, threatening to arrest her.  When she refused to be silenced, she was harassed, beaten, and thrown into jail without an arrest warrant. This was not an isolated incident. Time and again she was ridiculed, harassed, and beaten but she never wavered from her cause.

“Every person who has ever achieved anything has been knocked down many times. But all of them picked themselves up and kept going, and that is what I have always tried to do.”

In a condolence note on GMB’s website, one of Dr. Maathai’s friends described her legacy as one of “weaving, organizing, and caring”.  It is striking that this legacy aligns so closely with the work all of us do surrounding Ovarian Cancer. We strive to weave a network of advocacy and support and we care so deeply about everyone who is impacted by Ovarian Cancer. There may be times when we all feel that the work is difficult and the burden (and sometimes grief) too heavy to bear – whether we are battling the disease, supporting someone with Ovarian Cancer, or simply working to raise awareness.  But, to quote Dr. Maathai, “We cannot tire, we must not give up, we must persist.” 

Dr. Maathai is featured in a short YouTube video entitled “I will be a hummingbird” through which we are all reminded that even the smallest of efforts can make a tremendous difference.  It is a beautiful and enduring lesson for us all and a testament to how she lived her life. Here is a link to this inspiring video.

The day after Dr. Maathai’s death, Cara Tenenbaum, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s Vice President for Policy and External Affairs, spoke to Voice of America about Ovarian Cancer. What a great opportunity to raise awareness! Thank you, Cara! Here is a link to that interview.

If you would like to learn more about Dr. Maathai’s inspiring life and the work of the Green Belt Movement please visit their website.

Lucy Trujillo:
November 20, 1951 – February 17, 2011

It is with sadness that we let you know that Lucy Trujillo, former Executive Director of Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance, passed away on Thursday evening, February 17th. She was surrounded by her family and friends. Memorial services are pending.

Lucy was COCA's first Executive Director and she did much to help expand the scope and breadth of the organization. She will be missed.    Read more >>

We send love and blessings to her family and friends.
May Lucy's spirit rest in beauty and peace.

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Dear friends of COCA,
As I reflect on the magnitude of goodness Lucy Trujillo brought to  the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA), I remember the kindness and friendship she showed to all those whose lives she touched. Lucy’s “consejos,” which in Spanish means wisdom with love, are gifts I hold close to my heart. I remember all the women lost to this  disease, including my mother, and know that as we remember and honor these women, and today especially Lucy, we must continue to fight. We must continue to bring awareness, promote education, and better support the beautiful women of Nicki’s Circle – for you are the heart of this organization. COCA will continue to move forward and do good.

Adelante´ (forward with passion)
Pep Torres, Executive Director

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I am very unhappy to report that we have lost Lucy Trujillo, our first Executive Director, who served COCA in that position from January 2009 through December 2010.  Lucy died of ovarian cancer on February 17^th, 2011, at 5:45pm, with love from family and friends surrounding her.  Lucy was key in the growth of COCA to its present strength, and she was my good friend. 

Lucy has lost her battle with ovarian cancer, but her work has meant survival for many other women with our disease. Lucy's work extended beyond COCA where she was a force throughout the cancer community and before making an impact there, her work was dedicated to changing the lives of youth and families. We will miss her terribly and we will always remember how important she has been to COCA and our community.

Mary Phillips, COCA President

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Memorial Services for Lucy

Here are the details of the arrangements which take place this
Friday, February 25th, 2011

Rosary:
Friday, February 25, 9:30am
St. Dominic's Catholic Church
3053 West 29th Avenue, Denver  (Federal Blvd/29th Ave.)

Funeral Mass to follow at 10am
St. Dominic's Catholic Church
3053 West 29th Avenue, Denver  (Federal Blvd/29th Ave.)

Internment following the mass
Olinger's Crown Hill Cemetery
7777 West 29th Avenue (Wadsworth/29th Ave)
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Reception following the internment
Olinger's Crown Hill Mortuary (Wadsworth/29th Ave)
Across the street from the cemetery

* Lucy requested in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance in her memory.

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Bertha Lynn 7NEWS wrote: "I am so sorry that Lucy's time with us has ended. She fought the valiant fight, inspiring others, even as she battled her devastating disease. My heart goes out to her family and those in the COCA community. I was just looking at pictures of Lucy on a sunny, vibrant day at the State Capitol. She was a great representative of the fight against ovarian cancer there and when we interviewed her on the news. We'll pay our respects to Lucy coming up later this morning on 7 News at 11."

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So sorry to hear of the loss of such a stalwart warrior.  I did not know Lucy personally.  I have read about her online.  The world is diminished with her loss.
 
Carolyn Kalaskie
Outreach Coordinator / ANGEL Network Liaison
Penrose Cancer Center
2222 N. Nevada Ave.
Colorado Springs Colorado, 80907
(719) 776-5826  FAX: (719) 776-2609
carolynkalaskie@centura.org

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May the Lord be with all of you who knew and appreciated Lucy.

Michelle E Parks, MBA, APIO
 
Director of Marketing
Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center and
Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home
23500 US Highway 160
Walsenburg, CO 81089
(Ofc)719-738-5194   (Fax) 719-738-5138
 
www.sprhc.org
 

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Although I never had the privilege of meeting Lucy, we will be with you all in spirit as you celebrate her life. We are so sorry to hear of your loss. May we all strive to carry on her passion and her strength to see others battle this terrible disease.

With our deepest sympathy,

Kama Winter, Director of Communications & the
Staff at Cops Fighting Cancer

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Praying for Lucy and her family and friends.
 

Anne Smith, Principal
303.349.7650
anne@evolvecomm.net

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Our thoughts and prayers are with one and all at this most difficult time!
Martha Simmons
Dani’s Foundation
 
Martha Simmons
Executive Director
Dani's Foundation
1600 Broadway, Suite 2400
Denver, CO 80202
303.601.1881
www.danisfoundation.org

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