Diane O’Connor and Diane Elizondo, both ovarian cancer survivors, launched OCAOSW in 2005. 17 years later OCAOSW stays true to the original mission, adding vital programs of hope and support along the way.
In early 2002, two ovarian cancer survivors from Vancouver, Washington, (Diane O’Connor and Diane Elizondo), met on an online ovarian cancer website.
Finally meeting in person, both were recovering from the effects of chemotherapy and both were looking for a way to use their slowly increasing energy toward helping women with this life-altering diagnosis.
Diane and Diane started making plans to reach this goal. One plan was to organize a gynecologic cancer support group in the greater Vancouver area. The other plan was to start a local non-profit organization to help raise awareness of ovarian cancer in the health care community, the community at large and to offer support to women with ovarian cancer.
Staying true to the vision; their goals were realized. A gynecologic cancer support group was created in 2003 at Southwest Washington Medical Center and the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and SW Washington was established in 2005.
Continuing this critical work, the Dianes say, “We have found great satisfaction in spreading awareness of ovarian cancer through educating medical professionals, the general public and providing all types of support to women and their families.”
One of the most rewarding things is meeting a woman who’s just been diagnosed and bringing her into the fold, connecting her with a peer volunteer … then watching her complete treatment, get her hope back, and then say, “I want to be a peer volunteer for someone else—what can I do?
