Mission Statement
The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition's mission is to raise awareness and promote education about
ovarian cancer. The Coalition is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for
women with ovarian cancer.
About NOCC
Since its inception in 1995, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) has been committed to
raising awareness of ovarian cancer in communities across the country and to providing education
and support for women with ovarian cancer and their families.
NOCC has established itself as an important national advocate for patients and families struggling
with ovarian cancer. Committed volunteers continue to build chapters throughout the country and
work together to advance NOCC's education and awareness efforts.
The Chapter network is the heart and soul of NOCC. It continues to grow and provide services
in local communities throughout the nation. NOCC volunteers promote patient, public, and
professional education, peer to peer emotional support, and advocacy and awareness efforts.
They organize events, sponsor educational programs, distribute literature and participate in NOCC's
speaker's bureau.
About the Dallas-Ft Worth Chapter of the NOCC
The DFW Chapter of the NOCC was formed in 2000 by Dr. Renee Rossi and Nancy Perry, R.N.
Since that time it has grown tremendously to serve the entire DFW Metroplex and surrounding cities.
Educational presentations, health fairs, and survivor events are held throughout the year. The
premier event is the annual 5K Fun Run/Walk - newly named in 2008 as the
NOCC Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer - held each
September.
NOCC Goals
- Provide the medical community and general population with a national resource focused
solely on ovarian cancer
- Offer complete and accurate information regarding ovarian cancer
- Raise awareness about the incidence, prevalence, and clinical presentations of ovarian
cancer
- Initiate patient-physician dialogue about the risk factors and symptoms of ovarian cancer
- Obtain more funding for:
- Patient and public education
- Professional education
- Quality of life for ovarian cancer survivors
NOCC's Medical Advisory Board is comprised of leading oncology healthcare professionals from across
the country. Its role is to advise the organization on important medical issues, such as new
treatments, treatment protocols and screening tests.
Milestones/Achievements
1995 The NOCC is incorporated as the country's
first national organization providing awareness and education about ovarian cancer
1996 First national ovarian cancer information hotline established,
1-888-OVARIAN; toll-free number averages 10,000 calls per year
1998 NOCC proclaims a week in September "National Ovarian Cancer Week"
with a declaration from President Clinton
1998 "Walk for a Whisper" 5k Walk/Run is initiated and continues to be
held in more chapters every year
2000 NOCC and ovarian cancer community proclaim September as "Ovarian
Cancer Awareness Month"
2000 The Dallas-Ft Worth Chapter of the NOCC was founded by Dr. Renee
Rossi and Nancy Perry, R.N. The website for the DFW Chapter is www.dfwovarian.org.
2002 Television Public Service Announcement on early detection
distributed to 30 states
2003 www.ovarian.org receives the OncoLink.com award, the first
online cancer resource, founded by University of Pennsylvania cancer specialists
2003 NOCC receives the National Points of Light award in
celebration of the success and impact volunteers have made in their communities
2004 NOCC launches "Body Image/Body Essence" art exhibit by
sculptor John Magnan as a tribute to his wife's personal journey with ovarian cancer
2006 Website, www.ovarian.org, averages more than 2000 visitors a
day and 100,000 hits, with over 16,000 volunteers worldwide
2006 NOCC launches Break the Silence national education
campaign
