WHITBY - One of the most respected medical review organizations in the world, the Cochrane Collaboration, has invited and accepted local ovarian cancer activist Sandi Pniauskas to be one of its reviewers. Specifically, Mrs. Pniauskas will become part of the Cochrane Collaboration's Gynecologic Cancer Collaboration Review Group. The United Kingdom-based Cochrane organization reviews all presentations on a variety of diseases from scientists and physicians around the world. As an ovarian cancer survivor, Mrs. Pniauskas can't wait to share what she's learned since being diagnosed with the disease three-and-a-half years ago. "No other ovarian cancer survivor is a member of Cochrane," she says, still a bit surprised at the honour. "Someone I knew who was already involved with the organization was aware they were looking for consumer reviews and asked me if I would consider participating." The Cochrane Collaboration is an international, non-profit organization intended to help people make informed decisions about health care by reviewing and promoting available evidence on the effects of interventions and treatments. It is a charity registered in the United Kingdom. A parallel goal of the collaboration is to affect future research in health by identifying where research has been done, and where more is needed. According to the organization's Web site, consumer feedback is a key strategy in making Cochrane reviews more relevant, accessible, and able to improve health care for the people who need it. "I'm excited about it because it involves the consumer, the lay person," says Mrs. Pniauskas. "Being asked for input in the process is extraordinary for the ovarian cancer population because we're finally on the road to including patients and their health care. It's a process of inclusion." In the meantime, the busy advocate will teach classes about ovarian cancer at Durham College March 29 and May 3. She runs a peer support group for area women with gynecological cancers, while lending her considerable talents to the gynecologic cancer program at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto. Her studies about ovarian cancer have brought her to the conclusion that there is a link between ovarian, breast and colon cancers. "Awareness is all we have right now. Research is desperately needed to change this." Visit www.cochrane.org for more information. reprint with permission from: Durham News Whitby woman joins international medical review group Mar 14, 2003 http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/regions/whitby/story/943717p-1128519c.html Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.