No Evidence of Disease

ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY INOVA HEALTH FOUNDATION AND THE GLOBATHON TO END WOMEN'S CANCERS.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY FOR A FULL LIST OF FUNDERS, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT NEDTHEMOVIE.COM [ACOUSTIC MUSIC PLAYING] HARRISON: HI.

I'M IRIS HARRISON, AND I'M GIVING AWAY TICKETS THIS WEEK TO THIS MARVELOUS SHOW AT THE ALADDIN THEATER ON MARCH THE 10TH.

WITH ME ON THE PHONE IS DR. WILL WINTER, LEAD GUITAR PLAYER FOR N.E.D.-- NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE-- AND ALSO A SURGEON AND GYNECOLOGICAL ONCOLOGIST.

IT--IT IS VERY INTERESTING, BECAUSE YOU HAVE EVERYBODY TALKING, LIKE, ABOUT BREAST CANCER.

THAT'S NOT A TABOO SUBJECT BY ANY MEANS ANYMORE, BUT THIS ONE STILL IS NOT REALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT MUCH, AND IT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED.

I WAS A PATIENT.

I--I NOW HAVE CLEARED 5 YEARS.

WINTER: BUT THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT NO ONE'S LIFE IS LEFT UNTOUCHED BY WOMEN'S CANCER.

THIS IS NOT JUST A WOMAN'S PROBLEM.

[GUITAR STRUMS] YEAH.

WOMAN: MAYBE.

NOW THERE'S NOBODY THERE.

MAN, VOICE-OVER: SO I GIVE A TALK, AND THERE'S, LIKE, 250 OB-GYNS IN THE AUDIENCE.

AND I ASK THEM ALL, YOU KNOW, "HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW ABOUT SUSAN G. KOMEN FOUNDATION?"

AND EVERYBODY'S HAND GOES UP.

THEN I SAY, "HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE DONATED OR WALKED A WALK OR RUN A RUN?"

AND 90% OF PEOPLE PUT THEIR HAND UP.

AND I SAID, "HOW MANY OF YOU"-- THESE ARE GYNECOLOGISTS, OK?

"HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER HEARD OF THE GYNECOLOGIC CANCER FOUNDATION?"

3 HANDS GO UP.

"HOW MANY OF YOU MADE A PERSONAL DONATION OR HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO SUPPORT IT?"

NO HANDS GO UP, OK?

AND WE'RE TALKING TO THE GROUP THAT TAKES CARE OF THE WOMEN THAT HAVE THE CANCERS WE TREAT.

SO MY POINT IS THAT AWARENESS IS THE FIRST STEP.

[CROWD CHANTING "N.E.D.!"]

LET'S GO DO IT.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING] WOMAN: YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO SAY THAT BREAST CANCER HAS A RIBBON, BUT GYN ONCOLOGY HAS A ROCK BAND, EVERYBODY!

[CROWD CHEERING] [SCOTT JOPLIN'S "THE ENTERTAINER" PLAYING] [MUSIC STOPS] HOPE, VOICE-OVER: HEY.

SO, E.C.-- SHE'S OUR 59-YEAR-OLD [INDISTINCT] 1021, WAS ADMITTED TO US 12 DAYS AGO WITH ABDOMINAL... HOPE: ARE YOU IN PAIN?

PATIENT: UM...MM-MMM.

WHAT'S BOTHERING YOU THE MOST RIGHT NOW?

HOPE, VOICE-OVER: IT'S A REALLY, REALLY AMAZING PRIVILEGE TO TAKE CARE OF WOMEN WHO ARE GOING THROUGH SUCH INTENSE PROCESS.

I MEAN, OB-GYN-- IT EPITOMIZES THE MOST INTENSE MOMENTS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

I MEAN, THE BIRTH OF A CHILD AND...AND...

FACING DEATH WITH CANCER.

HOPE: ALL RIGHT.

SO...

LISTEN, OK, MS. FELA.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU'RE A DOLL.

I LOVE YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

HOPE, VOICE-OVER: IT'S REALLY AN IN-DEPTH RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU'RE EMBARKING ON.

I ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE LEVEL OF IN-DEPTH CARE THAT YOU PROVIDE PEOPLE.

I MEAN, GYN ONCOLOGY-- ONCE A WOMAN WALKS INTO YOUR DOOR AND YOU BECOME THEIR DOCTOR, YOU'RE THEIR DOCTOR FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE.

[MACHINERY HUMMING] [INDISTINCT] YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.

EVERYTHING'S DONE.

EVERYTHING WENT FINE.

NOT CANCER.

OHH...

IT'S BENIGN.

YOU HEAR ME?

IT'S BENIGN.

OH, GOOD.

YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

EVERYTHING WENT WELL, OK?

YOU DID GREAT.

THANKS.

HOPE, VOICE-OVER: I MEAN, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH ONE CANCER.

IT'S--SO IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS, LIKE, BREAST CANCER, AND IT'S MUCH MORE VAGUE.

AND, UH, WITH SOMETHING LIKE OVARIAN CANCER, THERE'S REALLY NOT A GOOD-- THERE'S NO GOOD SCREENING.

WE DON'T HAVE THE MAMMOGRAM FOR OVARIAN CANCER.

WE DON'T HAVE THE PAP SMEAR.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

BUT I GOT A EMAIL FROM THE ATTENDING SAYING, "WE'RE TREATING A 4B CERVICAL CANCER."

OH, GOSH.

SO WE HAVE TO TELL THEM THAT THIS IS-- YOU KNOW, THIS IS PALLIATIVE FOR THE BLEEDING, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE TREATING YET.

WOMAN: RIGHT.

WE NEED STAINS.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN-- COME ON.

WE NEED AN ANSWER FROM PATH.

MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT THE PRIMARY HERE AND THAT WE'RE MORE SUSPICIOUS OF A UTERINE PRIMARY THAN A CERVICAL PRIMARY.

OK. YEAH.

IT'S A LONG DAY.

IT'S A LONG DAY.

[GASPS] ARI JEZZ!

HI, HONEYPANTS.

OH, I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING] HILL: I LOVE AND I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THE FASHION INDUSTRY AND, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH DIFFERENT MINDS AND, YOU KNOW, THE EXCITEMENT OF SEEING THINGS AHEAD.

I--I LOVE JUST THE ENERGY.

I'M THE GIRL THAT, LIKE, GOES TO THE WINDOWS NOT EVEN JUST DURING CHRISTMAS-- ALL THE TIME-- JUST TO LOOK AT THE WINDOWS.

BEYOND THIS GRAYED-OUT HUMAN RACE WE ARE MORE ALIVE HILL: THERE'S A PULSE AND A VIBE, AND THAT PASSION REALLY HELPED ME GET THROUGH SOME OF MY REALLY DARK DATES.

I HAD 3 SURGERIES IN 3 YEARS AND CHEMOTHERAPY-- 3 ROUNDS, 5-HOUR TREATMENTS.

I THOUGHT I WAS GAINING WEIGHT BECAUSE I HAD QUIT SMOKING, AND I JUST KIND OF DEVELOPED THIS BIG BUDDHA BELLY.

AND ONE OF THE GUYS AT WORK-- HE SAID TO ME, "HEY, GIRLFRIEND, YOU'RE PUTTING ON SOME WEIGHT HERE WITH ALL THAT YOGURT YOU EAT, HONEY," AND I LOOKED-- I'M LIKE, "YOU'RE RIGHT."

AND THAT'S WHEN THEY FOUND THE MOTHER LODE, AND THE MOTHER LODE WAS A CYST THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL.

I MEAN...LIKELIHOOD OF A 35-YEAR-OLD GETTING OVARIAN CANCER?

I DON'T KNOW THE APPROXIMATE STATISTICS, BUT REALLY LOW.

OHH.

YOU KNOW, MY FRIENDS ARE DIVIDED INTO BEFORE AND AFTER, AND I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY BEFORE... LIFE OF THE PARTY.

I HAD--I WAS ALWAYS LIKE THIS.

A FRIEND OF MINE SAYS I WAS ALWAYS LIKE THIS-- SMOKING A CIGARETTE, ON THE CELL PHONE.

AND I CAN SAY I WENT FROM, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE, A LOT-- LIKE, A LOT TO MAYBE THIS HAND.

UM, PEOPLE CAN'T DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT ARE CLOSE TO HOME.

[INDISTINCT] SURE.

OK. COME ON.

YEAH, THAT WAY.

HILL: I MEAN, WE'RE STILL WOMEN INSIDE, WHETHER WE HAVE HAIR, WHETHER WE HAVE BREASTS, WHETHER WE HAVE OVARIES.

UM, IT DOESN'T-- THAT IS JUST...

IT'S NOT WHAT MAKES YOU A WOMAN.

I THINK IT'S YOUR SPIRIT.

NAGARSHETH: ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS, SOMETIMES WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH PATIENTS AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME... MM-HMM.

AND WE DO THE PROCEDURES THAT WE MAY SET OUT TO DO, WHICH COULD MAKE YOU STERILE-- YOU KNOW, NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE KIDS IN THE FUTURE-- AND THEN MAYBE TWO YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, YOU MEET SOMEONE-- A PARTNER-- AND YOU REALIZE NOW YOU ACTUALLY DO WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN.

MM-HMM.

AND SO WE WANT TO AT LEAST HAVE SOME FORESIGHT TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ENDEAVOR.

DECISION.

WHEN YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU'RE DONE WITH CHILDBEARING, THEN I WOULD SAY EVERYTHING SHOULD COME OUT.

AND IF THAT'S NOW...

I THINK THAT'S NOW, FROM WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME.

I HAVE A VERY LONG LIFE TO LIVE, AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A RISK.

OK. MAN: I'M IN A VERY PRIVILEGED PROFESSION, THERE'S NO QUESTION, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT.

YOU DON'T LIKE HAVING TO HURT PEOPLE TO HELP THEM.

YOU DON'T LIKE HAVING TO SEE PEOPLE-- VERY GOOD PEOPLE-- SUFFER WHEN THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON TO IT.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO MAKE SENSE OF IT.

THERE IS NO SENSE THAT'S MADE OF IT.

CANCER IS A VARIATION OF NORMAL THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR BODIES, AND YES, THERE ARE GENETIC PREDISPOSITIONS AND CERTAIN CHEMICALS AND THIS AND THAT AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THERE'S NOT AN ANSWER FOR ALL OF IT.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU OF WHAT WE'RE GOING IN TO DO.

YOU'VE GOT PRESSURE ON YOUR KIDNEY.

AND THEY DID A NEEDLE BIOPSY OF THAT AREA, BUT IT WASN'T...

SO I ACTUALLY WENT INTO CANCER CARE NOT REALLY WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF "I'M GONNA CURE EVERYBODY," BUT A PERSPECTIVE THAT "I'M GONNA HELP PEOPLE DIE.

"I'M GONNA HELP PEOPLE LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND AVOID SUFFERING AND REALLY BE OK NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS."

IT'LL BE A TIME SAVER.

OH, REALLY?

YEAH.

YOU GOT A BUSY DAY, DON'T YOU?

ALL RIGHT.

OUR JOB IS, WE'RE BROKERS OF QUALITY OF LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT WE ACTUALLY DO.

[ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYING] MY BROTHER TOLD ME I WAS NUTS FOR GOING INTO ONCOLOGY, BUT I USED TO SAY TO HIM, LIKE, "WELL, CANCER SUCKS, "BUT WOULDN'T IT BE WORSE IF THERE WAS NOBODY AROUND TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE THAT HAD BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO THEM?"

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T IGNORE THAT BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN THE WORLD.

YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM.

[MACHINERY CLICKING AND HUMMING] O'NEIL: THE VERY FIRST TIME I HAD CHEMOTHERAPY, MY DAUGHTER--WHO IS THE NURSE-- CALLED ME THAT MORNING, AND SHE SAID, "MOM, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE SCARED... "BUT THINK ABOUT THE CHEMOTHERAPY GOING INTO YOUR BODY "LIKE LITTLE WARRIORS GOING IN TO DO BUSINESS AGAINST THE CANCER CELLS, TO DO WAR," AND I'VE--I'VE FELT THAT WAY EACH TIME.

MAN: WHEN DR. SOPER DID THE INITIAL SURGERY 8 YEARS AGO, WELL, THERE WERE SOME SPOTS ON HER LIVER AND DIAPHRAGM THAT HE COULD NOT REMOVE.

AND AS SOON AS HE SAID THAT, THIS WALL COMES DOWN BEHIND YOUR EYES, AND YOU DON'T-- I DID NOT HEAR ANOTHER WORD.

O'NEIL: AND IT WAS THE WORD "MALIGNANT" THAT I THOUGHT, "I WILL NEVER SEE MY GRANDCHILDREN."

YOU KNOW, HAD THIS HAPPENED TO ME 40 YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE BEEN A DEAD WOMAN.

THOSE LITTLE WARRIORS WENT TO WORK, ABSOLUTELY, AND DID YOUR--THEY NOT ONLY WENT TO WORK, THEY DID THEIR JOB.

[ELECTRONIC TONE] P.A.

ANNOUNCER: DR. VARGAS, ORIENTATION AT 3:00.

WOMAN: MY NAME IS LATOYA BOBBITT, AND I HAD--DID CHEMO AND RADIATION WHEN I WAS 18.

AND IT CAME BACK ON MY LEFT AND RIGHT OVARY, SO I'M BACK HERE AGAIN.

MAN: HI, LATOYA.

BOBBITT: HEY.

BOBBITT, VOICE-OVER: HE'S PRETTY CLOSED.

HE'S QUIET A LITTLE BIT.

YOU DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT YOUR MUSIC.

MAN: OH, YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT?

WELL, YOU'RE HIP-HOP, AND I'M ROCK 'N' ROLL.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

I'VE ASKED THEM TO PREVENT ME FROM DOING CHEMO AND RADIATION AGAIN.

WOMAN: WHAT DID YOU-- WHAT DID YOU GO THROUGH WITH THE CHEMO AND RADIATION?

UM, HAIR LOSS, UM, SICKNESS, PAIN, JUST ALL THAT FITTING.

BOBBITT: I'LL LISTEN TO ROCK 'N' ROLL IF YOU-- IF YOU DOING IT.

WELL, WE'VE GOT THIS-- WE'VE GOT THIS BAND, AND WE'VE GOT A--A DISC.

HE WROTE DOWN, THE FIRST TIME, ABOUT THE CD-- HE WROTE IT DOWN ON A PRESCRIPTION PAPER, AND IT WAS LIKE, UH, "PURCHASE ONE CD AND LISTEN SO MANY TIMES A DAY," LIKE HE CIRCLED...

DOCTOR: YEAH, RIGHT.

WELL, WE CALL IT THE PRESCRIPTION FOR THE...

UH, I GUESS "PRESCRIPTION FOR THE BLUES" WOULDN'T QUITE BE RIGHT, BUT, UH... OK. ALL RIGHT.

I WILL SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS.

BOGGESS: HEY THERE.

MAN: HEY, WILL.

PICK UP YOUR GUITAR, HOMEBOY.

ALL RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS-- LET'S, UH... YOU WANT TO DO-- I'LL START OFF WITH, UH... OH, WHAT DO WE WANT TO PLAY?

LET'S DO A LITTLE "SHE SINGS TO ME."

BOGGESS, VOICE-OVER: A LOT OF TIMES, UM, WHEN YOU OPERATE ON SOMEBODY, YOU SEE THAT THE CANCER IS FAR MORE SPREAD THAN YOU THOUGHT, AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE FIXABLE OR WHATEVER.

I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE IT'S MY FAULT.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THE FIRST REACTION I HAVE IS, "THEY'RE GONNA BE MAD AT ME," BECAUSE I'M GONNA WALK OUT OF THE OPERATING ROOM AND HAVE TO TELL THEM THIS, AND THEY'RE GONNA-- THEY'RE GONNA BLAME ME.

FOR TOO MANY YEARS I'VE LIVED WITH THIS SILENCE AFRAID TO ADMIT HER LIFE ENDED IN VIOLENCE NOW I CAN HEAR HER SINGING... YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT OF THINGS WHERE WE JUST HAVE TO BE THE BAD GUY, AND--BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS TO.

AND, UM, PLAYING MUSIC AND HAVING PEOPLE LIKE YOUR MUSIC AND SEEING YOU IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT LIGHT, BUT IT STILL HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT YOU DO-- I MEAN, IT'S JUST LIKE A-- IT'S A GET-OUT- OF-JAIL-FREE CARD.

...ME THE MELODY MAKES ME SING THE MELODY MAKES ME DREAM HOW DOES SHE SING TO ME BOGGESS, VOICE-OVER: SO THE MUSIC IS A WAY TO GET PEOPLE TOGETHER, GET PEOPLE TALKING, GET PEOPLE IN A COMMUNITY TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP ABOUT A SUBJECT THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SIT AROUND AND TALK ABOUT.

LIKE A SONGBIRD UNSEEN FROM ACROSS THE CANYON I CAN HEAR HER VOICE ECHOING MY CONSTANT COMPANION [CROWD WHOOPING] DUDE, YOU ARE TOO MUCH.

WINTER: ALL RIGHT, HOMEBOYS.

I'M SIGNING OFF.

ALL RIGHTY.

PEACE.

[SONG ENDS] [DRUMS PLAYING] WOMAN, VOICE-OVER: OUR MOTHERS, OUR DAUGHTERS, OUR SISTERS, OUR WIVES, AND OUR FRIENDS.

DOCTOR: BUT THERE IS THIS GROUP OF CANCERS THAT'S BEEN IGNORED.

THERE'S BEEN A WALL OF SILENCE AROUND IT, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN, UH... WE CAN BRING SOME NOISE TO THAT SO THAT WE'RE HEARD AND SO THAT OUR PATIENTS ARE HEARD.

[WOMAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY] HEY!

NO!

NO, NO, NO!

WE CANNOT DO THIS UNTIL AFTER 9: 00.

THAT'S WHY WE DID SOUND CHECK YESTERDAY.

I'M SORRY.

SORRY.

LOSE THE PANTS.

LOOSEN UP.

BOGGESS, VOICE-OVER: I WASN'T THE GUY SHOWING UP TO THE WALKS-- THE CANCER WALKS, AND I WASN'T THE GUY WHO WAS DOING A LOT OF PHILANTHROPIC-TYPE THINGS.

GET READY, JOHN BOGGESS.

WE CAN DO THIS.

HELL TO THE YEAH.

BOGGESS, VOICE-OVER: AND, UM, NOW THAT'S TOTALLY CHANGED.

HEY!

HOW ARE YOU?

DOING GREAT.

HOW ARE YOU?

[MUSIC PLAYING] WHOO!

WOMAN: APPLAUD THIS GORGEOUS WOMAN.

SHE'S A SURVIVOR.

JENNIE McGIHON!

[CROWD CHEERING] WOMAN IN CROWD: GO, JENNIE!

McGIHON: HELLO, EVERYONE, AND HELLO, SURVIVORS!

LET'S HEAR IT AGAIN FOR THE SURVIVORS.

SO HERE I AM, 35 YEARS OLD, WITH A FEW LESS LADY PARTS.

I'VE HAD DEVASTATING REALIZATIONS, LIKE THE FACT THAT I'VE ALREADY REACHED MENOPAUSE, AND I WILL NOT HAVE BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN.

WOMAN IN CROWD: THAT'S OK!

McGIHON: BUT I--HA HA!

I KNOW.

IT IS OK.

I KNOW THAT NOW.

BUT I'M LIVING MY LIFE.

AND ON BEHALF OF 88,000 WOMEN WHO WILL BATTLE A GYNECOLOGIC CANCER THIS YEAR ALONE, I'M SO PROUD TO RACE WITH YOU TODAY AND TO HELP WOMEN LIKE ME REACH THEIR OWN FINISH LINES IN THE BATTLE AGAINST CANCER.

MAN: GO!

[CROWD CHEERING] BOGGESS: WHOO-HOO-HOO!

WOMAN, VOICE-OVER: WE DON'T HAVE THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE FOR SOME OF THESE WOMEN'S CANCERS, AND I WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR, YOU'RE NOT BEING TESTED FOR EVERYTHING.

YOU MAY THINK YOU ARE, BUT YOU'RE NOT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERY WOMAN NEEDS TO KNOW AND TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN AND NOT TO IGNORE THE BODY.

JOANIE!

N.E.D.!

WHOO!

ONE OF EACH.

I'M CERVICAL.

ENDOMETRIAL.

OVARIAN.

[CROWD CHEERING] I DID IT.

SO DID YOU.

WE DID IT.

YEAH, WE DID IT.

WHOO-HOO!

HEY, JOANIE?

HOPE: YEAH?

THEY'RE GONNA BE READY FOR US TO PLAY IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES.

NO WAY!

WAY.

15 MINUTES?!

SWEAR TO GOD.

I WOULDN'T LIE TO YOU ABOUT A THING LIKE THAT.

15, AS IN 1-5?

1-5.

[INDISTINCT] I'LL SEE YOU DOWN THERE.

YES.

THAT SUCKS.

I NEED THE HAIR DRYER.

OK. WELL, THAT'S GREAT.

[GRUNTS] [BAND WARMING UP] MAN: I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR HEADLINING BAND TODAY.

AND WE'RE MISSING ONE OF OUR LEAD SINGERS, WHO'S, UH, WRAPPING UP IN THE SHOWER... HOPE: NO, YOU'RE NOT.

SHE'S RIGHT HERE.

SHE'S RUNNING.

SHE'S COMING.

MAN: IT'S THE LIGHTNING ROD OF ATTENTION FROM [INDISTINCT].

NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE, WE NEED YOU.

ALL RIGHT, JOANIE!

HOPE: COME ON UP AND JOIN US.

MOVE YOUR BODIES.

HELP US OUT!

[MUSIC PLAYING] WHEN I FIRST SAW YOU, MY HEART LEARNED TO SING YOU WERE THE MELODY, THE SONG FROM MY DREAMS AND I KNEW THEN YOU WOULD BE MINE SURE AS THE SUN IT RISES TAKE MY HAND, LET THE SINGING BEGIN LOOK TO MY HEART TO FIND BEATS THAT WE'VE BEEN MISSING YEARS OF LOVE SHOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH WE WILL NEVER SING ALONE AGAIN TAKE MY HAND, LET THE SINGING BEGIN TAKE MY HANDS, LET THE SINGING BEGIN [SONG ENDS] THANK YOU!

YAY!

BOGGESS: START SOMETHING.

CHILD: WHAT ABOUT THAT?

YEAH, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND UNPLUG THAT, TOO.

CHILD: NO, THAT'S NOT IT.

WOMAN: WHAT'S TOMORROW LIKE FOR YOU?

HOPE: I HAVE 4 CASES TOMORROW-- ENDOMETRIAL CANCER CASES, ROBOTIC CASES...

COUPLE OF LAPAROSCOPIC CASES.

[SIREN] WOMAN: SATURDAY MORNING AND ON SUNDAY... NAGARSHETH: WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT-- AND I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW HOW CONCERNED WE ARE.

YOUR BLOOD COUNT IS NOT WHERE WE NORMALLY LIKE TO SEE IT FOR A SURGERY LIKE THIS, OK?

MAN: WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THIS LADY, YOU KNOW.

IF SHE BLEEDS DOWN TO A 7, WHAT KIND OF RISK IS SHE FOR ANY... HIGHER--WELL... YEAH.

FOR CHEMO, FOR RADIATION, FOR SURGERY, EVERYTHING.

SHE'S POOR PERFORMANCE STATUS, GIGANTIC TUMOR, AND WHAT IF SHE BLEEDS AGAIN?

YEAH.

NOW EVERYTHING WE DID IS GONE.

ALL RIGHT.

BECAUSE WE COULD GIVE HER 2 OR 3 CYCLES OF CHEMOTHERAPY AND THEN DO SURGERY, IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT HEMOGLOBIN OF 9.7 FOR CHEMO.

I THINK THAT WE'RE GONNA LOSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO ANYTHING, AND THEN THIS LADY'S GONNA BLEED, AND THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO ANY CHEMO OR ANY RADIATION.

NOW, RADIATION IS GONNA BE A BEAR IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE THE UTERUS IS GIGANTIC.

YEAH.

I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND I'M NOT PUSHING FOR THE SURGERY, AND, UH... YEAH, I--I AGREE.

I AGREE, AND THIS IS NOTHING I'M-- I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.

UH, I THINK THIS IS RISKY, AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE GOOD FOR ME OR ANYONE ELSE IF SHE DOESN'T DO WELL FROM THE SURGERY, BUT, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I-- WE CAN DO FOR HER.

IF WE DON'T DO THIS, THEN WE'VE ALREADY WRITTEN HER OFF, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW... WE'LL TRY.

WE'LL GO VERY SLOW, AND WE'LL TRY.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

OK.

THANKS.

BYE.

OK.

I'LL WRITE A LITTLE NOTE SO... OK. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT STANDING BY YOURSELF, OK?

ALL RIGHT.

NAGARSHETH: THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT PLACE TO BE FOR US, AND IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PLACE TO BE FOR YOU, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF US UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO DO.

HODGES: I UNDERSTAND IT.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

AND YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SURGERY?

OK. AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU, ALL RIGHT?

[PEOPLE TALKING QUIETLY AND INDISTINCTLY] LOVE YOU.

[SUCTION MACHINE WORKING] OK, LET'S SEE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

[PEOPLE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY] CHILD: GRANDMA HAS A BIG OWIE.

YEAH, GRANDMA DOES HAVE A BIG OWIE.

IT'S RIGHT THERE.

YEAH.

[LAUGHING] WOMAN: OLIVIA KNOWS THAT'S WHERE GRANDMA GETS HER CHEMOTHERAPY.

CHILD: OH, THERE'S A TURTLE!

WOMAN: YOU WANT TO GO SEE GRANDMA'S TRICK?

O'NEIL: OK, HERE COMES THE TRICK.

READY?

SURE.

TA-DA!

[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING] WOMAN: IT IS ALWAYS SORT OF IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND THAT, YOU KNOW, MY MOM COULD DIE FROM THIS, AND...

DIFFERENT WOMAN: IT NEVER GOES AWAY.

IT NEVER GOES AWAY, SO...YEAH.

CHILD: AND YOU CAN PLAY NICE, BECAUSE OF THE... [DEEP INHALE, THEN LONG EXHALE] [WOMAN LAUGHS] MOMMY, DRAW A HAPPY FACE.

OK, LET'S DO A HAPPY FACE.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

HA HA HA!

WHAT MADE YOU THINK OF THAT?

CHILD: NO, THAT'S OK.

I THINK THAT HAPPY FACE NEEDS SOME HAIR, OLIVIA.

WOMAN: NOT IF IT'S GRANDMA.

O'NEIL: OH... [LAUGHTER] GOOD POINT.

CALL ME ODD.

I MEAN, WHO WANTS TO TALK-- I MEAN, REPRODUCTIVE CANCERS.

WHAT A...A... WHAT A BELOW-THE-BELT KIND OF SUBJECT.

I MEAN, YOU CAN GET CANCER OF THE VULVA.

YEAH.

AGH.

YOU--DOES ANYBODY TALK ABOUT THAT?

NO.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING] [CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS] [MUSIC ENDS] WOMAN, VOICE-OVER: I WISH I KNEW ABOUT THESE SYMPTOMS... 10 MONTHS AGO, 12 MONTHS AGO, A YEAR.

A YEAR AGO, I REALLY DID-- I REALLY DO WISH THAT I-- I KNEW THIS AND HAD THIS INFORMATION.

IF I KNEW THIS, I MIGHT NOT BE SICK NOW.

SO I REALLY HOPE... THAT THEY CAN COME UP WITH...

SOME FORM OF, LIKE, SCREENING OR SOMETHING THAT-- THAT CAN HELP WOMEN, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW.

COME HERE.

I WAS REALLY AFRAID, AND, UM, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN, AND THAT'S WHY I WAS-- LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW, LIKE, HOW BAD IT WAS OR HOW BAD IT WASN'T, AND I JUST DIDN'T-- I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

BUT YEAH, IT WAS... McCUE: YEAH.

THAT WAS HARD.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, OF COURSE YOU'RE SCARED, AND OF COURSE, IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD, YOU'RE THINKING, YOU KNOW, "WILL I BE HERE?

"WILL I BE HERE FOR, UM, COLLEGE GRADUATION?

MAYBE GETTING MARRIED?"

YOU KNOW, I--THAT-- THAT DOES-- IT--IT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND, AND IT STILL DOES, AND YOU STILL PRAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT 20 YEARS AGO, SO MAYBE-- YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF US THAT KICK CANCER'S BUTT, YOU KNOW?

[TELEPHONE RINGS] McGIHON: HEY, MISSY.

IT'S JENNIE.

HOW ARE YOU?

I KNOW IT'S SUNDAY, SO I'M SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, UM, BUT I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF BUILDING THE AGENDA.

WOMAN: THE BREAKDOWN WAS-- IT WAS A REALLY HARD-- THAT ONE--ONE DAY, WHERE YOU THREW THE THING AT--THE FRAME AT ME AND RAN OUT OF THE-- THE, UH, TOWNHOUSE AND, UM-- IN HER BARE FEET, WHICH-- I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU HAD ON AT THAT POINT.

BUT, UM, YOU HAD BARE FEET, AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE WAS GOING OR WHAT SHE WAS GONNA DO.

IT SCARED ME SO MUCH.

I THINK I WAS-- I HAD HAD A BAD-- IT WAS RIGHT AFTER MY HYSTERECTOMY, AND I WAS LIKE, "WHO'S GONNA LOVE ME?

"WHO AM I GONNA DATE?

I JUST THINK I SHOULD DIE."

YOU KNOW, ALL OF THIS KIND OF STUFF.

AND I KIND OF WANTED TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST 3 ROUNDS OF CHEMO BEING OVER.

THIS PHOTOGRAPHER HAS SHOT A COUPLE OF MY FRIENDS' WEDDINGS, AND I WANTED TO SHOW EVERYBODY WHAT A CANCER PATIENT LOOKS LIKE.

[HARD ROCK PLAYING] SO I JUST THOUGHT, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

LOTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GONNA GET THIS," AND, YOU KNOW, SO I PUT THEM UP ON FACEBOOK.

[THUNDER] WINTER ON RADIO: WE DON'T WANT TO BE THAT FLASH-IN-THE-PAN NOVELTY ACT.

I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY BELIEVE IN THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO DO.

HARRISON: EXCELLENT.

SO FROM "SIX DEGREES," HERE'S "NEVERMIND" FROM N.E.D., NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE.

[MUSIC PLAYING] WINTER, VOICE-OVER: WE'RE NOT GONNA BE THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, GUITAR HERO OR THE NEXT BOB DYLAN IN TERMS OF LYRICS.

CHANGE YOUR MIND, NEVERMIND, NEVERMIND, NEVERMIND WE'RE DOING THIS FOR NOT OUR OWN PERSONAL NOTORIETY, BUT THE NOTORIETY OF OUR CAUSE.

RIGHT NOW, WE CONSIDER YOU TO BE IN COMPLETE REMISSION-- OR NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE IS WHAT WE CALL IT.

OF COURSE, THAT'LL BE CONFIRMED WITH A CT SCAN.

AS SOON AS IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT, THEN WE'VE REALLY LOST ALL THE MAGIC BEHIND BOTH THE CAUSE AND EVEN THE MUSIC.

YOU KNOW, DR. JUDD WAS ASKING, BECAUSE I TOLD HER ABOUT YOU.

SHE WAS GOING LIKE, "I WANT TO LISTEN TO IT."

YOU NEED TO BRING ONE IN SO WE CAN PLAY IT.

[BLUES PLAYING] WOMAN: WHAT'S THE NAME OF Y'ALL'S BAND?

ROBINSON: N.E.D., OR NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE.

AND WHAT INSTRUMENT DO YOU PLAY?

I PLAY BASS GUITAR AND SING AND PLAY THE HARMONICA.

TOGETHER: OH!

WOMAN: MISS GAIL, YOU STILL HAVE...

DIFFERENT WOMAN: MORNING, DR. ROBINSON.

HEY.

GOOD MORNING.

THE MAJORITY OF THESE PATIENTS LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.

3/4 OF THEM HAVE NO PRIVATE INSURANCE.

SO IT--I MEAN, THIS IS THE INNER-CITY POPULATION OF NEW ORLEANS.

[DOOR OPENS] ROBINSON: HERE WE COME, MONA.

I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT HERE.

MONA: OK. YOU DO HAVE THE MASS, OR TUMOR, COMING BACK.

IT'S GROWING BACK, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU FELT, YOU KNOW.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S HURTING, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY CRACKED OPEN A LITTLE BIT.

IT WENT FROM 2002 TO 2012 FOR SOMEONE TO REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH ME, SO I'VE BEEN IN PAIN FOR 10 YEARS.

THERE ARE ONLY 750, 800 OR SO GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGISTS IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY ARE NOT UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

THE PHYSICIANS MAY NOT REALLY EVEN BE AWARE THAT THEY HAVE THE OPTION OF SENDING A PATIENT TO SEE A SPECIALIST IN THAT PARTICULAR FIELD.

MAYBE IT-- DOING IT NOW WOULD NOT BE AS BIG A DEAL FOR YOU AS IT WAS THE FIRST TIME.

YEAH.

YEAH, THAT'S WHY I WAS HERE.

THAT'S WHY I'M ANTSY.

SO YOU THINK YOU'D BE UP FOR THAT?

YOU THINK YOU'RE OK WITH IT?

ALL RIGHT.

OK, SO YOU CAN GET ME IN BEFORE THANKSGIVING?

BECAUSE YOU KNOW I GOT TO COOK.

I'M A SINGLE MOM.

OH, YEAH.

OK. GREAT.

OK.

I THINK WE'RE DONE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE THE BEST.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

WE'LL GET IT TAKEN CARE OF FOR YOU.

OK. ROBINSON, VOICE-OVER: IT IS WELL-DOCUMENTED THAT THE SURVIVAL FOR THE ONES TREATED START TO FINISH BY A GYN ONCOLOGIST DO BETTER.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEIR SURVIVAL IS BETTER.

WAITING ON TIME AT THE STATION [INDISTINCT P.A.

ANNOUNCEMENT] MY EYES ARE FIXED UPON THE DOOR 82 YEARS SINCE THIS JOURNEY FIRST BEGAN YEAH, I KNOW.

YOU WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE ME.

YOU WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE ME AT ALL.

AS I FUMBLE WITH A TICKET IN MY HAND YOU CAST A SHADOW FROM THE DOOR SUCH RADIANT BEAUTY, SOFTLY SOOTHING AND I AM SUDDENLY TRANSPORTED TO A TIME WHEN WE FIRST LAY TOGETHER A DIFFERENT YEAR AND A DIFFERENT PLACE WE KNEW WE'D ALWAYS BE TOGETHER, YOU AND I I SAW MY FUTURE IN YOUR FACE SO MANY YEARS SINCE YOU AND I WALKED THE LINE AND AS THE WHISTLE BLOWS, I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND SO I GAVE SUCH RADIANT BEAUTY, SOFTLY SOOTHING AND I AM SUDDENLY TRANSPORTED OOH OOH OOH OOH [SONG ENDS] [AUDIENCE CHEERING] MAN, VOICE-OVER: ALL RIGHT, MY NEXT TWO GUESTS SIMULTANEOUSLY TAKING THE STAND: DR. JOANIE HOPE AND DR. NIMESH NAGARSHETH.

HOPE: THIS WHOLE JOURNEY THAT WE'VE BEEN ON AS A BAND HAS BEEN VERY HEALING TO ALL OF US BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING THE KIND OF DOCTORS THAT WE ARE, IT ABSOLUTELY AFFECTS US.

IT AFFECTS--IT PERMEATES OUR ENTIRE LIVES, UM, BOTH AMAZINGLY ENRICHING AND ALSO AMAZINGLY PAINFUL AT TIMES.

AND, UM, MUSIC HAS BEEN A HEALING MEDIUM FOR US, AND WE--WE KNOW IT'S A HEALING MEDIUM FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND US AND OUR PATIENTS, AND WE HOPE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABLE TO BLEND THAT THROUGH THE MUSIC THAT WE'RE CREATING TOGETHER.

HOST: THAT WAS FANTASTIC.

HA HA!

WAS THAT SCRIPTED?

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

IT'S FROM NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE.

[MUSIC PLAYING] HOPE, VOICE-OVER: WHEN WE SANG IN AMARILLO, THAT WAS IT.

I COULDN'T COMPLETE THE SONG THE FIRST TIME THROUGH WITHOUT CRYING.

[AUDIENCE CHEERING] THAT WAS WHEN I REALLY-- LIKE I SAID, "OK, THIS IS REALLY IT.

I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY...

THIS BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER IN A REALLY, REALLY AMAZING WAY."

ALL RIGHT.

141 OVER 88 WITH A PULSE OF 95.

HUSBAND: I DIDN'T SEE IT.

10:40.

DAUGHTER: SO THIS WEEK WAS ACTUALLY A VERY, UM...

POTENTIALLY DIFFERENT WEEK.

WE HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. SOPER ON TUESDAY, AND MOM HAS A MAJOR INTESTINAL BLOCKAGE, WHICH MEANS THAT IF THE BLOCKAGE IS COMPLETE, THEN HE'S BASICALLY SAID THIS IS THE POTENTIAL TIPPING POINT FOR... MAYBE STOPPING THE CHEMO AND STOPPING INTERVENTIONS.

IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE, AS A NURSE, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING.

YOU WANT TO COME IN, AND YOU WANT TO FIX IT, AND THERE'S NOTHING TO-- THERE'S NOTHING TO DO BUT SIT AROUND AND SAY, "OK, I'LL COME HOME FOR THE NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT."

THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO, AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY FRUSTRATING, AND I'M SO ANGRY AT THE FREAKING CANCER.

OH, ME.

ANYWAY, I FEEL GOOD.

UM, AND...

I'M FORTUNATE.

10 YEARS I'VE-- I'VE HAD OVARIAN CANCER.

YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT MY GRANDCHILDREN-- SUCH ADORABLE LITTLE PEOPLE COMING ALONG.

I WISH I COULD SEE THEM GROW, WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WITH THEIR LIVES, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THE END COMES, IT COMES.

BUT I...

I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT I HAVE YOU WITH ME, AND I HAVE WONDERFUL CHILDREN.

HUSBAND: ON FRIDAY, WE HAVE THE APPOINTMENT TO TALK ABOUT PALLIATIVE CARE, SO... "PALLI-AY-TIVE" OR "PAL-LIATIVE."

UM, WE HAD AN ARGUMENT ABOUT HOW TO PRONOUNCE-- PRONOUNCE THAT WORD.

UM, AND SO I WAS ON THE WRONG SIDE.

I LOOKED IT UP IN THE DICTIONARY.

UM, BUT THOSE THINGS MATTER TO ME.

AND HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT?

"PALLI-AY-TIVE," WHICH IS HARDER TO SAY THAN "PAL-LIATIVE."

BUT IT'S GOOD, BECAUSE SHE WILL HELP YOU TO MANAGE YOUR SYMPTOMS.

I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF THE POINT OF THE PALLIATIVE CARE.

I'M GONNA KEEP SAYING "PAL-LIATIVE," NOT "PALLI-AY-TIVE."

THE PALLIATIVE CARE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE RESOURCES TO EQUIPMENT AND THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THAT MAY BE HELPFUL FOR YOU-- YOU KNOW, LIKE JERRY.

HIS--THEY GOT HIM THAT WONDERFUL CHAIR THAT HELPED HIM-- YEAH.

THAT'S-- THAT'S HOSPICE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S END OF LIFE.

BUT PALLIATIVE CARE CAN DO SIMILAR THINGS IF IT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER.

YEAH.

THEY CAN EVALUATE A LOT OF THE HOUSE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD NEED.

I MEAN, I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT YOU DO, BUT... YEAH.

YOU KNOW, SHE WOULD MAKE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

OK.

BUT "HOSPICE" IS A SCARY WORD, MAN.

YEAH, IT IS.

NAGARSHETH: I'M CALLING WITH THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS.

McCUE: OH?

UH-HUH?

OH, GOD, YES.

THANK YOU.

OH, MY GOD.

MY PLEASURE.

ENOUGH.

ENOUGH.

I KNOW, BUT I CAN'T... OH, MY GOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OH, GOD.

[CRYING] THANK YOU.

WOMAN: GOOD-BYE.

COME HERE.

GIVE ME A HUG.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

BYE.

SEE YOU LATER.

HOPE: HEY, CAN YOU HOLD THIS UP?

WOMAN: MM-HMM.

I GOT IT.

YEAH, ALL RIGHT.

[BACKGROUND THUMPING AND SQUEAKING] I HAVE A PATIENT IN THE ER.

[MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY] WOMAN: ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO UPSTAIRS AND LOOK.

MAN: UNLESS YOU WANT TO WRAP ALL THEM TOGETHER.

HOPE, VOICE-OVER: I REALLY WANT TO WORK IN A HIGH-NEED AREA WHERE THE-- YOU KNOW, WHERE I'M NOT JUST SORT OF A DROP IN A SEA OF PEOPLE THAT-- SOMEPLACE THAT REALLY HAS A NEED FOR A GYN ONCOLOGIST AND SOMEPLACE I CAN REALLY DEVELOP MY RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY PATIENTS.

[WAILING] WE'RE GONNA GET DORIE.

YEAH.

I DON'T WANT TO GO IN MY CAR SEAT.

I'M SORRY.

[MUSIC PLAYING] DREAMS OF YOUTH RESONATING LENGTH OF TRAVEL UNEXPECTED [CHILD CRYING] I HAVE BEEN... [MUSIC ENDS] [CLOCK CHIMING] SOPER, VOICE-OVER: THIS IS DR. SOPER DICTATING A LETTER TO DR. AURBACH.

"DEAR DR. AURBACH, I'M WRITING IN REGARDS TO YOUR PATIENT MARILYN J.

O'NEIL."

"UH, DATE OF ADMISSION 11/4/2011, AND DATE OF DEATH ON 11/14/2011."

"OF ADVANCED OVARIAN CANCER AND ITS COMPLICATIONS DURING HER HOSPITALIZATION."

[MUSIC PLAYING] IT'S BEEN TWO DAYS SINCE YOU LEFT ME STANDING HERE ON MY OWN AND BARMAN TOLD ME THIS WAS COMING I STILL FEEL SO ALONE PEOPLE, THEY TRY AND COMFORT ME SAY IN TIME THAT I WILL MOVE ON BUT THE FACE IN THE MIRROR DOESN'T SEE A BELIEVER JUST A MAN WHO HAS LOST... LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT I FOUND YESTERDAY.

LOOK WHAT THESE ARE.

OH!

LOVE LETTERS?

YEP.

OH, REALLY?

BETWEEN YOU AND MARILYN?

YEAH.

"YOU'RE THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE, AND I MISS YOU."

ANYWAY...

THE LAST WORDS THAT SHE SAID, I REMEMBER VIVIDLY.

AGAIN, IT WAS DR. SOPER, AND I THINK HE WAS HOLDING HER HAND.

AND HE EXPLAINED TO US THE REALITY OF IT.

WE KNEW IT WAS-- WE KNEW THAT THINGS WERE WINDING DOWN.

YEP.

AND AGAIN, SHE HADN'T SPOKEN-- NOT FOR TWO DAYS.

AND SHE SUDDENLY LIFTED UP HER HEAD AND LOOKED AT DR. SOPER FULL IN THE FACE, AND SHE SAID, "I LOVE YOU.

THANK YOU."

AND THOSE WERE HER LAST WORDS.

WHERE ARE WE HEADING TO?

JUST OVER TO THE RUSSELL BUILDING.

McCUE, VOICE-OVER: I'M WITH MY DOCTOR HERE AT CAPITOL HILL.

HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HEAR OUR STORY--MY STORY.

I FEEL LIKE BEING HERE IS HELPING TO MAKE CLEAR THE NEED TO KEEP, UM, TO--TO KEEP THE RESEARCH GOING, TO--TO PROVIDE TRIALS.

THEY HAVE TO FIND BETTER THERAPIES.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

CATHY.

HOW ARE YOU?

AND I'M JOAN.

McCUE, VOICE-OVER: WHILE I WANT TO BE JUMPING UP AND DOWN FOR JOY--AND I AM-- THAT I AM STILL HERE TWO YEARS LATER, UM, I'M ALSO FRIGHTENED, BECAUSE STAGE 3 AND 4 OVARIAN CANCER DOES USUALLY RECUR, AND IT'S USUALLY AROUND TWO YEARS.

WOMAN: EACH OF YOU, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO TOMORROW IS TO ADVOCATE.

AND WHAT YOU-- WE'RE REALLY DOING IS EDUCATING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO WORK FOR YOU, ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT.

MORE WOMEN NEED TO BE AWARE, BUT THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO WHOM THEY PRESENT THE SYMPTOMS NEED TO BE EQUALLY AWARE.

YOUR TAX DOLLARS-- REMEMBER, THIS IS YOUR MONEY.

YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO TELL THEM WHERE YOU WANT YOUR MONEY TO GO.

WOMEN'S CANCERS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BREASTS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THE REST.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING] [APPLAUSE] McGIHON: GOOD MORNING.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE THE SURVIVOR'S PERSPECTIVE WITH ALL OF YOU AND REALLY FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AWARENESS OF SYMPTOMS, BECAUSE THERE IS, AS DR. COUKOS REFERENCED, NO DIAGNOSTIC YET FOR OVARIAN CANCER, WHICH MAKES A STAGE 1, EARLY STAGE DIAGNOSIS THAT MUCH MORE CHALLENGING TO ACHIEVE.

I FEEL VERY PASSIONATE THAT WOMEN GETTING THE WORD ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS AND UNDERSTANDING THE RISK FACTORS AND LEARNING HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES WITH THEIR DOCTORS IS JUST REALLY CRITICAL.

WHAT WAS HARD WAS THAT, DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAD TAKEN CARE OF MYSELF, DESPITE THAT FACT THAT I HAD DONE ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT MY FRIENDS HAD DONE IN TERMS OF WORKING OUT AND GOING TO MY DOCTOR AND ALL OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, I...WAS THE UNLUCKY ONE.

[PEOPLE TALKING AT ONCE] I HAD ABOUT A HALF-DOZEN FRIENDS EITHER GIVE BIRTH OR TELL ME THAT THEY WERE PREGNANT WHILE I WAS IN TREATMENT, AND EACH TIME I FOUND OUT AND EACH BABY WAS BORN, THERE WAS A PART OF ME THAT HAD TO MOURN, HAD TO GRIEVE THE FACT THAT I WOULD NEVER BE SHARING THE SAME NEWS WITH MY FRIENDS OR NEVER BE THE ONE IN THE HOSPITAL JUST HAVING HAD A BABY.

WHAT I'VE COME TO REALIZE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE--MY LEGACY IN THIS WORLD IS NOT GOING TO BE THE LIVES THAT I CREATE, UM, BUT RATHER THE WOMEN'S LIVES THAT I TRY TO HELP SAVE.

[MUSIC PLAYING] ALL RIGHT.

PHEW.

WHOO!

HA!

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

YOU SURVIVED.

YEAH.

SHE'S STILL ALIVE.

LOOK AT THAT.

OUR ONLY GYN ONCOLOGIST.

I DIDN'T KILL HER.

[MACHINERY BEEPING AND HUMMING] WOMAN: IT'S PRETTY SOFT IN THERE.

DIFFERENT WOMAN: AND THEY'RE CHANGING A TAPE RIGHT NOW.

THIRD WOMAN: IT'S GONE WRONG.

HOPE: I'VE JUST, UM... TOLD A 13-YEAR-OLD THAT SHE HAD CANCER.

THAT'S WHAT I JUST SAID.

THAT WAS, UH... THAT WAS MY LAST ACT AS A DOCTOR TODAY.

[MUSIC PLAYING] GO, NED!

N.E.D.

ROCKS.

I JUST READ ABOUT IT IN THE PAPER TODAY, AND IT JUST CAUGHT MY EYE AND SOUNDED LIKE GOOD MUSIC AND A GOOD CAUSE.

N.E.D.!

WHOO!

WHOO!

MUSIC HAS BEEN SUCH AN IMPORTANT HEALER.

IT'S LIKE I CAN FEEL LIKE CRAP, BUT I CAN GET UP AND GO TO A CONCERT.

TOMORROW LET FEAR GIVE WAY TO STRENGTH LET HOPE CONQUER EVERY SORROW... WHOA.

OH!

GOT TO GO TO THE GYM, GUYS.

WHAT IS UP?

[DRUMS AND BASS PLAYING] 1, 2, 3, 4!

[LEAD GUITAR PLAYING] LET THE SPIRIT OF A LIFE FORCE UNYIELDING LOVE MIXED WITH STRUGGLE, IT'S ALL WE NEED AS WE HANG ON TOGETHER IN ROTATION LET YOUR FEET FEEL THE CONSTANT VIBRATION OF A LIFE BEYOND YOUR OWN THE LIFE BEYOND YOUR OWN LIFE FORCE UNYIELDING EMOTION NEVER-ENDING THE LIFE BEYOND YOUR OWN THE LIFE BEYOND YOUR OWN LIFE FORCE UNYIELDING EMOTION NEVER-ENDING LIFE BEYOND YOUR OWN WHOO!

BOGGESS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

HOPE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

GOOD NIGHT!

[AUDIENCE CHANTING "N.E.D.!"]

[MUSIC PLAYING] WHEN I NEEDED A MIRACLE YOU JUST LOOKED DEEPER INTO MY EYES MY SOUL IGNITING OUR WORLDS COLLIDING IN ECSTASY YOU LIFTED ME TO THE SKY AS THE WORLD FELL BEFORE ME AND IN ALL YOUR GLORY BURNED LIKE A STAR HOTTER THAN THE SUN I WAS MERELY A SILHOUETTE AGAINST THE RADIANCE OF YOUR BEAUTY ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY INOVA HEALTH FOUNDATION.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY FOR A FULL LIST OF FUNDERS, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT NEDTHEMOVIE.COM