Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a disease in which malignant or cancerous cells are found in the ovary. An ovary is one of two small, almond-shaped organs located on each side of the uterus that produce female hormones and store eggs or germ cells. In women age 35 to 74, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. An estimated one woman in 58 will develop
ovarian cancer during her lifetime. In 2006, the American Cancer Society estimates that
there will be 20,180 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed and 15,310 women will die
of the disease.

What is the general outlook for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer?
Because each woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has a different profile, it is impossible
to give a general prognosis. If diagnosed and treated early, when the cancer is confined to
the ovary, the 5-year survival rate is over 90%. Unfortunately, due to ovarian cancer’s nonspecific symptoms, only 19% of all cases are found at this early stage. If caught in stage III
or higher, survival rate can be as low as 29%.

Can ovarian cancer be prevented?
At present, there is no known method to preventovarian cancer, but some things appear to reduce a woman’s risk of developing the disease.

Is ovarian cancer hereditary?
A woman can inherit an increased risk for ovarian cancer from either her mother’s or father’s side of her family, particularly if a first-degree relative (mother, father, sister, or daughter) has, or has had ovarian, breast, prostate or colon cancer. Furthermore, women
with a strong family history of ovarian cancer are more likely to develop the disease at an early age (younger than 50). Women of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish descent are also at greater risk if they have an affected family member. Studies show that inheriting a defect in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene can also increase a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer by about 10% to 40%. Normally, these genes help to prevent cancer, but if a woman has inherited a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, her ovaries and breasts are more susceptible to the development of cancer.

While the symptoms of ovarian cancer (particularly in the early stages) are often not acute or intense, they are not silent; they whisper, so listen.

Setesdalsbanen

In November 1896 a 78-km (48,5 miles) long Setesdalsbanen was opened up to ordinary service between Kristainsand and Byglandsfjord. The railway line was built to link the Setesdal to the coastal town of Kristiansand. With this town's port and connections to other Norwegian coastal towns and Europe, it opened up a valley, which up to that time had been very isolated.

The gauge chosen, 3'6", was commonly used at the time. During its heyday it extended over 1300-km (800 miles), mostly on single isolated lines.


The products of the valley were shipped out on the railway. This consisted mainly of timber, barrel staves (for wooden herring barrels), pit props, fire wood, feldspar (to the Belgian glass industry), paper and refined aluminium. The railway also played an important role to the Byglandsford Steam Sawmill, Evje Nickelmines, Evje Armycamp, Hunsfos Papermill and Vigeland Metal Refinery; all big enterprises by local standards.

When the standard gauge Sørlandsbanen (1435 mm or 4'8½") reached Kristiansand in 1938, the Setesdalsbanen was truncated at Grovane where the two lines met. Grovane, thus becoming a station for the transfer of goods and passengers. This was a labour intensive operation that, in the long end, could not win the battle against increased road transport after World War II. Even if railcars were introduced in 1928, the ever-increasing stud of private cars stole the passengers from the line. Eventually this led to the closure of the Setesdalsbanen in 1962, the last narrow gauge line to be operated by the Norwegian State Railways.


But, there were strong forces behind the scenes not willing to let this gem pass into history forever. A society was formed, and the volunteers playing an important source of manpower staffing the railway on the days of operation and in maintaining the raliway in nearly all aspects.


The line is open during the summer season (June, July and August) running trains with steam engines and old wooden bodied coaches offering a journey on a railway typical of its time with sharp curves, a bridge spanning the river, a tunnel and a snowshed. Most of the time running parallel to the river Otra.