Provide names of other journalists involved.
This documentary had numerous contributors inlcuding Nick Ciavatta, who was the audio engineer.
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
18-Dec-11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
“Stalking a Silent Killer” focuses on ovarian cancer, a particularly deadly disease, which strikes about 22,000 women in the U.S. each year. It’s often called the Silent Killer because by the time a woman complains about the symptoms, common symptoms like bloating or abdominal pain that could be mistaken for indigestion, the cancer has spread, which is why ovarian cancer has a high mortality rate. “Stalking a Silent Killer” is also a very personal work of journalism which follows the journey of one woman, Ellen Shapiro, a book store owner in Woodstock, New York, as she battles the disease. It is a story of medical science, powerful relationships and a woman who found herself fighting for her life.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
I began with having the Bloomberg Library run a search for relevant data about ovarian cancer. I was particularly interested in some of the business-realted aspects of detecting and treating the disease. For instance, how do pharmaceutical companies decide where they will put their r&d resources. And has ovarian cancer suffered from a lack of investment because it affects fewer people than more common cancers such as breast and prostate? I also looked at the cost of treating ovarian cancer and how to measure the value of a drug. Susan Galbraith of AstraZenica told me “The problem we have is that we haven’t delivered enough value historically for the prices being charged and that’s where people start to question it. If you do that, payers will recognize the value that’s there and prepare to reimburse at the prices we charge. Galbraith also said “Extending survival is a value people will pay for. But it has to be substantially enough increment and you have to be able to articulate the patients who will benefit.” In other words, will patients pay $100,000 for three additional months of life? What is the formula that quantitfies price versus increased life expectancy?
Explain types of human sources used.
The most important human source in this story is my friend Ellen Shapiro, a book store owner in Woodstock, New York who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October 2009. Shapiro also had a graduate degree in social work and was a world traveler as well as an EMT. After undergoing surgery and chemotherapy Shapiro was decalred cancer free in May 2010. But ovarian cancer is a recurring disease and just months later, Shapiro learned that her cancer had returned. She approached the recurrence with intellegience and courage. We began work on a joint project in which she agreed I could tape her talking about her illness and I would talk about my fears about developing a potentially fatal disease. We hadn’t gotten get far when her prognosis worsened. Still, we kept taping and I found myself in the rare position of having the rare access to a dying person that few journalists have. “Stalking a Silent Killer” is a report about the business of ovarian cancer but It is also a window into the process of dying and a tribute to the life of Ellen Shapiro as she battled for her life.
Results:
The results are anecdotal. I received hundreds of emails from people who told me that they learned about this disease from “Stalking a Silent Killer.” I hope I helped listeners understand the importance of early detection in fighting this disease.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
There were no corrections or clarifications related to “Stalking a Silent Killer.”
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
This was a difficult, heart-rending project to embark on. Any journalist who is preparing to deal with an examination of a life and death story should be prepared for the emotional impact the material will have on the journalist and on the readers/listeners/viewers who come along with you on this journey. In addition, It is a challenge to combine the business aspect of this story with the human element. It is complicated, it is hard. But you can do it.