Granulosa cell tumours (GCT) are a rare form of ovarian cancer.   Statistics show that they make up a relatively small percentage of all ovarian cancers and GCT has therefore received less attention from researchers than some other cancers.

Because GCT is rare, many oncologists are not readily familiar with the disease, few claim to be specialists in its treatment, and some doctors, reportedly, still think that GCT is not considered to be a cancer.

Founded in 2004 as Granulosa Cell tumour Foundation New Zealand, our mission is to:

• Provide women with information about this disease and give them knowledge that they can share, in turn, with their medical team; and
• Raise money to support GCT-specific research with the goal of developing more effective treatments

Why we push for research

One of the most common descriptions of GCT in the medical community is: "Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary is an uncommon tumor of low malignant potential (LMP)" and many articles add that GCT has a "low rate of recurrence".

Often this is presented as a comforting factor, implying that you do not have to worry that much about recurrence or dying of the disease.   It is also known, however, that "Low-grade ovarian cancers and LMP tumours generally resist conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy."    Several articles have also stated that 50% - 80% of women with recurrent GCT will die from the disease, just as our Founder, Sladjana (Sofi) Crosley, did.

That is why we need research on GCT and why we have established the "Sladjana M. Crosley Fund for GCT Research".  This is not always a "benign" disease and can recur at any point over your lifetime, even up to 35 years after your diagnosis.  

We need Supporting Members

Medical discoveries don't happen without research, and research doesn't happen without a steady flow of funding.  Because we know that GCT tends to be non-responsive to normal, cytotoxic chemotherapy we have commissioned research designed to find molecular pathways through which GCT might be better controlled, and possibly cured.   We need you to support this battle and want to enlist you as a "GCTRF Supporting Member".   For a minimum, annual donation of at least $25 NZD, or more if you can possibly afford it, we will register you as a "GCTRF Supporting Member". By clicking on the "Donate Today" link you make a statement to yourself and us that you recognise the importance of this research and are joining the fight!

In return, we will provide you with every bit of insight and information we can muster to help you and your medical team.   This includes complete updates from our research teams as we receive them; unrestricted access to our Case History database; the right to post messages on our forum; periodic newsletters from the foundation; and more services we are continuing to develop.

GCTRF is a registered, 100% volunteer foundation

The foundation is registered with New Zealand Inland Revenue and the US Internal Revenue Service.  When you donate to GCTRF you can depend on 100% of that donation going to researchers due to the fact that we are a totally volunteer organisation and have received a private grant to cover operating expenses.   We pay no salaries and no director's fees.  When you donate your hard-earned money you deserve to know that it is going to the purposes for which you donated!