Joan Kane Aguilar
October 18, 1955 — April 20, 2023
Joan Duncan (Kane) Aguilar passed away peacefully on April 20, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on October 18, 1955, in Newnan, GA, to Calvin and Willene Duncan. She is survived by her husband, Robert Aguilar, her son Justin Kane, daughter-in-law Dana Kane, her grandson Crew, her sister Jane Woods, her brother Scott Duncan, and many nieces and nephews.
Joan was a bookkeeper and commercial property manager who had a long and successful career supporting numerous business owners in the Jacksonville, FL area. She was deeply committed to her work and was always willing to go above and beyond to help those she served.
However, what Joan truly loved was living life to the fullest, and more importantly, sharing experiences with her family and friends. She was an adventurous and caring soul who enjoyed trying new things and creating memories with those she loved.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, April 29th, at 10:30 AM at First Presbyterian Church, located at 118 E Monroe St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The service will be an opportunity for family and friends to gather, remember Joan, and pay their respects.
In lieu of flowers, Joan requested that donations be made in memory of her to support gynecological cancer research and help to spread awareness for other women. Donations will be directed to a non-profit fund created in Joan's family name to ensure they are used specifically as she wished.
To make a tax deductible donation, please fill out the required form using the following link:
< https://bit.ly/DonateDCEF >
Instructions for sending checks or wire transfers are available in the form.
Alternatively, checks can be made payable to Fidelity Charitable and reference the Giving Account number & name (1293272 // Duncan Cancer Endowment Fund) in the memo section.
Please reach out to her son, Justin Kane, if any help is required for donations.
Joan's memory will continue to live on through the love and generosity she shared with all those who knew her.
The below was taken directly from a project that Joan was working on prior to her passing. She wanted to share her story with everyone.
Joan's Story
Joan is a woman who always listened to advice about getting her annual mammogram, annual physical and pap smear, as recommended. She got the vaccines and boosters for Covid and was shocked in June of last year to learn she was diagnosed with uterine cancer. When she got the diagnosis she actually had to look it up to see exactly what this cancer was. She found out uterine and endometrial cancers are the same. She had never realized this cancer and ovarian cancer could not be detected in your pap smear and that uterine cancer is 4 times as common as ovarian cancer. A pap smear only detects cervical cancer. She never recalls that point being made clear to her during her screenings. She had a false sense of security that a negative pap smear meant everything was OK down there. Currently there is no screening or early detection for uterine or endometrial cancers. It was typically thought of as an older woman's cancer, but as many patients are diagnosed today that are in their childbearing years as those who are not. As with any cancer, early detection is the key to proper treatment and survival.
Because there is no screening, uterine cancer can be tricker to diagnose. Some of the symptoms mimic menopause, so many patients may have bleeding and told not to worry that is a sign of menopause. Not all patients have bleeding as in Joan's case, but she had pelvic pressure, lower back pain, a feeling of fullness, began to lose weight unexpectedly, a tiredness she could not shake and eventually had severe pelvic pain before her diagnosis. Her gynecologist was unable to perform a uterine biopsy in the office after an ultrasound and sonogram was performed, so a D & C and biopsy was performed in an outpatient setting a couple days later. The pathology reported showed she had uterine cancer and she was referred to MD Anderson in Jacksonville for surgery and more treatment. Joan was in shock.
Best case scenario is getting diagnosed early (Stage 1) where a hysterectomy is typically the first and only line of treatment needed at early detection. There is currently a trend for patients being diagnosed Stage 1, and later stages 3 and 4. So in other words, it is either being caught early or in later stages. Later stages typically require surgery, chemo and possibly other lines of treatment like radiation or immunotherapy. Later stages can have a higher reoccurrence rate and a higher mortality rate. It is important to understand the risk and types of cancers women currently are getting and know that uterine or endometrial and ovarian cancer cannot be detected with blood tests or an early screening.
Knowing your body and acknowledging any changes that are not typical is the first step. Find a
Gynecologist if you don't have one and be clear what your symptoms are. If you feel something is different, don't let it get dismissed. Ask for a vaginal ultrasound which can show a thicker uterine lining, which is a symptom. Ask your doctor if a uterine biopsy or a D & C procedure would be best to help eliminate or diagnose uterine cancer. Be your own advocate if you must. Only you know your body!
Patients like Joan have discovered that treatments for uterine or endometrial cancer have not changed greatly over the years, due to lack of research. Lack of awareness creates lack of research and no new treatments and that is what we are trying to change. Cases of uterine cancer have doubled in the past 15 years. It is estimated by Dana Farber Cancer Institute in the next 3-4 years, it is estimated endometrial cancer will replace colon cancer as the third most common to effect women. So pay attention to your body and report any changes. It could save your life!
Endometrial Cancer Information:
- Cancer of the uterus is increasing so rapidly, it will displace colorectal cancer as the 3rd most common cancer among women, and the 4th leading cause of women's cancer deaths.
- Cases of diagnosed uterine cancer have doubled in the past 15 years
- It is not an older woman's cancer- currently 42% diagnosed are in their 20's-40's.
- There is no screening currently in place to detect uterine cancer
- A pap smear detects cancer in the cervix, but not the uterus (you can have a negative pap smear and still have cancer of the uterus)
- Uterine cancer is 4 times as common as cervical cancer
- Some symptoms mimic menopause, so many cases are initially blamed on early menopause
- 40% of cases are Stage 3 or 4 before properly diagnosed
- Like most cancers, the earlier caught, the better the outcome
- A transvaginal ultrasound and D & C are the best tools currently to diagnose uterine cancer
- Any changes need to be reported to a gynecologist
- Be your own advocate until your symptoms are properly treated
- No awareness, no research, no funding for new treatments
Symptoms to look for:
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Lower back pain
- Unexpected weight loss
- Change in menstrual cycle, before or after menopause- the abnormality of the cycle increases the risk for uterine cancer because of the dysregulation of hormones
- Bleeding is a top symptom on the internet, yet more and more women have no bleeding
- Tiredness or exhaustion that won't go away
Joan was a bookkeeper and commercial property manager who had a long and successful career supporting numerous business owners in the Jacksonville, FL area. She was deeply committed to her work and was always willing to go above and beyond to help those she served.
However, what Joan truly loved was living life to the fullest, and more importantly, sharing experiences with her family and friends. She was an adventurous and caring soul who enjoyed trying new things and creating memories with those she loved.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, April 29th, at 10:30 AM at First Presbyterian Church, located at 118 E Monroe St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The service will be an opportunity for family and friends to gather, remember Joan, and pay their respects.
In lieu of flowers, Joan requested that donations be made in memory of her to support gynecological cancer research and help to spread awareness for other women. Donations will be directed to a non-profit fund created in Joan's family name to ensure they are used specifically as she wished.
To make a tax deductible donation, please fill out the required form using the following link:
< https://bit.ly/DonateDCEF >
Instructions for sending checks or wire transfers are available in the form.
Alternatively, checks can be made payable to Fidelity Charitable and reference the Giving Account number & name (1293272 // Duncan Cancer Endowment Fund) in the memo section.
Please reach out to her son, Justin Kane, if any help is required for donations.
Joan's memory will continue to live on through the love and generosity she shared with all those who knew her.
The below was taken directly from a project that Joan was working on prior to her passing. She wanted to share her story with everyone.
Joan's Story
Joan is a woman who always listened to advice about getting her annual mammogram, annual physical and pap smear, as recommended. She got the vaccines and boosters for Covid and was shocked in June of last year to learn she was diagnosed with uterine cancer. When she got the diagnosis she actually had to look it up to see exactly what this cancer was. She found out uterine and endometrial cancers are the same. She had never realized this cancer and ovarian cancer could not be detected in your pap smear and that uterine cancer is 4 times as common as ovarian cancer. A pap smear only detects cervical cancer. She never recalls that point being made clear to her during her screenings. She had a false sense of security that a negative pap smear meant everything was OK down there. Currently there is no screening or early detection for uterine or endometrial cancers. It was typically thought of as an older woman's cancer, but as many patients are diagnosed today that are in their childbearing years as those who are not. As with any cancer, early detection is the key to proper treatment and survival.
Because there is no screening, uterine cancer can be tricker to diagnose. Some of the symptoms mimic menopause, so many patients may have bleeding and told not to worry that is a sign of menopause. Not all patients have bleeding as in Joan's case, but she had pelvic pressure, lower back pain, a feeling of fullness, began to lose weight unexpectedly, a tiredness she could not shake and eventually had severe pelvic pain before her diagnosis. Her gynecologist was unable to perform a uterine biopsy in the office after an ultrasound and sonogram was performed, so a D & C and biopsy was performed in an outpatient setting a couple days later. The pathology reported showed she had uterine cancer and she was referred to MD Anderson in Jacksonville for surgery and more treatment. Joan was in shock.
Best case scenario is getting diagnosed early (Stage 1) where a hysterectomy is typically the first and only line of treatment needed at early detection. There is currently a trend for patients being diagnosed Stage 1, and later stages 3 and 4. So in other words, it is either being caught early or in later stages. Later stages typically require surgery, chemo and possibly other lines of treatment like radiation or immunotherapy. Later stages can have a higher reoccurrence rate and a higher mortality rate. It is important to understand the risk and types of cancers women currently are getting and know that uterine or endometrial and ovarian cancer cannot be detected with blood tests or an early screening.
Knowing your body and acknowledging any changes that are not typical is the first step. Find a
Gynecologist if you don't have one and be clear what your symptoms are. If you feel something is different, don't let it get dismissed. Ask for a vaginal ultrasound which can show a thicker uterine lining, which is a symptom. Ask your doctor if a uterine biopsy or a D & C procedure would be best to help eliminate or diagnose uterine cancer. Be your own advocate if you must. Only you know your body!
Patients like Joan have discovered that treatments for uterine or endometrial cancer have not changed greatly over the years, due to lack of research. Lack of awareness creates lack of research and no new treatments and that is what we are trying to change. Cases of uterine cancer have doubled in the past 15 years. It is estimated by Dana Farber Cancer Institute in the next 3-4 years, it is estimated endometrial cancer will replace colon cancer as the third most common to effect women. So pay attention to your body and report any changes. It could save your life!
Endometrial Cancer Information:
- Cancer of the uterus is increasing so rapidly, it will displace colorectal cancer as the 3rd most common cancer among women, and the 4th leading cause of women's cancer deaths.
- Cases of diagnosed uterine cancer have doubled in the past 15 years
- It is not an older woman's cancer- currently 42% diagnosed are in their 20's-40's.
- There is no screening currently in place to detect uterine cancer
- A pap smear detects cancer in the cervix, but not the uterus (you can have a negative pap smear and still have cancer of the uterus)
- Uterine cancer is 4 times as common as cervical cancer
- Some symptoms mimic menopause, so many cases are initially blamed on early menopause
- 40% of cases are Stage 3 or 4 before properly diagnosed
- Like most cancers, the earlier caught, the better the outcome
- A transvaginal ultrasound and D & C are the best tools currently to diagnose uterine cancer
- Any changes need to be reported to a gynecologist
- Be your own advocate until your symptoms are properly treated
- No awareness, no research, no funding for new treatments
Symptoms to look for:
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Lower back pain
- Unexpected weight loss
- Change in menstrual cycle, before or after menopause- the abnormality of the cycle increases the risk for uterine cancer because of the dysregulation of hormones
- Bleeding is a top symptom on the internet, yet more and more women have no bleeding
- Tiredness or exhaustion that won't go away
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