Scientists and doctors from around the world recently gathered for the 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, which took place Oct. 20-24 in Madrid, Spain. Here, researchers present their latest findings that have the potential to change the standard of care for patients here in the United States. This year’s meeting was full of exciting news for breast cancer.
Through her new Komen-funded study, Komen researcher Erika Crosby, Ph.D., is hoping to answer these questions, with a goal of improving treatment outcomes for obese women with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), especially Black women. Dr. Crosby, who is an assistant professor at Duke University and an immunologist, is dedicated to improving the effectiveness of immunotherapies and ensuring breast cancer research is representative and beneficial to all.
Join us on a transformative journey with Alexandra Spinner, a fitness advocate who faced a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in 2019. Discover her holistic approach to surviving and thriving, embracing “survival of the wisest” as she shares invaluable insights into fitness, self-care, and resilience. Alexandra’s story will inspire you to start small, prioritize your health, and find empowerment, even in the face of adversity.
Getting her kids involved in a fundraiser to help support Susan G. Komen was a no-brainer for Megan Fleming. But what set this fundraiser apart from others is how close to home it hit, as Megan was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023.
Jaya Kataria’s son, Rishi, was just 13 when she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. After watching her perseverance in the face of her illness, Rishi knew he wanted to give back to the breast cancer community, which is when he launched Pillars of Hope and began making candles to raise money to support Susan G. Komen’s mission to end breast cancer forever.
With your support, Susan G. Komen can fund lifesaving research and provide ongoing support and critical assistance to people with breast cancer. When you make an end of year gift, Komen’s Board of Directors will match it.
Nothing prepared Bola for a breast cancer diagnosis. In 2021, Bola learned she had right ductal carcinoma in situ and left invasive lobular carcinoma breast cancer. “Even my prior experience as an oncology nurse did nothing to prepare me for the reality of facing my own diagnosis,” Bola said. “It’s been intense.”
Ryn learned she had breast cancer at age 38. “I was fit, took care of myself and had no history of breast cancer in my family,” she said. “I was devastated. I went from my strongest to my absolute weakest in what seemed like overnight.”
In the collective effort to create a world free from breast cancer, every story, every experience and every voice matters. One such voice that has been pivotal in shaping the narrative and enhancing awareness about breast cancer inequities is that of Marian Johnson-Thompson, Ph.D.
In 2022, Christy learned she had DCIS. After a mastectomy, she opted not to have breast reconstruction. “I want other women to know that you can opt to ‘go flat,'” she said. “Reconstruction is not the right choice for everyone.”
Lucie had no family history of breast cancer and was under 40 when she was diagnosed with invasive carcinoma and DCIS. “My doctor reminded me that my diagnosis wasn’t a death sentence and she was thankful that we caught it early,” Lucie said. “Despite delivering this devastating news, she gave me hope.”
Since the approval of the first therapy targeting the HER2 protein in 1998, outcomes for people with an aggressive type of breast cancer, called HER2-positive, have improved dramatically. While there are now eight approved drugs that target HER2, the disease can still outsmart each of them over time. Because of this, there is still work to be done.
