Stories about breast cancer that can inspire and inform

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Shannon’s Story: Climbing the Mountain

Shannon is the third woman in her family to be diagnosed with breast cancer. “I remember hearing about methods where mountain climbers will look ahead to a specific spot on their trail and make a goal to just get to that next spot,” she said. “This is what I did during my treatment and continue to do. I envisioned the top of a mountain being the end of chemo, as that was one of my biggest mountains to climb.”

Stephanie’s Story: Nothing Can Stop Me After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis 

In March 2022, Stephanie Hargis felt a lump in her right breast. “I went to the doctor, but I really thought, along with the nurses and doctors, that it was just a swollen lymph node,” Stephanie said. Breast cancer didn’t cross her mind. “The lump was painful, but I don’t have a family history and I was only 25.”  

Highlights From ESMO 2023

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. 

New Komen Researcher Dr. Erika Crosby is Seeking New Immunotherapy Benefits for Obese Women with TNBC 

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.  

Empowerment Through Fitness: A Metastatic Breast Cancer Journey with Alexandra Spinner

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.

Pillars of Hope

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.

Amplifying Voices and Bridging Inequities: Marian Johnson-Thompson’s Breast Cancer Advocacy Journey

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.