Tiffy was just 29 when she learned she had breast cancer. “I didn’t have to worry about my medical bills, but I couldn’t afford daily expenses,” she said. She turned to Komen’s Financial Assistance Program and was approved for a grant. “That gave me the ability to breathe for just a moment,” Tiffy said. “I could think about my own well-being.”
When it comes to advocacy in the breast cancer community, few stories are as inspiring as that of Dr. Vondalyn Wright, affectionately known as Dr. Von. Her breast cancer diagnosis and her unwavering support for others facing the disease have made her an inspiration for people like Princess, who discovered Dr. Von while caring for her grandmother.
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.
Researchers are exploring new frontiers in early estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer to improve outcomes and quality of life for patients. People with early ER+ breast cancer often see favorable outcomes from their treatment, but once treatment is done, many face the fear of not knowing if their cancer will come back.
For community leaders motivated to help end breast cancer, Susan G. Komen’s ambassador fundraising programs offer dedicated supporters a chance to engage with their networks to fundraise in support of Komen. This story highlights the journeys of three of Komen’s dedicated supporters who inspired others to give back and make a meaningful impact in the fight to end breast cancer.
Jasmine was diagnosed with stage 2b triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma shortly after her 38th birthday. “I chose to face the challenge with all the courage I never knew I had. Through sickness, financial despair, traveling out of state and missing work for 19 months, I made it,” she said.
Due in part to underrepresentation in clinical trials, Black women in the U.S. are at higher risk from dying of breast cancer than white women. Komen Scholar Bryan Schneider, M.D., trial lead for the EAZ171 clinical trial, is seeking to overcome these disparities in outcomes for Black women with breast cancer by personalizing chemotherapy.
Marianne had a new job and was planning her wedding when she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. “Just two weeks later, I learned it had spread to my lungs,” Marianne said. “I actually had stage 4 (metastatic) breast cancer.”
When Janay felt a lump in her breast, she reached out to her doctor immediately. After weeks of testing, she learned she had stage 2 triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma. “It was detected relatively early, but it was aggressive,” Janay said. “I knew the road ahead would be tough.”
The feeling that something was wrong with her body nagged at Valerie. She was active and overall very healthy. “I think people thought I was crazy, but I had this constant inner feeling that I had cancer,” she recalled. She was 34 and had no family history of breast cancer. And yet the feeling just kept tugging at her, so she chose to listen to her body. “I knew something wasn’t right,” she said. “I’ve always been very healthy. I believe it’s important to connect with your mind and body.”
To meet Janice Parker is to know the definition of what it means to turn pain into passion. She has lived a life where the topic of breast cancer was never far away. From her mother’s and aunt’s diagnoses – to her own…twice – Janice has found power in her experience. As an advocate for […]
“The unprecedented health and economic crisis we are undergoing as a nation has highlighted how important our patient support, research and advocacy are for people facing breast cancer – they need us now, more than ever,”
– Paula Schneider, Komen’s President and CEO
