Tag: clinical trials

A Counterpoint to a Recent Breast Cancer News Article

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I want to begin by saying the overarching message of the article is hopeful and promising news in breast cancer survival. A recent report, October 23, 2023, in Penn Medicine News, announced that a research team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Abramson Cancer Center received a $10 million Department of Defense (DoD) grant. However, I would like to present a counterpoint to the opening statement of this recent breast cancer news article. Project LEAD Guides Me in This Counterpoint to the Article I attended NBCC’s Project LEAD in 2017 along with many other patient advocates. This program continues today training breast cancer advocates in the science, biology, and dissemination of information to the breast cancer communities we serve. I keep the well-organized, three-ring binder close at hand to this day to reference topics and sessions presented by world leading scientists and researchers Continue Reading →

FDA Approval of Breast Cancer Vaccine

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The FDA recently opened the door for a phase 1 of a particular type of breast cancer vaccine to begin this spring. This Phase 1 clinical trial of the vaccine was approved for use in humans with triple negative breast cancer, considered to be one of the most difficult types of breast cancers to treat. As a patient advocate, the FDA approval of the phase 1 clinical trial for this breast cancer vaccine comes as good news. There are various types of breast cancer. A majority, around 80%, are estrogen receptor positive often referred as ER+. This means the cancer cells grow in response to the hormone estrogen. Women and men who have breast cancers that are ER/PR+ are prescribed medication that blocks the hormone receptors, preventing hormones from binding to them thus helping the breast cancer from coming back. A pathology report for what type of breast cancer you Continue Reading →

#SABCS 2017 through a Patient Advocate’s Lens

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#SABCS 2017 through a Patient Advocate’s Lens #SABCS 2017 through a patient advocate’s lens is about my experience at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (#SABCS) 2017.  Two descriptive words that sum it up quickly from my personal standpoint are, exhilarating and exhausting.  I am an advocate for breast reconstruction options after mastectomy.  That is my wheelhouse so I carefully contemplated the benefits of attending.  But, there is no breast reconstruction without breast cancer.  I found it to be a profound conference on many levels both intellectually and emotionally and well worth the experience. A Robust Patient Advocacy Program My decision to attend was solidified after learning about the robust patient advocacy program that SABCS has.  Each evening, after the general sessions, patient advocates would gather to listen to selected “hot topics” of the day.  We could listen, interact, and ask questions. There were notable speakers and leaders in the Continue Reading →