When it comes to breast cancer research and finding effective treatments, collaboration and data sharing are key. Melissa Bondy, Ph.D., is ShareForCures™ Chief Scientist and at the forefront of developing and implementing Susan G. Komen’s innovative new initiative. 

Komen Scholar Dr. Julie Palmer grew up never knowing her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It was only after she graduated from college and her mother faced her second breast cancer diagnosis that she learned her mother quietly had a mastectomy when Palmer was in the sixth grade.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for Hispanic women in the U.S., a fact Komen Scholar Dr. Amelie Ramirez has dedicated her career to changing. Screening tests can help find breast cancer at an early stage when the chances of survival are highest, but Amelie knows many Hispanic women are hesitant to be screened.

As a two-time breast cancer survivor, Susan G. Komen Scholar Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vazquez knows the importance of ensuring historically marginalized populations are involved in research to find the cures.

The latest advances in breast cancer research were recently announced at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2023 Annual Meeting. We spoke with experts Dr. Sherene Loi, Ph.D., medical oncologist and professor of medical oncology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and Dr. Erika Hamilton, M.D., medical oncologist at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, about some of the new breakthroughs announced at ASCO that could impact patient care.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer that grows and spreads more aggressively than other types, is more difficult to treat and more likely to recur. These challenges are compounded for Black women, who are twice as likely to be diagnosed with TNBC compared with white women and 30% more likely to die from these tumors.

Early detection remains a critical factor in improving breast cancer survival rates. A promising area of exploration in this arena is the study of blood-based biomarkers. One researcher leading the way in this field is Dr. Abenaa Brewster, a distinguished oncologist whose work is transforming our understanding of breast cancer detection and treatment.

Imagine a world where breast cancer could be detected early before it even has a chance to start and where doctors could target the specific biological signs that lead to tumor growth. What if breast cancer treatments could be individualized and tailored according to each person’s unique tumor profile?

In this episode of Susan G. Komen’s Breast Cancer Breakthroughs series, Susan G. Komen’s Senior Vice President of Mission Victoria Smart joins Dr. Antonio Wolff, a medical oncologist at Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Daniel Stover, a medical oncologist at The James Cancer Center at the Ohio State University, to discuss new possibilities for breast cancer patients through treatment de-escalation.

As researchers continue to seek promising new breast cancer treatments for patients, they are now shifting their focus from a standardized, “one-size-fits-all” approach to a more individualized practice known as precision medicine.

Komen Scholar Angela DeMichele, M.D., MSCE, has a vision to find the cures for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). As a professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. DeMichele’s research focuses on new therapies for breast cancer and preventing breast cancer recurrence.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive breast cancer that develops rapidly and often does not present as a lump, making it harder to spot on a mammogram. Instead, people notice symptoms such as a rash or swelling, which can easily be confused with a breast infection. IBC can progress rapidly and is often at […]