Collaboration: National Treatment Assistance Fund

The costs of breast cancer treatment can impose a significant financial burden on survivors. The Susan G. Komen® National Treatment Assistance Fund helps bridge the gap for individuals who are actively undergoing breast cancer treatment.

The aim of the National Treatment Assistance Fund is to increase the number of individuals who remain in the breast cancer continuum of care by providing financial assistance to ensure adherence and completion of breast cancer treatment. Funding helps individuals of any age who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, at any stage of the disease.

The fund provides two types of financial assistance – assistance grants and co-pay – based upon need and eligibility requirements. This limited financial assistance program is currently administered by CancerCare and the co-pay program is currently administered by Patient Advocate Foundation.

Limited financial assistance grants of $300 are awarded to underinsured or uninsured individuals across the country in need of:

• Pain and anti-nausea medication
• Lymphedema support and supplies with a prescription
• Durable medical equipment ordered by their physician
• Transportation to and from treatment
• Childcare and/or eldercare necessitated by treatment
• Oral medication for cancer treatment

Co-Pay Relief up to $5000 is provided for insured patients who qualify medically and financially to help with the co-pays for their prescriptions and/or pharmaceutical treatments.

For both programs, financial assistance is granted to individuals who meet pre-determined eligibility criteria.

Learn more: http://ww5.komen.org/WhatWeDo/IntheCommunity/NationalCommunityHealthPrograms/NationalCommunityHealthPrograms.html

We’re celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use the hashtag #bcjourney to join in the conversation.

Collaboration: Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance

Metastatic breast cancer is breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other organs in the body. In the U.S., most women with metastatic cancer develop it when cancer returns at some point after their initial breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

An estimated 155,000 women and men are living with metastatic breast cancer in the U.S.

In October 2013, Susan G. Komen® joined forces with 14 other cancer charities and advocacy groups to form the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance (MBC Alliance).

The MBC Alliance aims to unify the efforts of its members and to increase awareness and education while advancing research and policy – efforts for metastatic breast cancer that have the potential to extend life, enhance quality of life and ultimately find a cure.

Learn more at http://www.mbcalliance.org/

Watch the MBC Alliance’s video about the experiences of women living with MBC:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HewanXqBDlM

Additional information on Metastatic Breast Cancer: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/SupportforPeoplewithMetastaticBreastCancer.html

http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/MetastaticBreastCancerHome.html

We’re celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use the hashtag #bcjourney to join in the conversation.

Komen Collaborations Focused on Young Women with Breast Cancer

Though most women who get breast cancer are over age 50, young women can and do get breast cancer. Five percent of all breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year occur in women under 40.

A breast cancer diagnosis can be especially shocking and challenging for young women. At a time in life most often reserved for family and career, issues of treatment, recovery and survivorship take priority for young women with breast cancer.

Here are some Komen collaborations focused on young women with breast cancer:

Susan G. Komen/Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation/Young Survival Coalition

In Fall 2013, Susan G. Komen® partnered with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (DSLRF) and the Young Survival Coalition (YSC) to advance research into side effects of breast cancer treatment, along with research into the causes of, and preventive strategies for, breast cancer.

Learn more: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130930005441/en#.VBtnlxaAQmM

Young Survival Coalition – Research Think Tank

In February 2013, Komen was a sponsor for the Young Survival Coalition (YSC) Research Think Tank in order for approximately 60 researchers, medical experts, and educated research advocates to gather in Arlington, VA. In true think tank fashion, the attendees shared their knowledge and helped YSC prioritize unanswered research questions affecting young women with breast cancer.

Read the resulting report: http://www.youngsurvival.org/sites/default/files/uploaded_files/ResearchAgenda-201.pdf

Conference Sponsorships

From 2008 through 2014, Komen was a proud to be Lead Sponsor of the Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer, funding travel scholarships to provide much needed financial assistance for young survivors and patients to attend the annual conference. More commonly known as C4YW, this meeting was a collaborative production between Living Beyond Breast Cancer and Young Survival Coalition. The final C4YW was held in February 2014 in Orlando, FL.

Komen is a sponsor of the international Breast Cancer in Young Women, funding travel scholarships specifically allowing patient advocates to attend this scientific meeting and ensure that the patient voice is incorporated into the research conversation. This bi-annual conference is an opportunity for the latest updates on this field and a platform for generating future research concepts and collaborations. It will cover epidemiology, molecular biology, genetics, pathology, surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapy and fertility preservation in young women with breast cancer.

Komen is sponsoring patient and patient advocate travel scholarships for the inaugural YSC Summit in March 2015 in Houston, TX. This three-day national conference will feature inspirational speakers, workshops addressing the unique issues that young women with breast cancer face, and special wellness activities. Find the most up-to-date, evidence-based information and tools. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with a community of other young survivors and co-survivors from across the country.

Learn more: http://www.youngsurvival.org/conferences

We’re celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use the hashtag #bcjourney to join in the conversation.

 

Global Collaboration in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

At Susan G. Komen®, we believe that where a woman lives shouldn’t determine if she lives. So Komen is fighting breast cancer in countries across the globe to reduce breast cancer mortality worldwide.

Here are two examples of Komen global collaborations:

Africa: Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon

Breast and cervical cancers take a particularly devastating toll on women in developing countries. In fact, they’re the leading causes of cancer deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa. Komen is partnering with numerous U.S. and African organizations and working to put an end to these cancer deaths.

Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon (PRRR) was co-founded in September 2011 by Susan G. Komen®, the George W. Bush Institute, the U.S. Presidents’ Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

PRRR aims to cost-effectively integrate cervical and breast cancer services into existing health service delivery platforms, beginning by leveraging the PEPFAR infrastructure for HIV/AIDS. Programs are active in Zambia and Tanzania.

Susan G. Komen’s/PRRR’S overarching global objective is to save the lives of women diagnosed with breast cancer by down-staging the disease at diagnosis and facilitating access to timely treatment. Early stage diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with significantly improved treatment outcomes.

Learn more: http://ww5.komen.org/WhatWeDo/AroundtheWorld/Africa/Africa.html

Latin America: Komen and the Caterpillar Foundation

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and leading cause of cancer deaths in women of Latin America. Several countries exhibit some of the highest mortality rates in the world. Susan G. Komen works with the Ministries of Health and local organizations in Latin America to help improve awareness of breast cancer and break down barriers to help women access breast health care.

In Latin America, Komen and the Caterpillar Foundation have partnered to improve detection of breast cancer and save lives by increasing awareness, strengthening services, and removing barriers to accessing early screening, treatment and cancer care in program communities.

The project initiated in 2011 as two-year collaboration with the Caterpillar Foundation and received additional partnership funding resulting in a three-year extension for activities to continue through 2016. Programs are active in Brazil, Mexico and Panama.

Learn more: http://ww5.komen.org/WhatWeDo/AroundtheWorld/Americas/LatinAmerica.html

We’re celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use the hashtag #bcjourney to join in the conversation.

Collaboration: The Komen Helpline

1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636)

The Susan G. Komen® helpline offers breast cancer education, psychosocial support and information about resources callers need to cope with breast cancer issues. The helpline also serves as an expert resource and support system, helping patients and families to problem solve by providing information and emotional support and access to Komen’s excellent resources. The helpline service hours are 9 am – 10 pm ET, Monday – Friday.

The most common inquiries are for breast health information, low-cost mammography resources, financial assistance and support and educational resources. This dedicated helpline staff of bilingual specialists is overseen by Masters-level social workers and assists about 13,000 people a year.

A helpline specialist may assist a caller in the following ways:

• Provide information about breast health issues and/or breast cancer
• Help callers develop a list of needs in order of their priority
• Provide support and information about relevant community or national resources
• Educate on coping skills that can help them deal with their cancer diagnosis
• Reassure clients that their feelings and concerns are typical—that they are not alone in the ways they feel
• Evaluate the need for emotional support
• Identify and provide information about other organizations that provide financial assistance and other support services
• Teach the client how to better communicate with their health care team
• Rehearse to prepare for doctors’ appointments and to help clients formulate questions and find ways to remember the answers

Learn more: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/hq1800.html

We’re celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use the hashtag #bcjourney to join in the conversation.

Breast Cancer Research: Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center

Since 2007, Susan G. Komen® has invested more than $7 million to support the Susan G. Komen® Tissue Bank at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center – the only healthy breast tissue repository in the world! By studying normal tissue, the tissue bank accelerates research on the causes and prevention of breast cancer.

The Komen Tissue Bank is the only repository in the world for normal breast tissue and matched serum, plasma and DNA. By studying normal tissue, we accelerate research for the causes and prevention of breast cancer. To more deeply understand the evolution of the disease, it is necessary to compare abnormal, cancerous tissue against normal, healthy tissue. We are committed to making a difference by acting as advocates for thinking, sharing and understanding NORMAL.

Learn more about the Komen Tissue Bank: http://komentissuebank.iu.edu/

Read more about the history and work of the Komen Tissue Bank: http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content/ResearchGrants/Tissue%20Bank%20one%20pager%20FNL.pdf

Read a first-hand account of tissue collection days: http://blog.komen.org/?p=995

We’re celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use the hashtag #bcjourney to join in the conversation.

Breast Cancer Research: Research Advocacy

Research advocates bring the patient’s voice to research, ensuring that the unique and valuable perspectives of breast cancer patients, survivors and co-survivors are integrated into the scientific dialogue and decisions, which impact progress toward ending breast cancer.

Research advocates play a variety of roles throughout the research process. Advocates do everything from educating others about research to participating in research grant peer reviews and working with or as part of scientific teams to help prioritize, develop and implement research projects.

Susan G. Komen®’s Advocates in Science (AIS) program is a community of dedicated volunteer advocates who work to reduce the burden of breast cancer in their communities.

Learn more: http://ww5.komen.org/WhatWeDo/WeFundResearch/BringingthePatientVoicetoResearch/BringingthePatientVoicetoResearch.html

We’re celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use the hashtag #bcjourney to join in the conversation.

Breast Cancer Research: Young Researchers

Susan G. Komen® is again looking to the future of breast cancer research by designating this the year of the “Young Investigator” for the Komen Research Program.

Recalling our history, you’ll find Komen’s promise to “energize the science” has included funding young investigators since 1990. Now, some of those first young investigators are some of the best “seasoned” breast cancer researchers in the world.

They are dedicated to Komen and breast cancer research and are now guiding new young minds to join them.

The field of breast cancer research has consistently attracted new minds to the pursuit of the cures. Unfortunately, with lagging funding everywhere and fewer jobs available, it is hard to keep young scientists in the field of breast cancer research. Without these future leaders and a dedicated workforce, our progress against the disease will not happen.

That’s where the Komen Research Program comes in – by providing critical funding that supports the continued research, and thus the continued careers, of these promising scientists. But, we need everyone to help raise the dollars to fund the research.

Research is our investment in the future for our children and friends, an investment in a future without breast cancer.

Learn more about how Komen funds research: http://ww5.komen.org/WhatWeDo/WeFundResearch/HowWeFundResearch/HowWeFundResearch.html

We’re celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use the hashtag #bcjourney to join in the conversation.

Breast Cancer Research: Triple Negative Breast Cancer

About 15 to 20 percent of breast cancers diagnosed today in the U.S. are triple negative breast cancers (TNBC). These tumors tend to occur more often in younger women and African American women.

Women who carry a mutated BRCA1 gene tend to have breast cancers that are triple negative. Triple negative tumors are often aggressive. Today there are no targeted therapies specifically for TNBC. However, triple negative breast cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

More research is needed to better understand how this cancer develops and how it can be treated more effectively. And that is what Susan G. Komen® is doing.

Komen has invested more than $74 million in more than 100 research grants focused on triple negative breast cancer since it was first identified as a distinct type of breast cancer in 2006. This research has helped us to understand that:

• There are at least 6 different subtypes of TNBC, each with different abnormalities, which may be treated using drugs that are specific to these abnormalities.

• A combination of a new drug that targets a “death receptor” in TNBC cells and standard chemotherapy may be more effective at killing TNBC than chemotherapy alone.

• A blood test that measures the presence of a specific set of genes may be used to identify TNBC patients with BRCA mutations, resulting in earlier intervention and improved treatment.

Learn more: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/TripleNegativeBreastCancer.html

We’re celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use the hashtag #bcjourney to join in the conversation.

Breast Cancer Research: Clinical Trials

When it comes to cancer, clinical trials are one of the biggest reasons we’ve seen gains in breast cancer survival over the past 30 years. And improved survival hasn’t been the only benefit.

Quality of life for people living with cancer has also improved as trials have helped identify more targeted treatments that can help limit many of the side effects of cancer therapies.

Most of us have heard the term “clinical trials” but haven’t given it much thought. Like a lot of important things that fly under the radar, clinical trials have had a huge impact on society.

At their most basic, clinical trials are studies done in people that test the safety and effectiveness of ways to prevent, detect or treat disease. Participants may benefit from clinical trials themselves, or their participation may benefit others in the future. They are the first to receive new treatments under investigation and, in cancer clinical trials, are guaranteed to receive the best standard care possible. And, clinical trials offer a way for women with breast cancer to play an active role in their own health care and help others by adding to medical research.

For clinical trials of new cancer treatments, there are four main types of trials, though there can be some overlap between types depending on the study.

Phase 1 (phase I): Trials that test to see if a new treatment is safe to use

Phase 2 (phase II): Trials that test to see how well a new treatment works on a certain type of cancer

Phase 3 (phase III): Trials that test to see how well a new treatment works compared to the best standard treatment (standard of care)

Phase 4 (phase IV): Trials that test the continued effectiveness and safety of a treatment after it’s been approved for use

There are many sources you can use for finding clinical trials. Each is a little different and some allow searching for trials based on factors like age, gender, breast cancer history, treatment history and geographic area as well as study-type preferences.

For example, BreastCancerTrials.org in collaboration with Susan G. Komen®, offers a custom matching service that can help you find a clinical trial that fits your health needs. Though these sites can be helpful search tools, the best approach is to ask your health care provider or local medical center for help finding an appropriate clinical trial.

 Learn more: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/ClinicalTrials.html

We’re celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use the hashtag #bcjourney to join in the conversation.