The Deadline to End Breast Cancer

On Thursday afternoon I flew to Minneapolis to take part the National Breast Cancer Coalition's LEAD Project, an intensive three-day workshop designed to train breast cancer advocates. LEAD stands for leadership, education, advocacy and development. The seminar is well named. It is designed to educate and develop advocate leaders in the breast cancer movement. I attended the conference at the recommendation of The National Lung Cancer Partnership and I am glad I did.

This time last year I was writing about "Octoberbreast", when every town in America is painted pink. As a lung cancer advocate I have been jealous of the support and funding for breast cancer as compared to lung cancer. So I was a little apprehensive about attending this conference and then saying something inappropriate. In the end, I decided that the best policy was to say as little as possible and just listen.

First, I have to say that the group assembled -- both teaching staff and students -- was impressive. The lecturers included cancer researchers from the National Cancer Institute and various teaching staff and physicians from such educational institutions as Virginia Tech, Harvard, Amherst College, and The University of Minnesota. The “students” included breast cancer researchers as well as advocates and organizers from the mid-West, many of whom are nurses, physicians and epidemiologists. The group was reflective of the entire country including blacks, whites, Asians and Hispanics. However, I was the only male in the class, which was really no surprise. (Every cancer conference I have been to in the last two years has been dominated by women.)

This particular group was knowledgeable, well educated, thoughtful and fun. Many were breast cancer survivors. Over the three days I learned the basics of cellular biology as it relates to cancer, some of the basics of epidemiology, and how to read and interpret medical research reports with a critical eye. I also learned about the cellular biology of the latest targeted drug therapies and how they work. The LEAD Project is renowned for training knowledgeable breast cancer advocates and I can see why.

During conference breaks and at mealtime I was able to speak with many of these women who have been through treatments very similar to mine. I was surprised to learn that we could speak the same language and that our experiences as cancer patients were not all that different. Many of the participants were not aware of lung cancer mortality rates and funding statistics. Most were surprised and open to the idea that lung cancer is as much a women’s issue as breast cancer.

Many of the questions they are asking in the breast cancer movement and at this conference are the same as the questions I have: for example, why are so many young women developing breast cancer (and lung cancer)?

I was surprised to learn about the shortcomings of mammography as a screening technology and that some women have a “predisposition” to breast cancer, if they have certain gene mutations. It made me think that there may be similar gene mutations for lung cancer that have not been discovered.

It would be hard to summarize all that I learned in three days. What I can say is that I now have a better understanding of the overlapping interests of breast and lung cancer. The National Breast Cancer Coalition announced at the conference that they are setting a date for the end of breast cancer – January 1st 2020. They believe setting a deadline for results will be the first step in replacing “hope” and “pink” with a plan of action. That is an idea I certainly endorse. Why not make it ALL cancers?

Somehow we have to learn what genetic predisposition results in men not becoming involved in cancer advocacy. If we can unlock that mysterious genetic code, we could redouble our efforts to end cancer.