Breast Cancer

When motivated individuals come together, what can be accomplished is profound. This driving force has kept the Daffodils & Diamonds Luncheon, Auction, and Fashion Show pressing forward for the last 41 years. Since its inception, the committee behind the annual event has made a resounding impact with the support it has been able to provide in the work to find a cure for cancer. A Significant Impact Led by Women in our Community NFCR donor, Alice-Anne Birch, started this luncheon as a way to honor her mother and sister who both battled breast cancer and ultimately passed due to the disease. Now, an annual occasion, the Daffodils & Diamonds Luncheon brings together a community of passionate supporters, honoring all they have lost to the disease. With a phenomenal turnout of more than 250 attendees this year, the event exemplifies the unwavering commitment to making a difference in the fight against cancer. As we honor Women's History Month, it's fitting to recognize the pivotal role women have played in advancing cancer research, further underscoring the significance of this gathering, which is primarily made up of successful women. The Daffodils & Diamond Luncheon has raised over $1.5 million since partnering with the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR). This year's event continued that tradition of success, raising over $100,000 for lifesaving cancer research. Considered by many to be the highlight of the luncheon was the powerful speech delivered by NFCR-Supported Researcher, Dr. Azra Raza, whose words resonated deeply with the audience. As the beneficiary of this event, NFCR was able to coordinate an appearance from Dr. Raza to help demonstrate not only the impact on research the event has but also the caliber of research NFCR continues to support with the help of our donors. Dr. Raza's passionate advocacy for cancer research, insights into the latest advancements, and deeply personal stories inspired attendees to reaffirm their commitment to our mission of making cures possible for ALL types of cancer. Her message underscores the urgency of continued support for research initiatives to improve prevention and treatment strategies. Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a successful silent auction featuring an array of items generously donated by local businesses and supporters. The auction raised vital funds and created a sense of shared purpose among attendees, further galvanizing the community's dedication to the fight against cancer. Get Involved to Raise Awareness and Funds for Cancer Research As we reflect on the significance of the Daffodils & Diamonds Luncheon, we honor the resilience of cancer survivors, researchers, and advocates who tirelessly champion the cause. Together, we stand united in our commitment to making cures possible. The success of this year's Daffodils & Diamonds Luncheon is a testament to the power of collective action in driving progress in cancer research. Everyone can help make cures possible by supporting NFCR’s mission to beat cancer through high-risk and high-reward research. As we look to the future, let us continue to draw inspiration from the courage and determination of those affected by cancer, fueling our resolve to make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions worldwide. [...]

Continued research has resulted in constant treatment improvement that provides more therapeutic options for breast cancer patients. In addition to the standard treatment options, advanced targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and combination therapy have significantly improved breast cancer treatment outcomes.  According to a report from the American Cancer Society, the number of breast cancer deaths in the U.S. has decreased by 42% from 1989 to 2019. This data indicates more patients have survived breast cancer after being treated with advanced therapeutic approaches. Breast Cancer Survivors have an Increased Risk of Developing Cardiovascular Disease Even though more patients survive their breast cancer because of improved outcomes, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) after receiving treatment has become a veritable concern. A recent report published on April 6, 2022 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology revealed that women with breast cancer who received cancer therapies had increased cardiovascular disease events than women without breast cancer.  The study compared data from 13,642 women with invasive breast cancer between 2005 and 2013 with 68,202 women without breast cancer. They found that breast cancer patients who received the chemotherapy drug anthracyclines and/or the anti-HER2 drug trastuzumab had a higher risk of heart failure than the controls.  Also observed was a higher risk of heart failure in breast cancer survivors who had a history of radiation therapy and aromatase inhibitor treatment. Finally, researchers saw elevated risks for stroke, arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and CVD-related death in breast cancer patients who received cancer treatment.  Taking Action Against Cardiovascular Disease Risk Nearly 90% of breast cancer patients survive at least five years after their initial diagnosis. Even more, there are 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. Thus, the increased CVD is an issue that impacts millions of individuals and deserves attention.  Typically, increased CVD risk manifests approximately seven years after diagnosis. Doctors and patients should take preventive actions and intervention measures to reduce the excess burden during this critical time frame. Live a Healthy Lifestyle to Reduce CVD Risk Patients need to understand that they shouldn't avoid the treatments after their diagnosis. Immediate and effective treatment is critical to saving their lives. Instead, they should take the following steps to prevent or minimize their cardiac risks.  Develop a plan with their doctors for receiving comprehensive, ongoing follow-up care and monitoring for their cardiovascular risk.  Understand that they could improve their chances of living a long, fulfilling life and reduce their risk of CVD by living a healthy lifestyle. This lifestyle includes exercising regularly, sticking to a healthy diet, and keeping a healthy weight.  Although this study helps doctors and breast cancer survivors realize the effects of cancer treatments on cardiovascular health, further studies are needed to provide guidelines and strategies to prevent treatment-associated CVD and protect the patients during and after the treatments.  Sign up here to receive our monthly e-newsletter and blogs featuring healthy life-related information, stories of inspiration, support resources, cancer prevention tips, and more.  Additional Reads You May Enjoy:  Managing Stress as a Cancer Patient and Survivor 5 Ways Walking Can Reduce Stress and Prevent Illness New Treatment & Renewed Hope for Triple-negative Breast [...]

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is more aggressive and has a worse prognosis than other breast cancers. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for about 15-20% of all breast cancers. The word "triple-negative" means laboratory test results for the three treatment targets on cancer cells, namely the estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2 proteins, are all negative. TNBC is a more aggressive type of cancer that grows and spreads faster. As the triple-negative cancer cells won't respond well to most therapies, including hormone therapy and targeted therapy, doctors have very few treatment options to control the cancer progress. As a result, TNBC patients tend to spread faster and have a higher recurrence rate and worse prognosis. A New Treatment Option is Now Available On March 11, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a drug called Olaparib to treat HER2-negative, high-risk early breast cancer. Data from a phase 3 clinical trial of 1,836 patients, of which about 82% had the triple-negative disease, led to the approval. The clinical trial results demonstrated that Olaparib reduced the risk of death by 32%, compared to the placebo. The recent FDA approval brings new hopes to patients with early triple-negative breast cancer since many currently available therapies couldn't effectively control the progression of their cancers. Patients have to do a blood test before receiving Olaparib treatment. Olaparib is a targeted therapy restricted to patients whose breast cancers have specific gene mutations called germline BRCA1/2 mutations. To be eligible for the treatment, patients must have an FDA-approved blood test, or a companion diagnostic test, to confirm the existence of the germline BRCA1/2 mutations before their treatment. Patients without the confirmed mutations couldn't receive the Olaparib treatment as they won't have the treatment benefits from the drug and might experience the drug's harsher side effects. Research Performed Three Decades Ago Enhances Targeted Therapy Today  In 1990, Dr. Mary-Claire King, an assistant professor at UC Berkeley, was the first scientist to demonstrate that a gene on chromosome 17q21, named BRCA1 one year later, was responsible for hereditary early-onset breast cancers. In 1994, Drs. Michael Stratton and Richard Wooster in the UK identified BRCA2. Three decades later, mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes become a critical indication to enhance the targeted therapy with Olaparib. It tells us that converting research discoveries to patient-impacting benefits takes pretty long. We need to continue to support basic research today so that new therapies can continue to save patients' lives in the future. To recognize Dr. Mary-Claire King's fundamental contribution to the genetic understanding of cancer, the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) awarded Dr. Mary-Claire King the Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research in 2016 in Washington DC. Learn more about this award and Dr. Mary-Claire King's research here. Olaparib offers survival benefits and brings new hopes to patients with early triple-negative breast cancer. As the patients have to be selected by an FDA-approved blood test before the treatment, patients should work with their doctors to determine whether they are eligible for the treatment before receiving the treatment. Sign up here to receive our monthly e-newsletter featuring healthy living information, stories of [...]