Fighting for the Cure

By Diane Balma
Senior Counsel and Director of Public Policy, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

On Jan. 2‚ 2002‚ as I was driving home from my office at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation‚ my cell phone rang. It was my friend Martha Hale‚ who was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer seven years ago at age 37. Martha was calling to tell me the results of her latest MRI‚ and the news wasn’t good. It wasn’t the way I had envisioned ringing in the New Year. I had expected it‚ but somehow you’re never prepared when it’s someone you love. As I pulled to the side of the road‚ Martha and I began to talk about her options. There weren’t many‚ and we both knew it. But‚ in that moment‚ she just needed hope. After we hung up‚ I sat there‚ with that same sort of “just-been-kicked-in-the-gut” feeling I had almost eight years ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 30.

I never asked the “why me?” question about my own diagnosis. But there I was‚ sitting on the side of the road‚ feeling helpless and wondering‚ “Why Martha?” Why wouldn’t she live to see another year? Why didn’t we have a cure for this disease that was taking the life of my dear friend? Why couldn’t I do more? After all‚ through my work with the Komen Foundation‚ I had access to information about the best care available. The irony was thick and hard to swallow.

Just a few months earlier and shortly after having a brain lesion removed‚ my gutsy friend Martha made the trip to Washington‚ D.C.‚ from Austin‚ Texas‚ to join me and my colleagues at a White House event to honor breast cancer survivors and to participate in Komen’s national Race for the Cure®. Martha believed that it’s not just that you live‚ but how you live. And she wanted to use her experience to make a difference.

On race day‚ as Martha walked down Constitution Avenue with dogged determination to finish‚ she was awestruck by the sea of pink and white Race T-shirts—70‚000 people—all raising money to help put an end to breast cancer. She remarked that while she knew there wouldn’t be a cure for her‚ she had already benefited from the research funded by the Komen Foundation and its many supporters and partners‚ and she was grateful for that because it “bought” her more time. She expressed great hope that one day we would find a cure and‚ better yet‚ a way to prevent breast cancer. But she also understood‚ better than anyone‚ the need for increased awareness about breast cancer and better tools to detect it earlier‚ because while we’re investing for the future‚ we can’t ignore the needs of women today.

When the Komen Foundation prepared to return to Washington‚ D.C.‚ in 2002 for our national Race and annual Mission Conference‚ I called Martha‚ who was then under hospice care. Her mother put the phone to Martha’s ear. I hadn’t heard her voice in many weeks because her cancer had weakened her vocal cords. Expecting no reply‚ I told her that even though she was unable to join us‚ she was with us in spirit. Then‚ loudly and clearly‚ with the same spirit with which she so defiantly fought breast cancer she said‚ “You guys go kick some ass.”

I had to laugh that bittersweet kind of laugh you muster when the tides are turning in your life and there’s little you can do about it except try not to be pulled under. Martha’s words that day left me with a new kind of clarity and sense of purpose and reminded me (as if I needed it) of why I do what I do and why I do it for the Komen Foundation.

In 2002‚ the Komen Foundation marked its 20th anniversary in the fight against breast cancer. Planning the observance was a challenge. We’re proud of the strides we’ve made as an organization. Today‚ the Komen Foundation is a global leader in the fight against breast cancer and the largest private funding source of breast cancer research. In 20 years‚ the Komen Foundation‚ along with its network of 118 domestic and three international affiliates and more than 75‚000 volunteers‚ has raised more than $600 million for breast cancer research and nonduplicative‚ community-based outreach programs for the medically underserved. We’ve leveraged federal research dollars by funding some truly visionary research in breast cancer and quality care‚ and we’ve fostered the careers of many young scientists who stand at the brink of major breakthroughs in cell biology‚ imaging‚ and zeroing in on genetic markers that signal the possibility of future cancers.

The Komen Foundation also has a rich history in public policy advocacy at all levels—federal‚ state‚ and local. We believe that advocacy is not one-stop shopping. It’s not limited to fund raising‚ grant making‚ one issue‚ or one organization. And so we’ve worked collaboratively to secure increased funding for breast cancer research‚ and screening and treatment programs such as the National Breast and Cervical Early Detection Program. We’ve fought for Medicare coverage of routine care associated with clinical trials‚ and for the passage and reauthorization of the Mammography Quality Standards Act. And we’ve worked to preserve the stream of innovative technologies and therapies that have revolutionized breast health and breast cancer care by seeking adequate reimbursement rates for these existing and new technologies and treatments.

But‚ the Foundation’s sense of achievement is tempered by the fact that this year alone‚ more than 200‚000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer‚ and nearly 40‚000 women will lose their lives to this disease. And while we are optimistic that there has been a gradual decline in the overall breast cancer mortality rate‚ that decline has not been seen throughout all populations‚ specifically‚ African-American women‚ who experience a higher mortality rate than any other ethnic group.

Eradicating breast cancer requires that scientific breakthroughs be translated into quality patient care. The Komen Foundation is working in the trenches to bridge the “bench to bedside” gap and to ensure that the increased knowledge base and new developments in breast cancer care are accessible to all patients.

And we continue to challenge ourselves to develop new models for advancing our mission. Recently‚ we launched a new grassroots public policy pilot project‚ Komen Champions for the Cure™‚ designed to build on what we have learned in working with state and local breast cancer outreach programs and to leverage this knowledge and experience to increase public investment in breast health and breast cancer care.

We at the Komen Foundation renew our promise and remain steadfast in our commitment to advance research‚ education‚ screening‚ and treatment so that one day we will have something miraculous to celebrate—a world where women and men die with breast cancer and not from it.

To learn more about Komen Champions for the Cure™‚ please visit www.policy.komen.org.