Stockbridge Woman Advocates For Breast Cancer Research
By Shari McLaughlin

Stockbridge resident Susan Pelletier, an advocate in the breast cancer research program run by the US Dept. of Defense, recently attended the Program’s 2008 "Era of Hope" proceedings in Baltimore, Md.

With over 1,600 attendees, the "Era of Hope" is a multidisciplinary, collaborative effort bringing together researchers, doctors and advocates with the goal of sharing innovative research and reducing breast cancer’s impact on the lives of all who are affected by the disease. The proceedings are the second largest meeting about breast cancer research in the country.

"This is a very valuable meeting," said Pelletier. "Scientists and doctors must work together." One of the topics at the proceedings was ‘How Breast Cancer Develops and Spreads’ and yet, said Pelletier, "they still cannot explain why and how this happens."

One of the biggest issues hampering collaboration between scientists and doctors, explained Pelletier, is that there is "lots of research being done, but there’s not one specific model that everyone uses so that we’re all on the same page." Other issues include under- and over-treatment of breast cancer and a one-size-fits-all approach for treatment because doctors still don’t know which breast cancers will advance or metastasize.

A priority for advocates like her, said Pelletier, is pushing hard for treatment plans that are individualized and affordable with testing that causes no inherent harm.

"The mammography has been around for 40 years and is far from perfect," she said. "Research is underway on detection methods that may one day lead to a more reliable, non-radiation based technology for detecting breast cancer."

Pelletier was particularly interested to learn about new imaging technologies currently being tested that don’t use compression and are low cost and risk, such as microwave and molecular imaging as well as tomography, which can single out tumors in surrounding tissue.

Another priority for Pelletier is development of better decision services for patients.

"Doctors and interns need training to help patients feel more comfortable being partners in their own treatment, understanding patient preferences and giving them valid information so they can make well informed decisions."

Doctors have so little time, explained Pelletier, especially in oncology, that patients really need to be prepared for each appointment yet without good decision services, patients often don’t know how to prepare and don’t get the most out of their time with the oncologist.

"There’s still so much work to be done," said Pelletier, a two-time breast cancer survivor herself. "These life circumstances bring about personal strength, new possibilities and connections with others. It makes you realize what matters most," she concluded.

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