Influence: A Key Goal of NBCC
To achieve its mission, the National Breast Cancer Coalition has three primary goals: Research, Access & Influence.
Our "Influence" goal is "to increase the involvement and influence of those living with breast cancer and other breast cancer activists in the decision-making processes that impact all aspects of the disease."
Accomplishments in this area include:
- Conceived and spearheaded an unprecedented model of consumer involvement and innovative research at the DOD peer-reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program, which has attracted more than 29,000 proposals since its inception.
- Developed Beyond the Headlines to bring the perspective of trained breast cancer activists to research studies and media reports, to cut through the rhetoric and provide unbiased breast cancer information and offer tools for understanding the complexities inherent in breast cancer issues.
- Launched our Clinical Trials Initiative to make certain that the right research gets done correctly and quickly, that trained breast cancer survivors are included in trial design and accrual; and that policies encourage access to trials and mandate insurance coverage for participants.
- Developed our Quality Care Initiative to put the power in the hands of women with the disease to make informed treatment decisions and promote systems change.
- Created the Guide to Quality Breast Cancer Care, a consumer guidebook that helps those affected by breast cancer to better understand what quality care is and how to get it.
What's New
Era of Hope Controversy Session
The issues we are about to discuss are among the most hotly debated clinical topics in breast cancer today:
- are we ready to engage in a clinical trial of trastuzumab (I'm sure in combination with polychemotherapy) for Her2 negative breast cancer?...and
- what place do anthracyclines have in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer?...
- Topics: Era of Hope, Testimonials
Experience at the Era of Hope Meeting
To begin with, I would like to say that my experience at this year's Era of Hope Conference was different than any other breast cancer scientific conference that I have ever attended-and that includes all the preceding EOH conferences. Let me explain: this is the first time I have ever felt like an actual participant as opposed to an observer. Why did I feel so engaged? First and foremost the way the conference was organized-especially the plenary sessions was instrumental in encouraging...- Topics: Era of Hope, Testimonials
Diagnosis - What's on the Horizon?
I am honored to be a part of this plenary session describing what is on the horizon regarding breast cancer diagnosis. I am excited, but at the same time I have considerable trepidation about how these research ideas eventually will be translated into medical treatments that will ultimately affect the patient population I represent.
What does diagnosis mean?
The dictionary definition of...
- Topics: Era of Hope, Testimonials
Unanswered Questions
It's been a little over a week since I returned home to Milwaukee, WI after attending the "Era of Hope", Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program meeting. I am still trying to digest and reflect on information presented at the plenary sessions and symposiums.The subtitle for this year's Era of Hope was "Time for Action". I thought the opening session/panel entitled "Unanswered Questions" was right on target. Christine Brunswick of...
- Topics: Era of Hope, Testimonials
Tissues of the Future
At the Era of Hope conference, one presentation that I found most intriguing was the "Tissues of the Future" presentation by Karen Burg, Ph.D at 7 AM Saturday morning. Dr. Burg, Hunter Endowed Chair and Professor of Bioengineering at Clemson University, is an Era of Hope Scholar and epitomizes the innovative researchers supported by the BCRP. As a bioengineer, the first part of the presentation was an introduction to the role bioengineers play in medicine, not just in...
- Topics: Era of Hope, Testimonials
Estrogenicity and Breast Cancer Risk
I had the honor of co-chairing the symposium " Estrogenicity and Breast Cancer Risk" with Dr. Malcolm Pike at the" Era of Hope" meeting this year. This symposium focused primarily on risk reduction and prevention.Six diverse research projects funded by the DoD Breast Cancer Research Program were presented at this symposium. These six projects span a broad spectrum-from the basic science of breast cancer, through translational research to the clinical...
- Topics: Era of Hope
1600 Advocates & Researchers Attend 2008 Era of Hope Meeting
Were you there? If not, you missed 3 days of reporting on the latest in breast cancer research. Recently the Department of Defense (DOD) peer-reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) held its Era of Hope meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The Era of Hope meeting is a key feature of the DOD BCRP's commitment to transparency. Every two to three years, researchers who receive funds from the Program must present their...
- Topics: Era of Hope
Era of Hope 2008 Meeting to be Held This Week
The fifth Era of Hope meeting for the Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) will be held on June 25-28, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland.
The DOD BCRP is the source of much of the most innovative research conducted in breast cancer over these last two decades. Advocates join scientists on the DOD BCRP peer and programmatic review panels....
DoD Peer Reviewer Praises NBCC
Hi Fran,
As I read my first email from the DoD Peer Review I realize how much I need to thank the National Breast Cancer Coalition.
I am a graduate of Project Lead in 2007 and Quality Care in 2008. I attended Advocacy Training and Lobby for the last years (and this year I brought 5 new advocates!). My work as an advocate is due to my experience with the NBCC, thank you and the NBCC...
2005 Era of Hope Meeting Highlights
The Era of Hope Meeting
The Era of Hope meeting occurs every two or three years. Its purpose is to have
all research funded by the program in a given funding cycle presented to the
public through oral presentations and poster sessions. The Era of Hope program
is designed by a Technical Planning Committee, which includes scientists and
consumers who review the reports of the funded research, choose the meeting
themes and select the presentations. Themes...
2002 Era of Hope Meeting Highlights
Era of Hope is held every two to three years. This report is about the meeting that took place from September 25-28, 2002. The following summarizes just a few of the most interesting and important results presented at the conference. To learn more about Era of Hope and the DOD-BCRP, go to the website of the DOD-BCRP or check out NBCC's legislative priority #2 -- ...
NBCC Spearheads Unique & Unprecedented Research Program
The Department of Defense (DOD) peer-reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) was created in 1992 as a result of the National Breast Cancer Coalition's "$300 Million More" campaign to increase federal funding for breast cancer research. Due to NBCC's efforts and the Congressional leadership of Senators Tom Harkin and Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY), in FY 1993 Congress appropriated $210 million in the DOD research and development budget for a breast cancer research program...