Nancy Brinker's Cancer Fight

For almost 25 years, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has worked tirelessly to educate and eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Founded by Nancy G. Brinker as a promise to her sister Suzy, the foundation has raised more than $750 million for breast cancer over the years.

"My sister was a 33-year-old beautiful young woman who was literally scared to death," Brinker tells The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler. "And we realized the mistakes we made. She wasn't able to get second opinions. It was difficult accessing information. But that was partly the system, too. We knew we had to change the system, and we knew we had to make people aware of what was going on."

A 20-year cancer survivor, Brinker said she has seen tremendous changes in the way the disease is handled by doctors.

"There's hardly an advance made in the science of breast cancer today that has not been touched somewhere in its history by a Komen grant," Brinker says. "That said, it is as important to apply what we learn from science to the clinic. And that means addressing all the disparities. And not just of the medically underserved, but from rural communities, different cities. Different physicians in different parts of the country treat this disease differently.

"We realize, as the global leader against breast cancer, we have to continue. It's such an important point that we have got to move forward with all the commitment, the promise that other people can make to us, to join the promise I made to my sister, to actually create a world without breast cancer."

Syler has known and campaigned with Brinker for many years. Brinker also founded Komen Foundation's signature program, the Komen Race for the Cure, the largest series of 5K run/fitness walks in the world. Since its origin in 1983 in Dallas, it has grown from a local race with about 800 participants to a national race series in more than 100 cities with 1 million people expected to participate in 2005.

"Our vision was always a world without breast cancer," Brinker says. "The Komen Foundation is now the global leader in that fight. We understand — and have from day one — how we have to eradicate the disease. The exciting thing is we're making so many gains. We understand we have to address two issues: causation of the disease and then addressing disparities."

In recognition of her lifetime of work in the breast cancer field, Brinker received the 2005 Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service presented by the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation last month. It may be the most prestigious science award just short of the Nobel Peace Prize. The award is not given every year, only in situations where the person has significantly contributed to public health. Christopher Reeve received it two years ago, the last recipient prior to Nancy.

"The most exciting place in this great effort we have is coming up right now," Brinker says. "I am beginning to see, as are others, a time when we can turn this disease into a manageable chronic disease. So, if a woman and man are diagnosed, doesn't have to feel a death threat. It is a disease and, yes, it may not be present, but I can actually live with this. More people are living longer that have been diagnosed."

There have been major strides in the breast cancer field. Brinker says she expects to see more personalized therapy, as well as early diagnosis and treatment.

We need a sustained commitment now to get to the next place, the next benchmark," she says. "And someday, we're going to see a world without breast cancer."

The foundation will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2007. It is in about 114 cities serving more than 15,000 communities.