Take Over Your Own Disease: Overcoming Breast Cancer

To raise awareness of breast cancer this month, the Early Show speaks to the founder of the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation, one of the largest breast-cancer foundations in the world.

Nancy Brinker talks about her new book, Winning The Race--Taking Charge of Breast Cancer, and shares some information about the disease.

Brinker started the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 1982 as a way to honor her sister's wish that we live in a world without breast cancer. Komen died of breast cancer at the age of 36 and Brinker subsequently fought her own successful battle with the disease.

Winning The Race - Taking Charge Of Breast Cancer is a combination of Komen's and Brinker's personal stories about dealing with breast cancer, as well as a very practical guide for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Brinker goes through much of the terminology used in association with breast cancer, as well as the different types of biopsies, treatment options, and medications. The book also includes a resource section giving names, numbers, Web site addresses, and descriptions of numerous organizations that are affiliated with breast cancer. Read an excerpt.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has raised nearly $400 million during its almost 20 years in existence and is probably the leading breast-cancer foundation in the world. In 1983, Brinker started the Komen Race for the Cure, which has grown from one local race to the largest series of 5K run/walks in the world. The Komen Foundation's National Research Grant Program has awarded more than 583 grants worldwide (totaling more than $68 million) for breast cancer research. The foundation's grant program has led to landmark discoveries, such as the BRCA1 gene, which is the gene that, when mutated, may increase a woman's risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer.

In 2001, the Public Health Service announced that breast cancer death rates had declined an average of 3.4% between 1995 and 1998, which is largely due to Nancy Brinker's undying drive to bring the subject into a national and international dialogue. In the early '80s, when the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation began, the US federal government spent less than $35 million a year on breast cancer research. In the Bush Administration's 2002 budget, federal funding reached $766 million. Again, this is due largely to the fact that volunteers at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation worked so hard to change the political climate and priorities.

One of the most important things, according to Brinker, is to be knowledgeable about your situation. Brinker believes that one of the reasons her sister did not make it through the fight is that she wasn't properly informed about her condition and what her options were.

According to Brinker, the three most important things to know about breast cancer are:

• Breast cancer is not a medical emergency. There is enogh time to make a good decision for yourself and anyone who rushes you isn't giving you the full benefit of the doubt. Even if you're diagnosed in a later stage, you still have a week, 10 days, 2 weeks to read about your condition and find out what your options are.
• The second most important thing to know is that you need to be your own best advocate. You have to educate yourself. There are no dumb questions. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor about things you don't understand. Don't be afraid to ask other patients about their experience. You need to handle yourself and your illness like you're a project. When it comes to treatment and how to deal with it, it has to be something you believe in, something you're committed to, a doctor you believe in. Your family members can help, too. Sometimes you have to deal with pesky insurance companies or HMOs. Don't be afraid to call the 800 numbers to make sure you understand your choices and their policies.
• And the third mosimportant thing is to know that you're not alone. About 192,000 people are diagnosed in the early stages each year. It's important to understand that, at any given time, there are people just like you out there. You don't want to get into a pity party; you want to be in a proactive mode. With all the options at your fingertips today and the Internet and cancer organizations, there's an opportunity to not be alone.

And, of course, early detection is extremely important as well.

Brinker is the US ambassador to the Republic of Hungary. She is also the recipient of numerous national awards, including

• The Champions of Excellence Award presented by the Centers for Disease Control.
• The Healthcare Humanitarian Award presented by the Global Conference Institute.
• The ASCO Special Recognition Award.
• The Sisters Network 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Ladies' Home Journal's 100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century.
  

In addition, she was inducted into the Cancer Research and Treatment Fund, Inc., Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame.
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