Collaboration: Young Women

Though most women who get breast cancer are over age 50, young women can and do get breast cancer. Five percent of all breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year occur in women under 40.
A breast cancer diagnosis can be especially shocking and challenging for young women. At a time in life most often reserved for family and career, issues of treatment, recovery and survivorship take priority for young women with breast cancer.

Here are some Komen collaborations focused on young women with breast cancer:

SUSAN G. KOMEN/DR. SUSAN LOVE RESEARCH FOUNDATION/YOUNG SURVIVAL COALITION

In Fall 2013, Susan G. Komen® partnered with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (DSLRF) and the Young Survival Coalition (YSC) to advance research into side effects of breast cancer treatment, along with research into the causes of, and preventive strategies for, breast cancer. 

Learn more: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130930005441/en#.VBtnlxaAQmM

Young Survival Coalition – Research Think Tank

In February 2013, Komen was a sponsor for the Young Survival Coalition (YSC) Research Think Tank in order for approximately 60 researchers, medical experts, and educated research advocates to gather in Arlington, VA. In true think tank fashion, the attendees shared their knowledge and helped YSC prioritize unanswered research questions affecting young women with breast cancer.

Read the resulting report: http://www.youngsurvival.org/sites/default/files/uploaded_files/ResearchAgenda-201.pdf

Conference Sponsorships

From 2008 through 2014, Komen was a proud to be Lead Sponsor of the Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer, funding travel scholarships to provide much needed financial assistance for young survivors and patients to attend the annual conference. More commonly known as C4YW, this meeting was a collaborative production between Living Beyond Breast Cancer and Young Survival Coalition. The final C4YW was held in February of 2014 in Orlando, FL.

Komen is a sponsor of the international Breast Cancer in Young Women, funding travel scholarships specifically allowing patient advocates to attend this scientific meeting and ensure that the patient voice is incorporated into the research conversation. This bi-annual conference is an opportunity for the latest updates on this field and a platform for generating future research concepts and collaborations. It will cover epidemiology, molecular biology, genetics, pathology, surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapy and fertility preservation in young women with breast cancer.

Komen is sponsoring patient and patient advocate travel scholarships for the inaugural YSC Summit in March 2015 in Houston, TX. This three-day national conference will feature inspirational speakers, workshops addressing the unique issues that young women with breast cancer face, and special wellness activities. Find the most up-to-date, evidence-based information and tools. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with a community of other young survivors and co-survivors from across the country. Learn more: http://www.youngsurvival.org/conferences