The CBCRP Research Symposium-Seeking Solutions, Committing to Action

Katherine McKenzie, Ph.D., CBCRP External Relations Manager

The CBCRP hosted its fifth statewide symposium September 9-11 at the Sacramento Convention Center and Sacramento Hyatt Regency. The symposium gathered together over 600 advocates, researchers, clinicians, and the general public to learn about the current state of the science and to discuss new ways to fight breast cancer.

An abiding characteristic of our biennial symposia is that they are multifaceted, and this year was no exception. A plenary session discussion about the unequal burden of breast cancer and workshops on current topics gave attendees a view of cutting-edge thinking and techniques being applied to breast cancer research. We also showcased the latest research results funded by the CBCRP through over 80 posters and four breakout sessions. Throughout the symposium the impact of the disease received prominent attention through the participation of breast cancer survivors and a curated art exhibition by and about those affected by breast cancer.

The symposium was accessible to everyone interested in breast cancer research, regardless of their scientific background. A breast cancer 101 course kicked off the symposium and helped newcomers understand the basics—the terminology, the key issues, and how to interpret the findings at the meeting. Trained advocates guided people through the research posters and interpreted research jargon.

The topics at the symposium were as varied as the audience, but all demonstrated how progressive thinking can contribute to understanding and defeating breast cancer. We learned about the approaches being used to develop personalized treatments for cancer, research towards understanding the connection between psychology and the body’s response to cancer, the challenges and opportunities of learning whether the levels of toxins in our bodies would help us understand environmental contributions to breast cancer, and how we might develop new preventions and therapies by better understanding how breast cells mature and interact with each other. Some of these issues need more investigation, but we know enough about others to initiate action.

One issue that confounds researchers and advocates is the question of why the impact of breast cancer varies between different communities and what can be done about it. A blue-ribbon panel moderated by Robert Hiatt, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of California, San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center and composed of William Wright, Ph.D., of the California Department of Health Services; Debra Oto-Kent, M.P.H., of the Health Education Council; Lovell Jones, Ph.D., of the University of Texas MD Anderson; Sandra Millon-Underwood, Ph.D, FAAN, of the University of Milwaukee; and Rachel Morello-Frosch, Ph.D., of Brown University tackled this issue. They discussed the state of breast cancer in California and examined the aspects that could contribute to the unequal burden including biology, environment, and access to health care.

Some of the panel’s recommendations were based on the direction that research should take, such as reassessing how biological studies correlate to racial/ethnic groupings. Others were policy-based, such as educating healthcare professionals to recognize and eliminate hidden biases. The main message from the panel was that it is time to take what we know about the unequal burden of breast cancer and translate it into effective prevention and treatment programs.

The symposium provided myriad venues for committing to action. The exhibitors described ways that attendees could fight breast cancer at the advocacy level and the personal level. The keynote speech by author, actress, and twenty-year breast cancer survivor Marcia Wallace provided inspiration about taking control of your life when facing a breast cancer diagnosis.

The keynote address given by Dr. Kenneth Olden, director emeritus of the National Institute of Environmental Health and Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, emphasized the need for early intervention in breast cancer development. Stopping cancer before it starts will require understanding the influences on its development. As we move into the future, Dr. Olden predicted, “The environment is moving to the center of the national research agenda. It’s going to make all the difference for the prevention of diseases like breast cancer.”

The symposium provided a forum for sharing and discussing progressive ideas towards understanding and eliminating breast cancer, and presented ideas for people to take away and apply to their research, their activism, and their lives. We’re pleased with the free exchange of ideas and knowledge at the symposium, and we appreciate the enthusiastic contributions from all of our presenters, exhibitors, and attendees.

The topics at the symposium were as varied as the audience, but all demonstrated how
progressive thinking can contribute to understanding and defeating breast cancer.