Massachusetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to Spotlight Gaps in Breast Cance...( Komen Massachusetts Affiliate to Co...),Health

Komen Massachusetts Affiliate to Convene Leading Researchers to Discuss State of Breast Cancer Research and Public Policies Needed to Find Cures

BOSTON, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will host a symposium April 10 at Harvard Medical School, featuring some of the nation's best (and locally-based) researchers and health care professionals discussing the recent advances in breast cancer research and the need for more funding to ensure that critical advances in the laboratory reach patients.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070122/NYM084LOGO)

Nationwide, one in eight women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2008, more than 4,000 Massachusetts women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and an estimated 900 will die from the disease. Low income women, minorities and underinsured women are more likely to die from the disease, whereas those with access to early diagnosis have a 98 percent chance for survival.

This event launches Massachusetts' participation in the Komen Community Challenge, a nationwide program to restore the sense of urgency to the breast cancer movement and close the gaps in research, public policy and access to quality care that cause some women to die of the disease more than others.

Event and Media Availability Details

WHEN: Thursday, April 10, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

WHAT: Breast Cancer: Closing the Research Gap Symposium

WHO: - Eric P. Winer, MD, Chief Scientific Advisor, Susan G. Komen for

the Cure and Director, Breast Oncology Center, Dana-Farber

Cancer Institute (keynote)

- Nick Littlefield, Partner, Foley Hoag and former Staff Director

and Chief Counsel for Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)

- Brian K. Gibbs, MD, Director of the Program to Eliminate H
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