Breast Cancer May Be on the Rise in U.S.-based Latinas; $1 Million from
Avon Foundation Launches Research Initiative Across Two U.S. States and
Mexico
LOS ANGELES, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Breast cancer is an understudied and
poorly understood disease in Hispanic/Latina populations in the U.S., and
breast cancer appears to be presenting at an earlier age in this
population, on average 10 years younger when compared to Caucasian women.
The findings were presented today by researchers from the Arizona Cancer
Center and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center at the Avon
Foundation Breast Cancer Symposium in Torrance, CA.
"We need to understand the magnitude and profile of breast cancer in
our Latina population in the U.S.," according to Elena Martinez, Ph.D., of
the Arizona Cancer Center. "If we do not make the effort to understand
breast cancer as this population ages and adopts lifestyles common to the
U.S., we could be looking at a major public health problem and higher
burden of disease."
To support this effort, the Avon Foundation announced a $1 million
grant to enable researchers in the U.S. and Mexico to undertake an
international research initiative to assess the specific types of breast
cancer occurring in Latinas in both countries. The money will fund studies
conducted in coordination among the Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson, The
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and the
Universities of Sonora and Guadalajara in Mexico.
"In keeping with our mission to support the medically underserved, the
Avon Foundation is proud to support four major institutions across two
countries to help find the solution to the issue of breast cancer in Latina
women," said Avon Foundation Executive Director Carol Kurzig.
Preliminary data also suggests a higher rate of breast cancer may exist
for those Latinas born in the U.S. than in those born in Mexico. However,
researchers are quick to point out the only way to verify these numbers is
to conduct a large-scale research initiative in both the U.S. and in
Mexico.
"We do not know why we are seeing breast cancer at an earlier age for
this population. It is unclear if the adoption of behaviors common in the
U.S. is driving these numbers up for U.S.-born Latinas or, more worrisome,
if Latinas suffer a higher sensitivity to certain risk factors common in
the U.S.," said Melissa Bondy, Ph.D., of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
"The Avon Foundation grant allows us to address these and other important
questions about the type of disease and treatments among U.S. and Mexican
Latinas in a larger, well- characterized population."
Jorge Gomez, MD, PhD, Chief of the Organs System Branch at the National
Cancer Institute, confirmed that the current U.S. data on Latina breast
cancer may not as accurate as we have thought, and that this research
allows the U.S. to avoid a potential future health crisis with regard to
breast cancer.
"We simply do not currently have accurate data on Latinas and breast
cancer in this country, but we do know a problem exists," said Gomez,
"Finally, thanks to a private funding initiative, researchers in both
countries are enabled to do their jobs, and to save future lives."
Through this major research initiative, the Avon Foundation grant aims
to capture a true estimate of breast cancer patterns in Latina women,
including age at diagnosis; subtype of the disease; and the influence of
known risk factors on rate of diagnosis by comparing an enriched population
in Mexico with Mexican Americans residing in the United States. The program
will collect clinical data, treatment data, preliminary outcome data and
will characterize tumors by genetic analysis.
About the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Forum
The announcement was made at the annual Avon Foundation Breast Cancer
Forum, this year focused on "Challenges and Solutions in Screening and
Treating the Underserved," which brought together over 200 specialists in
breast cancer care programs to share best practices and learn the latest
scientific advances that will impact the populations they serve.
The 2006 event focused on the delivery of the newest breast cancer
screening and treatment options to the under- and un-insured, minorities
and other medically underserved populations. The announcement about breast
cancer and Latina women came on the second day of a three-day agenda
focused on topics ranging from young women and breast cancer to outreach
initiatives to various ethnic populations. The Forum will conclude on
Wednesday, May 10th with sessions on emerging new treatments for breast
cancer and funding strategies for supporting breast cancer outreach
programs in local communities.
The Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Forum thanks Presenting Sponsor GE
Healthcare and Silver Sponsor Novartis Oncology for their generous support.
Funding for the Forum was also provided in part from the Avon Walks for
Breast Cancer, a series of eight weekend-long events produced by the Avon
Foundation to fund access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer.
Avon Walks offer participants a choice of completing a marathon walk (26.2
miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over a weekend, and in their
first three years have raised more than $100 million. The 2006 Avon Walk
cities include: Washington, DC, April 29-30; Boston, MA, May 20-21;
Chicago, IL, June 3-4; Denver, CO, June 24-25; San Francisco, CA, July 8-9;
Los Angeles, CA, September 16-17; New York, NY, October 7-8; Charlotte, NC,
October 21-22.
About the Avon Foundation
The Avon Foundation, an accredited 501(c)(3) public charity, was
founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women and their families. The Avon
Breast Cancer Crusade launched in 1992, and Avon has supported breast
cancer programs in some 50 countries. While advances have been made, breast
cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide,
and in the U.S. there is a new diagnosis every three minutes. Through 2005
the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade raised and awarded more than $400,000,000
worldwide for access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a
focus on the medically underserved. Funding supports five areas: awareness
and education; screening and diagnosis; access to treatment; support
services; and scientific research. Beneficiaries range from leading cancer
centers to community-based non-profit breast health programs, creating a
powerful international network of research, medical, social service and
community-based organizations focused on defeating breast cancer and
ensuring access to care. For more information, visit
http://www.avonfoundation.org.
Contacts:
Allyson Laughlin Susan Arnot Heaney
Laughlin Strategy Group Avon Foundation
310-779-9855 212-282-5668
allyson@youngnsavvy.com susan.heaney@avonfoundation.org
SOURCE Avon Foundation
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Related links:
http://www.avon.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/079575.html /
CONTACT:
Allyson Laughlin of Laughlin Strategy Group,
+1-310-779-9855, allyson@youngnsavvy.com; or Susan Arnot Heaney
of Avon Foundation, +1-212-282-5668,
susan.heaney@avonfoundation.org
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