2 • Message from Yonni ExecutiveWattenmaker,Director 3 • Welcome BCA’s Breast Surgery Fellows 4 • Breast BCA-FundedAdvancesImmunotherapy:CancerbyScientists 6 • Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show: Event Details and Special Guests, Plus a look at the Raffle and Silent Auction 9 • Educational Programming for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month 10 • One Woman’s Story 12 • Save the Dates outlook FALL 2022 — VOLUME 28 OUR MISSION The mission of Breast Cancer Alliance is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure. To promote these goals, we invest in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, dignified support and screening for the underserved. ISSUETHISIN October 20, BEAUTY,AUTHENTICITYCOURAGE2022 BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE ANNUAL LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW A CELEBRATION OF October 20, BEAUTY,AUTHENTICITYCOURAGE2022 BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE ANNUAL LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW A CELEBRATION OF BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE ANNUAL LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW BACOURAGEUTHENTICITYUTHENTICITYEAUTY,THURSDAY,OCTOBER20,2022 PRESENTEDAND IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR FASHION PARTNERS
I thank you for what you have already done and look forward to partnering with you as we continue. See you in
www.breastcanceralliance.org2 MESSAGE FROM YONNI EXECUTIVEWATTENMAKER,DIRECTOR
365 days. A year is how long it has been since I last wrote my column for this newsletter. In many ways, so much has changed. We began to venture beyond the safety of our homes. We unmasked. We hugged. We celebrated holidays with loved ones. We traveled. Kids went to camp, parents went to parties, and so much more. andaboutbettergy,bytientsnewscientistslearnedDoctorsnewskills,discoveredtreatments,pawerescreenedbettertechnoloandpeoplewereeducatedpreventionearlydetec tion, and flourished post-treatment. At BCA, we held Board meetings in person, welcomed 600 guests to our October 2021 annual luncheon and fashion show, brought back our 5K Run/Walk for Hope and our holiday boutique along with a series of other special events, allowing us to grant nearly $1.2mm for 2022. We also hosted a full roster of free educational programs, in partnership with talented and engaging speakers, via livestream, Vimeo and Zoom, to bring important information to audiences across the US and beyond. And yet once again, or perhaps still, we find ourselves in challenging times. As much as we hoped COVID would be in the rearview mirror by now, it is still a factor with which we must contend, and our economic situation has been volatile because of a variety of world circumstances. Despite all of that, breast cancer persists. I recently fielded advice and referrals for three newly diagnosed patients, in one week’s time. While not every week looks that way, one diagnosis is one too many. At BCA our goals remain steadfast. We want to educate as many people as we can with tips on prevention, the need for early detection, and new surgical and treatment options. We want to share your stories and build awareness of Breast Cancer Alliance’s work to expand the audiences we reach and, most impor tantly, to raise the funds necessary for doctors and scientists to keep advancing the field, improving outcomes, and saving lives. October’s annual luncheon and the GoForPink initiatives throughout the month are where most of the funding needed to further our mission are generated. The more support and involvement we have from YOU in those efforts, the more impact WE can make for ALL in the year ahead.
Sincerely,October!
“WE WANT TO EDUCATE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN WITH TIPS ON PREVENTION, THE NEED FOR OPTIONS.”ANDNEWDETECTION,EARLYANDSURGICALTREATMENT
Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS Courtney Olsen, President Michelle Abadir-Hallock, MD Kim Augustine Amy Dates Carbone Sandra Caruso Karen SharonJaneDonnaRebeccaColellaDavisSueDelepineHagberg,MDMaryK.JefferyLoisKellyStephanieLathamNinaLindiaDeeMayberryJustinNelsonBarbaraRodkinNancyRosenMegRussellLaurenSchweiboldTrishShannonMagaliSwansonSusanWeisGershonWeitzmanElisaWilsonDianeZarrilliMollyZolaPhillips,TrusteeEmeritus MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD K.M. Steve Lo, MD, Chair Susan K. Boolbol, MD Patrick I. Borgen, MD Rachel Brem, MD Alison Estabrook, MD Alexandra Heerdt, MD Brigid Killelea, MD Gregory S. LaTrenta, MD Linda LaTrenta, MD Donna-Marie Manasseh, MD Monica Morrow, MD Elisa Port, MD David L. Rimm, MD, PhD Andrea Silber, MD Barbara A. Ward, MD Richard Zelkowitz, MD ADVISORY COUNCIL Jane JamesKarenFrannieSusanBatkinBevanBurnsKathyClarkJillCoyleCarolCrappleNatDayPattiFastLisaFischerBrettHoleyDavidJonesLowneyEvanMargolinMcArdle Kenneth E. Mifflin Scott Mitchell Andrew Mitchell-Namdar Donna Moffly Betsy Donovan Nolan Berk NancyEllenJordanMaureenNowakPerryRhodesSchappsRichmanCarolSantoraMargaretSinclairWilliamC.SinclairandTurnerSmithMarylouWilliamsRamzeZakka FOUNDERS Lucy Day (1944-2020) Susan Elia (1944-2017) Kenny King Howe Valerie Marchese Cecile McCaull Mary Waterman (1944-1997)
3Outlook Fall 2022 Shridevi Singh, MD Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ Rodkin Family Breast Surgery Fellowship Shridevi Singh, MD graduated cum laude from Queens College, CUNY with a B.A in Biology and a minor in Biochemistry. She obtained her medical degree from American University of the Caribbean medical school in St. Maarten and completed a general surgery residency at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, New York. Dr. Singh will be joining Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey as the Rodkin Family Breast Surgery Fellow for the 2022-2023 academic year.
WELCOME BCA’S BREAST FELLOWS!SURGERY Anna C. Beck, MD Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY Tap Cancer Out Breast FellowshipSurgery Anna Beck, MD graduated summa cum laude from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, with an undergrad uate degree in biomedical sciences and received her medical doctorate from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She completed her general surgery residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Department of Surgery where she served as Administrative Chief Resident and received the Ronald Bielema Award for Clinical Excellence for her commitment to patient care. During residency, she spent two dedicated years as a T32 Research Fellow studying oncogenesis in breast and colon cancer, with numerous subsequent national presentations and publications for her work in basic science and clinical breast cancer research. She is excited to begin her Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and is planning to continue a career in academic medicine.
Kelly Krupa, MD, the Rodkin Family Fellow who trained at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, inRegionalatthewillBrunswick,NewNJbejoiningbreastserviceRochesterHospitalRochester,NY.
Billie Borden, MD, whose training at Yale University, New Haven, CT was supported by the Mitchell family, is heading to Beth Israel MedicalDeaconessCenter,an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, in Boston, MA. We are committed to transparency, both in how we allocate our funding and in how that funding is utilized. While we require stringent reporting from every one of our grantees, what distinguishes us from other foundations is that we visit each of our grantees to hear about the impact of our allocations firsthand. All of our supporters, and those interested in learning more about BCA, are welcome. If you would like to attend any of these visits, to be held on Zoom in 2022, please email breastcanceralliance.org.info@
CONGRATULATIONS TO BCA’S 2021 BREAST SURGICAL FELLOWS ON THEIR EXCEPTIONAL APPOINTMENTS: Marissa Srour, MD who trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY will be the Assistant Attending in Breast Surgical Oncology at MedicalCedars-SinaiCenter in Los Angeles, CA.
www.breastcanceralliance.org
Breast cancer is immunogenic, but patients have low levels of the type of immune cells, T-cells, needed to kill breast cancer. Our group has been working on the development of breast cancer vaccines for several years. Tumor specific T-cells can be increased by vaccination. Clinical trials show that breast cancer patients can be immunized against their tumors and that most vaccines are safe and immunogenic. We have discovered specific sections of proteins in breast cancer that selectively generate a type of immune response called “Type 1” immunity when used in a vaccine. Type 1 immunity is the type of immune response which attacks cancer. We created a vaccine called STEMVAC, which is composed of Type 1-inducing sections from proteins found in breast cancer stem cells. Breast cancer stem cells are responsible for drug resistance and metastasis. We hope that if we can “prime” the immune system to attack and kill the breast cancer stem cells with a vaccine, it could prevent breast cancer from recurring and developing metastases. In mice, STEMVAC significantly inhibits breast cancer growth and increases tumor T-cell
BREAST4 ADVANCES BCA-FUNDEDBYSCIENTISTS
Importantinfiltration.
About the time we finished the trial, we made a discovery that breast cancer patients have T-cells in their blood specific for bacterial (Bac) organisms in the gut microbiome that also recognize proteins that can be expressed in tumors called tumor antigens (TA.) These T-cells secrete high levels of a protein cytokine called IL-10 that can prevent the development of Type I immune responses. We find these Bac-TA cross reactive T-cells in the blood of people and in mice. When the cells are found in high levels in the mice, those mice can not be effectively immunized. We developed a blood test to measure the number of Bac-TA cross reactive T-cells in the blood. We asked BCA to help us determine whether Bac-TA T-cells could be impacting immune responses to STEMVAC. We had already completed our clinical trial, but funding from BCA allowed us to enroll an additional ten patients and measure their Bac-TA T-cells at the time of enrollment. BCA also supported us measuring those T-cells on the pre-vaccine samples we had stored from the patients who had already completed vaccination. The addi tional ten patients will give us enough data to test whether the level of these immune suppressive T-cells in the blood is associated with the level of immunity generated with vaccination. We are also able to collect stool samples on the patients and evaluate the organisms in the gut microbiome to determine whether the gut is enriched from specific organisms that are stimulating the Bac-TA T-cells in the blood. We have enrolled all ten patients who have completed their vaccine and laboratory analysis have just started. We have a lot of clues from mouse studies that Bac-TA T-cells are an important element in preventing effective immunity. The good news is we have developed methods to reduce those cells in the blood which, at least in mice, significantly restores immune responsive ness. The clinical trial funded by BCA could be the first step in creation of a precision probiotic tailor-made for each patient which could boost their immune system. Such an approach could make cancer immunotherapy work better in those patients where those drugs are part of standard of care but also may make immune therapy work for many more breast cancer patients.
This is a whole new area of research for the UW Medicine Cancer Vaccine Institute and we are proud to partner with BCA to bring new therapeutic approaches to patients. This preliminary data will allow us to determine next steps in refining our blood test to measure Bac-TA cross reactive T-cells as well as the steps to move towards the clinic to manipulate the get microbiome with precision probiotics.
CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY:
We had recently completed a Phase I trial of STEMVAC in patients with advanced breast cancer. The vaccine was safe and immunogenic. We gave a course of three vaccines, one month apart, and while most people generated the correct type of immune response, about 50% were not immunized and some patients developed only low-level responses. We began to explore what could be preventing the vaccine from being more effective.
Dr. Nora Disis, Helen ProfessorEndowedSloanakerB. for Cancer Washington,UniversityAssociateProfessor,Research,Dean,of Director, University of Washington Medicine Center Vaccine Institute: Breast Cancer Vaccine
work in the field of breast cancer immunotherapy is being done by BCA-grantees, Dr. Nora Disis and Dr. Chris Klebanoff, and we are pleased to share these shapshots of their work.
Activating mutations in PIK3CA, a driver oncogene encoding phosphoinositide 3-kinase alpha (PI3Ka), are among the most common genetic alterations to occur in breast and endometrial cancers. Alpelisib, a small molecule PI3K inhibitor, was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer associated with mutant PIK3CA. However, this medication is often associated with a lack of durable responses and significant on-target but off-tumor toxicities. Innovative new therapies with curative potential that selectively target cancer cells expressing the mutant form of PI3Ka but not the corresponding normal protein present in healthy tissues are therefore needed. We sought to test whether a recurrent hotspot mutation in PIK3CA generates a shared, or public, neoantigen targetable using a T cell receptor (TCR) gene therapy approach. So what is the solution? TCRs are a class of immune receptors that can uniquely respond to peptides derived from within the interior of cells. For a peptide to be recognized by a TCR, it must stably bind within the groove of a specific tissue type, or human leukocyte antigen (HLA), molecule. HLA molecules are encoded within the most diverse region of the human genome. Thus, the identification of hotspot mutation containing peptides which are naturally presented by common HLA molecules has been challenging. To streamline the discovery of public neoantigens and pair these with therapeu tic TCR candidates, we developed a new method termed Stimulation Induced Functional TCR sequencing (SIFT-seq; Figure panel A). In this approach, immune cells from healthy donors are exposed to matched antigen presenting cells that express common driver oncogene mutations. We then use single-cell sequencing to identify T cells that become activated exclusively in response to the mutant but not the normal form of a driver. The TCR gene sequences of mutation-specific cells are cloned into a gene therapy and the function of these receptors is evaluated. Using this method, we developed a panel of TCRs that recognize a common PIK3CA hotspot mutation in the context of HLA-A*03:01, a very common HLA type in North America and Western European patients.
Structural studies of a TCR panel member that induces mutation-specific tumor re gression in lab mice revealed the receptor engages the mutant peptide with high specificity aided by an unusually long immune loop. (Figure panel B and C) Our results demonstrate that mutant PIK3CA is immunogenic in the context of a common HLA type, thereby establishing the existence of a PIK3CA public neoanti gen. Further, our proof-of-concept experiments illustrate that an “off-theshelf” TCR gene therapy can eradicate cancer cells that express this shared neoantigen in lab mice, providing a posi tive indicator for clinical translation. These findings suggest that TCRs targeting public neoantigens might represent a valuable new class of target-specific but tissue-agnostic cancer therapies.
Dr. geneTKettering:MemorialcalSection,ImmunotherapyHead,Klebanoff,ChrisBreastMediOncologist,Sloancellreceptortherapy
5Outlook Fall 2022
b.a. 1) In vitro sensitization 10x TCR V(D)J and 5’ transcriptomics TCRa 2AΨ LTRLTR TCRb 2) qPCR screen and “hit” well ID 3) “hit” single-cellwellseq 4) TCRCandidatevalidation Electroporation:naiveAutologousAutologousAPCTcellsmutant PIK3CA mRNA Ct IFNG Ct IFNG Stim: Mut PIK3CA WTStim: PIK3CA SIFT HLAretrievedseqTCR/neopeptidecomplex c. HCC70-Mut PIK3CA: 300250200150 TCR4, n=10PBS, n=5 3(mmvolume 3002502003(mmvolume Flu TCR, n=5 ns CDRa CDRb b.a. 1) In vitro sensitization 10x TCR V(D)J and 5’ transcriptomics TCRa 2AΨ LTRLTR TCRb 2) qPCR screen and “hit” well ID 3) “hit” single-cellwellseq 4) TCRCandidatevalidation Electroporation:naiveAutologousAutologousAPCTcellsmutant PIK3CA mRNA Ct IFNG Ct IFNG Stim: Mut PIK3CA WTStim: PIK3CA SIFT HLAretrievedseqTCR/neopeptidecomplex c. HCC70-Mut PIK3CA: 07142128 300250200150100500 TCR4, n=10PBS, n=5 3(mmvolumeTumor) Time after T cell transfer (d)*** 07142128 3002502001501005003(mmvolumeTumor) Time after T cell transfer (d) Flu TCR, n=5 ns CDRa CDRb
targeting a shared PIK3CA neoantigen PIK3CA mutations are among the most common genomic alterations to occur in breast and endometrial cancers. With support from a Breast Cancer Alliance exceptional project grant, we developed a new immune receptor discovery plat form and identified a panel of immune receptors (TCRs) that bind a shared PIK3CA neoantigen. A manuscript describing these findings was published in Nature Medicine. This finding paves the way for future precision cell-based immunotherapies that are capable of selectively eliminating cancer cells while leaving healthy tissues unharmed.
On Thursday, June 30th, BCA hosted a webinar on breast cancer immunotherapy, showcasing important breakthroughs from BCA research grantees: Dr. Robert Schneider, NYU Langone, Dr. Scott Abrams and Dr. Michael Nemeth, Roswell Park Cancer Center, and Dr. Rumela Chakrabarti, University of Miami (initially with University of Pennsylvania.) Patrick Dillon, representing Focused Ultrasound Foundation, shared details of their promising clinical trials in this space. The event, which was sponsored by Gilead Sciences, can be viewed on our website under “Webinars” on our Patient Resources page. During that session, Dr. Schneider spoke “about a pilot study that was funded by Breast Cancer Alliance that remarkably has, in the past five years, lead to new drug discovery for additional approach for immunotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer. Funding from foundations like a BCA really matters as [their] pilot funding provided to us initiated this entire program, which was a high-risk program that has now been subsequently funded by the NIH discovery program.”
www.breastcanceralliance.org6 October20, AUTHENTICITY2022COURAGEBEAUTY, BREASTCANCERALLIANCE ANNUALLUNCHEON& FASHIONSHOW ACELEBRATIONOF oCtobeRThuRSdAy20,2022 Event Co-Chairs: Erica Blob, Meagan Davis, Erica Juneja and Julie Stein Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY and via Guest11amLivestream—2pmSpeakersAnnCaruso Celebrity fashion stylist, tastemaker and two-time breast cancer survivor and Chaunte Lowe Four-time Olympic medalist, world champion high jumper and breast cancer survivor Fashion Show Carolina Herrera Spring 2023 Fashion Show with guest appearance by Creative Designer, Wes Gordon with DJ April Larken Silent & Live Auction * Raffle * Models of Inspiration * Cocktail Reception Make your gift and keep checking back for exciting event updates: http://bidpal.net/bca2022 WHO IS YOUR MODEL OF INSPIRATION? The highlight of the annual Breast Cancer Alliance luncheon has long been our Models of Inspiration fashion show. Honoring or remembering the women and men who have undergone treatment, and/or are living with metastatic breast cancer, is a joyous and heartwarming moment. You are invited to recognize your own inspiration.Their photos and stories will be featured on our event website, which can be enjoyed and shared worldwide. Details can be found at bidpal.net/bca2022 MODELs OF INSPIRATION Nicole VannessaClaudiaMattCarolineArnoldBalBaumoelChimaleDorantesCarolineDurant Wendy Forbes Lauren Fredette Laura Friedman Sonya CatherineJessicaKeshwaniMaceRedfern
7Outlook Fall 2022
October 20, BEAUTY,AUTHENTICITYCOURAGE2022 BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE ANNUAL LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW A CELEBRATION OF BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE ANNUAL LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW BACOURAGEUTHENTICITYUTHENTICITYEAUTY,
Ann Caruso Celebrity fashion stylist, tastemaker and two-time breast cancer survivor
High Jump Olympic Medalist Chaunte Lowe doesn’t strive just to break the mold; she vaults over it, leaving it far behind her in the dust. In addition to her athleti cism, she has used her personal experiences with breast cancer to raise awareness, support research, early detection, and erad ication. In 2019, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Despite the diagnosis, she continued to train through surgeries and chemotherapy to compete for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. As a global ambassador for the American Cancer Society, she continues to use her voice as a professional speaker to bring awareness to breast cancer. “The best gift I can give with my life is helping others find beauty in their own lives,” she says. This four-time Olympian’s impressive rise started while she was just a sophomore at Georgia Tech when she made her first Olympic appear ance. Her ambitions on the field and in the classroom showed an unparalleled drive even among the Institute’s top stu dent-athletes. Chaunte is a world champi on and has broken the American Record three times, and is the current American record holder in the indoor and outdoor high jump. She’s competed in four Olympic Games, starting in Athens, Greece, in 2004 through Rio in 2016.
A SILENTINTOGLIMPSETHEAUCTION
This year’s silent auction has some fabulous prizes, and you need not be present at the luncheon to bid or to win. Here is just a teaser to get you ready. The current catalog, with more items and active bidding to come, is open for viewing at bidpal.net/ EnjoyBCA2022.atour for four people to The Glass House and Galleries in New Canaan, Connecticut. The Glass house, built by famed architect Philip John son, is a historic site that displays in novative and minimalist architecture. After your guided tour, enjoy a $200 gift certificate to lunch at Elm. Maybe you prefer to stay home and enjoy some pampering? Treat yourself to an assortment of 100% natural, nontoxic skincare products from Tata Harper Skincare. Tata Harper is an innovator in natural luxury skincare. Her products are made for those who expect the best and want the most results from their skincare, and this package is valued at $1800! If you’re looking for a healthy reset, you can bid on a 10-day detox plan from Dr. Katie Takayasu, an Integra tive Medicine doctor. You and a friend will feel great from the inside out! This popular detox program includes recipes and hands-on programming for your 10-day reset. It also includes her new book Plants First, so you will have the tools to continue with this healthy reset valued at $833. Is entertaining your thing? You and five friends can learn how to make a perfect charcuterie board with Boards by Rachel. During this class, valued at $450, Rachel will teach you about cheese, meats, pairings and how to style a beautiful cheese board. If you want to see a little more action, grab three friends for a pickleball clinic at Greenwich Country Club. Taught by Juan Arraya, Platform Tennis National Champion and founder of the largest pickleball interclub league in the US. After your lesson, relax and mingle with some cocktails around the firepit. Not sure what to bring? This $688 package also includes Skul lU pickleball paddles and hats for all four of you.
Chaunte Lowe Four-time Olympic medalist, cancerjumperchampionworldhighandbreastsurvivor
Ann Caruso is known for her refined classic sensibilities and the iconic images she has created in col laboration with some of the world’s most esteemed artists, as a well-known fashion editor and celebrity stylist. Her innate sense of style and industry knowledge along with her illus trious career is now taking her to the next level as a style innovator, brand advisor, fashion consultant, and content creator. Her passion and expertise encompasses fashion, beauty, lifestyle & home, health, and the wellness worlds. As a breast cancer activist she recommends a healthy commitment to the mind and the body connection. She shares her aspiration al lifestyle through her Instagram, which garners a highly impressive engagement and an elite following, including celebri ties, designers, industry leaders and high profile women from around the world. Wes Gordon serves as the Creative Director of Carolina Herrera New York. Appointed by the brand’s founder, Carolina Herrera, Wes leads the global cre ative strategy of the label across all brand platforms andready-to-wear,includingbridaleyewear.Raised in Atlanta, Wes attend ed Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London. Upon graduation in 2009, the designer moved to New York City to launch his eponymous line of womenswear and presented his collection in New York from 2010 to 2016. During this time, Gordon received the Fashion Group International’s Rising Star Award and was a finalist for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. In March 2017, Wes began consulting with Carolina Herrera before being appointed Creative Director in 2018.
SPECIAL AT THE ANNUAL LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW
GUESTS
Wes Gordon Creative Director of HerreraCarolinaNew York
Just go to bidpal.net/BCA2022 to purchase your chances.
TENNIS ANYONE? Start your day shopping at Threads and Treads with your $175 gift card and then grab your new tennis racquet for a morning on the court. After your shower, dress things up for the afternoon with your Madeline earrings adorned with handmade sequins and light-refracting beading for an easy, chic look and your gold double link “Y” necklace with a CZ drop for you lunch at East End in Greenwich with your $150 gift card.
FUN FOR FOODIES! Throw your $50 gift certificate to The Kneaded Bread in Port Chester and your $50 gift certificate to G.E. Brown in Bed ford in your SCOUT BJ pocket tote bag and pick up coffee, gourmet items and delicious baked goods. For lunch, dine with friends at Le Penguin, Greenwich’s own classic French bistro, with your $150 gift card or at Mediterraneo, a Greenwich
THAT COVER GIRL FACE! Everyone loves a day of pampering to make them look and feel their best, and two is even better than one! You can start with a signature facial at Burton Young in Greenwich, paired with one bottle of their B-Bright 10% AHA Cleaners, a medical grade face wash for brightening and deep cleaning the pores and their B Bright-On ly Cream, the perfect must-have cream containing Retin-A for firming, lifting and brightening the skin. When you are ready for more, take your gift card for a manicure, pedicure, one-hour hydrafacial, eyebrow shaping and lash tint to Williams & Co. in Darien, CT.
FASHION FORWARD
Loewe’s ‘Basket’ tote, full of earthy hues, is part of the brand’s exclusive capsule collection at Net-A-Porter. Topped with an oversized ‘Anagram’ logo from the ‘70s, it’s made from fuzzy felt and reinforced with smooth leather trims. The soft structure is perfectly sized to fit your everyday essentials.
fan favorite with your $150 gift card. You’ll look fashionable wherever you choose in your 14K vermeil azalea strand earrings in mother of pearl with 4mm white topaz stones and your Ampersand as Apostrophe zipper pouch clutch. Take preparing dinner off your table and enjoy a family tier 3 meal plan with 4 entrees and 6 sides for 4 people from Feast and Fettle serving Greenwich and its neighboring Fairfield County towns only (not NY.)
For just $20 a ticket, you could win one of these six fabulous packages, each worth over $1000 in value!
LOVELY LOEWE
COUNTRY LIVING SEEDS will fill two pots or containers belonging to owner with beautiful seasonal flowers and greens! Enjoy the beauty every time you come home with a SEEDS custom design created just for you. Your cedar-scented candle will enhance the new look which you can admire as your grab your mother-daughter woven totes and head out for lunch and shopping with your $150 gift card to Terra in Greenwich and $100 gift card to Toney Tony and the Gang. For a sweet afternoon treat, enjoy your candy charcuterie board beautifully crafted in a reusable 9x9 acrylic tray. You can welcome guests to join you for the evening with a nosh from your nibble board for 10-12 featuring Saucy Spoon signature spreads and unique and seasonable appetizer bites and $100 gift certificate for a family dinner and provisions of your choice from the Kinney Lane weekly menu (delivery only to New Canaan, Greenwich or Darien.)
After your manicure at Nails Hollywood in New Canaan, throw on your vintage plastic Hermes bangle in pale blue with navy trim, and do a little primping with your Lanphi er beauty bag filled with the brand’s cult favorite makeup and haircare products. Then grab your K. Carroll 2-in-1 pink plush tote with crossbody strap and head to Tru Grace to spend your $200 gift card on a new, fun, and stylish piece for your ward robe after a delicious lunch with your $100 gift card at Moderne Barn, both in Armonk.
www.breastcanceralliance.org8 GET HERE!RAFFLEYOURTICKETS
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
September 28, 2022 at 7:30pm EST Navigating Triple Negative Breast Cancer: A Webinar with Joan Lunden and Dr. Barbara Ward, Chief of Surgery, Greenwich Hospital
breastcanceralliance.org/eventsJoanLunden
An award-winning journalist, bestselling author, television host, and motivational speaker, Joan Lunden has been a trusted voice in American homes for more than 40 years. For nearly two decades, Joan greeted viewers each morning on Good Morning America making her the longest running female host ever on early morn ing television and she continues to be one of America’s most recognized and trusted personalities. This mother of seven chil dren was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in June of 2014. An eternal October 28, 2022 at 12pm EST Black Women and Breast Cancer: A Webinar about Education, Outreach, Incidence and Healthcare Inequity in conversation with Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes, Dr. Cardinale Smith and Chaunte Lowe Vannessa Dorantes, LMSW, is Commis sioner of Connecticut Department of Children and Families and has worked for DCF since 1992. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Teikyo Post University and an MSW from UCONN School of Social Work. From 2004 until her appointment as commissioner, she was an adjunct faculty member at Central CT State University where she has taught several elective and core competency social work courses. She has served on the SW Advisory Boards of Central and Western CT State Universities during their re-accreditation and currently on the UCONN School of Social Work Board of Advocates. Ms. Dorantes is certified in Social Work field instruction from Southern CT State Uni versity. In 2019, she was appointed DCF Commissioner by Gov Ned Lamont as the first African American to serve in that role for the state of Connecticut. Commissioner Dorantes cochairs Connecticut’s Alcohol & Drug Policy Council, the Governor’s Council on Women & Girls and has been appointed to CT’s newly formed Racial Equity & Public Health Commission. Commissioner Dorantes serves on The American Public Human Services Associa tion (APHSA) Executive Governing Board and is a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc and The Links, Inc which is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service orga nizations. She is also a breast cancer survivor. Chaunte Lowe (see page 7) Cardinale B. Smith, MD, PhD is a Professor with tenure in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology and the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Chief Quality Officer for Cancer Services, Mount Sinai Health System. She is a medical oncologist and palliative care physician whose clinical practice is focused on lung cancer and palliative care. Her research interests focus on doctor-patient communication, evalu ating treatment disparities in cancer care, determinants of cancer patients’ quality of care, characterizing barriers to optimal cancer and palliative care and developing approaches to eliminating those barriers among racial and ethnic minorities.
Dr. Ward Vannessa Dorantes Dr. Cardinale Smith Chaunte Lowe
9Outlook Fall 2022
Dr. Ward is on BCA’s Medical Advisory Board and was Ms. Lunden’s breast surgeon. Events Sponsored by Gilead Sciences Register to receive the viewing link at
Dr. Smith is a 2013 recipient of a mentored research scholar grant from the American Cancer Society to evaluate determinants of disparities in the utilization of palliative care among patients with lung cancer. She was a co-investigator on a Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute grant to teach and enable goals of care conversations among oncologists. Ad ditionally, she is the recipient Sojourn’s Scholar Leadership Grant and an R01 grant, extremely competitive federal funding, from the National Cancer Institute to evalu ate the role of implicit bias among oncolo gists on minority cancer patient outcomes. Dr. Smith has had numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, and in 2015 was named one of the Top 40 Inspirational Leaders under 40 by the American Acade my of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. optimist, she turned her diagnosis into an opportunity to become an advocate and help others. She chronicled her experience in her memoir Had I Known Dr. Barbara Ward is the medical director of the Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center in Greenwich and an associate clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine. She is also the first woman to be appointed Chief of Surgery at Greenwich Hospital.
I knew from the start that I wanted to continue teaching through chemo, but I also needed some days to recover from infusion days. My superiors gave me every available option and made sure I was ok. It was important to me to be able to show my students that people can get through this. As I write this, I am one year and four months cancer free. Not everything is easy. You don’t just flip a switch and make your life go back to the way it used to be. I have a new life now, and I am still scared sometimes, but I am doing my best to live this life with a higher purpose and appreciate every moment.
Steve, my partner of 14 years, became an expert in all things breast cancer. Most importantly, he loved and cared for me through the most difficult times, even when I could not recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror. We became stronger as a couple because of having been through this experience together. You know how people say that friends are family you choose? Well, that’s true! Nothing lets you see that more clearly than being in a situation like mine. There are too many people to list, and too few words to express my gratitude, but I must mention my best friend, Maureen. She did every thing a sister would do and I am forever grateful. I am from Argentina, so my family was physically far away, but we became closer than ever. Greenwich Academy, the school where I work, was so supportive.
My name is Claudia and I am a cancer survivor. Writing this still feels surreal to me, to be totally honest, but here I am, a little over a year after the completion of treatment, happy to share my story and beyond grateful for all the people who helped me get to this point.
The following week was filled with doctor’s appointments, second and third opinions, a port implantation procedure, and a lot of phone calls. I think the word “trust” has a different meaning when you have to choose doctors under these circumstances. After meeting with Dr. Hollister and then Dr. Ward, however, the decision became very clear: I wanted to be treated at Smilow Cancer Hospital in Greenwich. Their experience, kindness and knowledge were only matched by their compassion and understanding. I truly felt like I could put my life in their hands. Now that we had a plan, it was time to fight. The course of treatment suggested by Dr. Hollister was two rounds of chemotherapy (four biweek ly infusions of AC followed by 12 weekly infusions of either Taxol or Taxol and Car boplatin) and surgery. I chose to have a lumpectomy, which meant that four weeks of radiation were needed as well (that’s when I met Dr. Campbell, who was as kind as she was skilled.) I also elected to do cold capping to try to save some of my hair. If you don’t know what that is, imagine having a really tight helmet that is connected to an ice machine. The goal is to freeze hair follicles, so the chemo drugs do not reach and destroy them. In order for this treatment to work, the “helmet” or cap must freeze your wet hair for an hour before, during, and after each chemotherapy infusion. I am not going to lie, I thought about quitting that and going bald more than once. As difficult as all of this was, it was also quite easy to realize how lucky I was. I have often said that for me, being diagnosed with breast cancer felt like somebody grabbed me and threw me into a moving train. Destination: unknown. The train felt dark and cold, and there were too many bumps and turns for my taste. But what was amazing to me was that so many people chose to jump on that train with me. From near and far, they held my hand every step of the way, did countless hours of research, made meals, sent flowers, cards, covered some of my classes, came to visit, FacedTimed, cried with me, made me laugh: and all while caring for their own families as well. I have yet to meet some of these incredible people, and some are survivors themselves. Friends of friends who heard about me and immediately jumped into action. I found myself supported by a community I never knew existed. One source of sup port was Mary Jeffery, former Greenwich Academy mother and BCA president. At the time, I was really struggling to decide whether to have a mastectomy or lumpectomy. Within hours, Mary connected me with several women who were more than happy to speak to me and share their stories. Now I want to do for others what they did for me. I was fortunate to have the support system I needed, and to be able to afford costly items insurance did not cover. These are only two of a million reasons why I am so grateful to BCA and wholeheartedly be lieve in their cause. Because of Covid, I had to walk into every appointment and chemo infusion on my own but I never felt alone.
November 29, 2020 started off as a regular day (well, as regular as any day during a global pandemic.) Everything changed in the shower that morning, when I noticed a lump in my breast. I was of course a bit concerned, but with no history of breast cancer in my family, I was hopeful it would be nothing to worry about. I made an appointment with my gynecologist anyway, just to be certain. She recommended I get a mammogram and an ultrasound as soon as possible. A few days later, my world was turned upside down after hearing “you have cancer.” How could this possibly be? I didn’t have any pain or any discomfort; I didn’t feel any different. In fact, I was in the best shape of my life! To anybody else, I probably looked like the picture of good health. I felt like my body had betrayed me but I didn’t have much time to feel sorry for myself. There were many important decisions that needed to be made, and quickly. I was diagnosed with triple nega tive invasive ductal carcinoma, a particu larly aggressive type of breast cancer for which treatment options are limited.
www.breastcanceralliance.org10 ONE WOMAN’S STORY: CLAUDIA CHIMALE
11Outlook Fall 2022 “ONE SOURCE OF SUPPORT WAS MARY TOREALLYATANDACADEMYFORMERJEFFERY,GREENWICHMOTHERBCAPRESIDENT.THETIME,IWASSTRUGGLINGDECIDEWHETHER TO HAVE A MASTECTOMY OR STORIES.”MEHAPPYWERESEVERALCONNECTEDWITHINLUMPECTOMY.HOURS,MARYMEWITHWOMENWHOMORETHANTOSPEAKTOANDSHARETHEIR
FIRST U.S.PRESORTCLASSPOSTAGEPAIDPCIBreast Cancer Alliance 48 Maple Greenwich,AvenueCT06830 Breast Cancer Alliance 48 Maple Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director breastcanceralliance.org www.facebook.com/breastcanceralliance @BCAllianceCT @breastcanceralliance SAVE THE DATES: UPCOMING BCA EVENTS ANNUAL GOLF OUTING, GOLF CLUB OF PURCHASE Tuesday, September 20, 11am until 7pm Reserve a foursome at breastcanceralliance.org/events BCA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS Thursday, September 28, 7:30pm until 8:30pm, Thursday, October 28, noon until 1pm Free online events Questions may be submitted in advance to: info@breastcanceralliance.org Register for the link at breastcanceralliance.org/events FASHION + BEAUTY EVENT AT WEEKEND MAX MARA Sunday, October 2, Beginning at 11am The Westchester Mall, 125 Westchester Avenue, White Plains In partnership with Gleem Beauty, StyleEsteem and White Plains Hospital Private in-store styling event: 11am; shopping opens to the public at noon, with 15% shopper discount and 10% proceeds to BCA through October 9th RAISING OF THE BCA FLAG AT GREENWICH TOWN HALL, 9AM CURATED SHOPPING BOUTIQUE OPEN HOUSE, 10AM UNTIL 2PM AND 6PM UNTIL 8PM, 66 INDIAN HEAD ROAD, RIVERSIDE Monday, October 3, All Day ANNUAL LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW AT WESTCHESTER COUNTRY CLUB AND VIA LIVESTREAM Thursday, October 20, 11am until 2pm Reserve your seats, sponsorships, raffle tickets and bid on the silent auction: Bidpal.net/bca2022 HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE AT BURNING TREE COUNTRY CLUB, 120 PERKINS ROAD, GREENWICH Tuesday, November 8, 12pm until 8pm, and Wednesday, November 9, 9am until 3pm GOFORPINK EVENTS ARE TAKING PLACE ALL OCTOBER LONG! FOR A FULL LIST OF EVENTS AND SUPPORTERS, GO BREASTCANCERALLIANCE.ORG/GOFORPINKTO
