Barbara Santos to give keynote at breakfast for cancer research

Posted 10/8/15

A Warwick breast cancer survivor, Barbara Santos, will be the keynote speaker Friday at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s Rhode Island Research Breakfast.

The American Cancer …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Barbara Santos to give keynote at breakfast for cancer research

Posted

A Warwick breast cancer survivor, Barbara Santos, will be the keynote speaker Friday at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s Rhode Island Research Breakfast.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is a branch of the American Cancer Society that predominantly promotes legislation and policies, which would help to curb and hopefully eliminate cancer as a “major health problem” to make sure cancer research is a “national priority.”

The ACS CAN research breakfast brings together survivors, medical professionals and local business leaders to discuss the national need to make cancer research a priority and Congress’s responsibility to restore and increase federal funding to cancer research.

The hope is that through research progress can be sustained and lead to the development of more efficient treatments, as well as new strategies for early detection and prevention.

Although 350 less people today die every day from cancer than in 1991, nearly 1,600 people lose their lives to cancer each day.

Despite this progress, Susan Roberts, ACS CAN government relation director in Rhode Island said “advancements could be in jeopardy if reductions in federal funding slow or halt the progress of new grants and promising research in the pipeline.”

Santos herself was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. She received a lumpectomy and luckily she didn’t need chemotherapy, but she did require radiation.

Going over the options with her doctor, Dr. Jaroslaw Hepel, she decided to participate in his research group AccuBoost.

AccuBoost, unlike typical radiation, uses a “higher, localized and focused” dose of radiation that limits unnecessary exposure to healthy tissue.

Santos received 10 treatments over two weeks and was able to continue her everyday activities.

“None of this would have been possible if my doctor hadn’t been funded,” Santos said. “Research is going to make sure people receive safer treatments.”

The breakfast will be this Friday, Oct. 9 at 9 a.m. at the Hope Club, 6 Benevolent Street, Providence. Santos will provide the keynote address.

For additional information, or for those interested in sponsorship opportunities or to purchase individual tickets, contact Susan Roberts at Susan.Roberts@cancer.org or 243-2620.

For more information on the ACS CAN, visit www.acscan.org.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here