Breast Cancer Foundation of Arizona
The Breast Cancer Foundation of Arizona is a 501c-3 non-profit entity established in 1992 with the goal of breast cancer research and education by Marion Jabczenski, M.D., F.A.C.R., a local practicing radiologist and his colleagues. This was the first breast cancer research group established in Arizona and was created to fulfill a desire by local citizens to become involved and promote research on a regional level.
Our organization has established a strong community service program for educational outreach regarding breast cancer education and detection. In 2002, our organization sponsored five different seminars and educational series with guest speakers from several preeminent scientific organizations. These seminars were designed to fulfill our goal of breast cancer education. We do support several organizations in Phoenix including Bosom Buddies, a long standing support group for breast cancer survivors.
Our current research efforts have been spent in two specific areas of breast cancer detection and mammography. One of the most notable projects initiated by Dr. Jabczenski in 1997 is the mammographic demonstration of breast artery calcifications which correlate closely with calcifications in other parts of the body. Our goal has included a joint effort with the Arizona Heart Institute for correlating the relationship between breast artery calcification and coronary artery calcification through the Electron Beam CT and mammogram. Our second area of research has been in the relationship of high bone density to breast cancer. Both of these areas of investigation have been reaffirmed through the work at other major institutions.
The program for our research tier is somewhat specific; however, it is also flexible. We recently attended the New Strategies in Breast Cancer 2003 symposium which included areas of current research being done in the United States. These include: chemoprevention, new hereditary parameters for genetic mapping, extension of genetic mapping, angiogenesis of cancers with new inhibitory agents, endothelial growth factors as targets for study, ductoscopy as means for molecular level of study, hormonal investigation of aromatase inhibitors, and proteonomics. The foundation would like to participate in and support gene mapping with the genomic institute headed by Jeffrey Trent, PhD. in Phoenix. We also believe the work being done in immunotherapy at The Fred Hutchinson Institute in Seattle, WA would be appropriate for our facility. We would supply the participant patients and integrate with the data base.
The program for advocacy and education should, we believe establish Phoenix as a leader for hosting groups of researchers brought to a local forum for public education. The topics would be presented in practical ways that explain what “research dollars” are doing in their various institutions. We want to make their information presentable to the average person as well as to physicians in a format that reaches large amounts of people. The reason this is so important is because while there is much being done, it is not known to the average woman. It is therefore not “used” in any meaningful way by the public at this point. The research being done is important and the results of it do belong to the public, because it is being supported by public dollars through the defense budget (taxes) and foundations such as Susan G. Komen. Moreover, it is these many research trials, for example the ductoscopy work by Dr. Dooley at The University of Oklahoma, that women could participate in when they actually need it. Very high risk women could have a completely occult cancer discovered by his methods. This is significant and could have an immediate impact on someone here and now.
Therefore, The Breast Cancer Foundation of Arizona would like to build a breast cancer research center in the greater Phoenix area. There is a vacuity for treatment opportunities between existing available technology and its particular availability to the patients in this city. The goal is to coalesce all efforts; refined detection technology, genetic advancement, progressive surgical advancement and imminent complementary medicine under one roof.
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