Download Our Goals - HER2 Support Group

Board of Directors
Advisory Board
Michael A. Badruddoja, MD
Center for Neurosciences and
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
Christine H. Druther MSPH
Founder/President- Breast Cancer Survivor
Dennis Slamon, MD
Vice President
Director, UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center
Keith L. Black, MD
Medical Director, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical
Institute- Cedars-Sinal Medical Center,
Los Angeles, CA
Thomas A. Shiftan, MD
Medical Director, Sharp Memorial Cancer Center
Dr. Martin J. Murphy Jr.
George Hajjar, MD
Founder, Hipple Cancer Research Center
Founder, AlphaMed Press
Chairman, AlphaMed Consulting
Executive Editor, The OncologistR
Medical Oncologist,
Oncology-Hematology Group of North Jersey
Wayne, NJ
Susan Leonard
Secretary, California Breast Cancer
Organizations (CABCO) , Breast Cancer Survivor
David W. Hodgens, MD
Medical Director of Radiation Oncology,
San Diego Gamma Knife Center & Scripps Memorial
Medical Center, La Jolla, CA
Vernal Branch
Breast Cancer Advocate /Board of Directors for the
Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation
Ellen Mahoney, M.D. F.A.C.S
Community Breast Health Program
Palo Alto, CA
Terrance J. Kane, BS
Secretary
Richard Michaelson, MD
Retired Commercial Airline Pilot- Cancer Survivor
Chief Medical Director, Oncology, Saint Barnabas
Health Care System, Livingston, NJ
John T. Handal, BS
Electrical Engineer- Son of Breast Cancer Victim,
Brother of Breast Cancer Survivor
Dr. Mark Pegram, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
UCLA School of Medicine
Director—Jonnson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Women’s Cancer Programs Area
Los Angeles, CA
Our Goals
1.
Hadi Yaziji, MD
Pathologist
-Baptist Hospital
Miami, FL
Dr. Eric Winer
Director, Breast Oncology Center
Department of Adult Oncology
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Associate Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Ginger Empey
Retired Schoolteacher- Breast Cancer Survivor
Pioneer in the Development of Herceptin
To educate breast cancer patients who overexpress
the HER2 gene about the latest tests and treatments
available and equip them with the knowledge and tools
necessary to facilitate confident and informed
decisions regarding their treatment options.
HER2 Support Group
6973 Mimosa Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92009
Tel: (760) 602-9178
Fax: (760) 602-9153
[email protected]
2. The primary focus will be an internet website at:
www.her2support.org
3.
To provide a forum where we will use the
experiences, shared knowledge, and personal
history of all our supporters to benefit each
other.
4.
Our final goal is to educate breast cancer
patients, their families, and the public about how
to partner with their health care team to receive
the comprehensive care and support they need.
The HER2 Support Group Org is incorporated in
the State of California as a nonprofit public benefits corporation for public and charitable purposes.
It is also exempt from federal income tax under
section 501(A) of the Internal Revenue Code as
an organization described in section 501(c)(3)
Our History...
The HER2 Support Group was founded by
Christine Druther, a public health educator,
whose breast cancer was diagnosed as
Stage IV in 1999. After completing treatment for both enlarged lymph glands and
metastatic brain tumors, she was declared
to be in full remission in the summer of
2001. Her motivation was to reach out to
other HER2/neu breast cancer patients and
assist them in achieving their goal to
survive.
Our Members
Our community consists of a pool of highly
motivated breast cancer patients who
overexpress the HER2/neu gene.
Due to the nature of their disease, their
present options are limited and they are
constantly searching for new treatments
which may lead to their survival.
We have been highly successful in recruiting candidates for clinical trials through
our website and we are constantly seeking
out trials which will benefit our members
Our members are also actively involved in
their treatments and utilize our website to
provide them information with which to
make informed decisions concerning their
treatments.
Clinical office visits are more productive
with the patient having a more thorough
understanding of the treatment options
presented to them.
HER2 Support
Group’s Philosophy
“Through a team effort,
this unique support
group seeks to promote
education by maximizing
the utilization of available
resources. We promise
to assist members by
supporting their concerns and providing links
to news and current research.”
Christine H. Druther, MSPH
Founder/President, HER2 Support Group Org
Our Advocacy
The HER2 Support Group Org will continue to
partner with other breast cancer support
groups as well as the pharmaceutical and
biotech industries in a combined effort to
promote research and progress in the fight
against cancer in the following manner:
1. Post newsworthy articles and press releases
of interest to women who over express the
HER2/neu gene.
2. Publish ongoing clinical trial information and
advise our members of the results of
completed clinical trials from which they
may benefit.
3. Our greatest resource is our members
who are committed to the advancement of
new technologies to enhance their survival
.
Metastatic Brain
Tumors
Metastatic (secondary) brain tumors can
occur when cancer cells migrate to the
brain from the original site of the cancer.
New advances in HER2 targeted therapy
drugs have increased our survival rates
thus increasing the long term risk of
developing metastatic brain tumors.
Results of a recent study
released at the San Antonio Breast Cancer
Symposium in 2004
showed that 10% of all
women who were HER2
positive developed brain
as their initial metastasis. Many experienced no Symptoms.
We urge that all HER2 breast cancer patients have routine brain MRI’s as part of
their treatment plan.
Our Forums
Our message board forums allow breast
cancer patients from countries around the
world to exchange information, voice their
concerns, share their experiences and
provide and receive emotional support .
Our new moderated chat rooms feature
breast cancer experts, researchers, and
advocacy leaders who answer members
concerns and questions .