As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end we wanted to stress the important role that Cambridge based organizations can play in the advancement of treatments and a potential cure for this life threatening disease.

The Chronicle published a story today highlighting a new chemical that may be able to attack the cancer stem cells that fuel the growth of breast cancer tumors.  The 2 Cambridge based institutes that collaborated on this were the Whitehead Institute and the Broad Institute.

The Whitehead Institute focuses on Biomedical research and though affiliated with MIT is a self-governed institute that allows it’s scientists to conduct research on a variety of diseases including cancer, human genetics, AIDS, and heart disease.  The Broad Institute is also focused in the area of biomedicine and works with Harvard as well as MIT.  Both are located in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge.

Everyone knows someone whose life has been affected by breast cancer.  My mother is a survivor of 11 years and I can still remember the strain that surgery and radiation therapy took on her.  We are lucky to not only have these research institutions here and have world renowned hospitals like Mass General so close by.  That was where my mother was treated.

You may not be a scientist or someone that can contribute much money to breast cancer research but there is always something you can do.  Information on how you can understand your risk factors and how you can be proactive in detecting breast cancer early.  Visit BreastCancer.org or the Susan G. Komen Foundation for a wealth of information on the topic.

You can also participate in fundraising activities like walks.  The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer takes place in May.  Their Boston Walk headquarters are right here in Cambridge on Mass Ave.  Don’t assume that someone you care about knows what they need to know about this life threatening disease.  Make sure you continue to pass on what you know not just in October but all throughout the year.

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