On May 20th, 2008 Friends co-hosted a Breast Cancer Educational Symposium titled, "Stopping Breast Cancer Before It Starts" with Howard University Cancer Center and the Avon Foundation. This town hall style event, held at Howard University Hospital, was attended by cancer researchers, doctors, nurses, and interested members of the Washington, DC community. The town hall helped to increase awareness and understanding of breast cancer research, ongoing clinical trials in breast cancer, and the importance of early detection and prevention.

(L-R)Dr. Wayne Fredrick, Congresswoman Donna Christensen, Dr. Lucile Adams-Campbell, Marlene Malek RN, Dr. Anna Barker, Dr. Marc Hurlbert, Kimberly Higginbotham, Dr. Ellen Sigal, Dr. LaSalle Leffall

The event featured a six member panel consisting of: Congresswoman Donna Christensen (D-VI); Dr. Anna Barker, Deputy Director, National Cancer Institute; Dr. Lucile Adams-Campbell, Director, Howard University Cancer Center; Dr. Marc Hurlbert, Senior Consultant, Avon Foundation; Dr. LaSalle Leffall, Jr., Charles R. Drew Professor, Department of Surgery, Howard Univ. Cancer Center; and Ms. Kimberly Higginbotham, cancer survivor. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Wayne Fredrick, Deputy Director, Howard University Cancer Center.

This informative event, which was open to the public, helped open the eyes of many to the concerns confronting the future of breast cancer research. The expert panelists discussed various issues, including new research focused on cancer prevention and early detection, funding, and the collaboration needed to achieve these goals.

(L-R Dr. Anna Barker, Dr. Marc Hurlbert, Dr. LaSalle Leffall)

Rep. Donna Christensen gave opening remarks and spoke on the role of Congress in the battle against cancer, the importance of directed funding toward cancer research, access to health care and the need for diversity among researchers and clinicians.

Dr. Anna Barker spoke on the importance of personalized medicine, and understanding cancer from the molecular level, "changing the way we look at and treat breast cancer." She emphasized the importance for increased funding for research, and building upon prior investments that have created promising future opportunities for patients.

Kimberly Higginbotham, a breast cancer survivor, encouraged women to get screened, emphasized the importance of early detection and to "not let fear keep you away from the doctor."