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The Politics of Breast Cancer

Lebanon, New Hampshire - November 6, 2007

Officials from Susan G. Komen for the Cure speak to doctors and researchers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. The topic-- breast cancer, and what is being done to help the 200,000 people who will likely be diagnosed this year alone.

"Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest funder of private research grants, the largest funder besides the federal government, so we are the ones furthering the research for cures for breast cancer," said Hala Moddelmog.

DHMC is one of many hospitals that receive grant money from the foundation. Doctors say that research being done right now in labs like these could make breast cancer a manageable disease, rather than a death sentence. Dartmouth researchers are looking at what happens in the cells to spark cancer growth.

"We begin to view it as a manageable illness, much like diabetes. If you take your medicine and you take care of yourself, you are much more likely to die of old age than you are of breast cancer," said Dr. James DiRenzo.

Komen has recruited the wives of Presidential candidates to get the word out -- from Elizabeth Edwards, to Elizabeth Kucinich and Judith Giuliani who spoke at Tuesday's event.

"Politics should be about people. And breast cancer is something that is affecting so many people now, in the United States and across the world, that is has to be made a political issue. Even more of a political issue than it is already," said Kucinich.

"And it is also a political issue in terms of research funding. The research budget for the National Cancer Institute is virtually flat for the last three years, so we are on a mission to get research funding increased," Moddelmog said. 

Representatives will be traveling to 25 different communities throughout the country, stressing the importance of breast cancer awareness, but also making sure the issue is a political priority in the upcoming presidential election.

It is estimated that over 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year. Komen recently launched an "I Vote for the Cure" campaign to educate voters.