Since 1998, Breast Cancer Care and Research Fund’s mission is to end breast cancer.
ADVOCACY
Since 1998, BCCRF advocates have attended the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), the largest worldwide breast cancer conference. The advocates attend sessions and interface with clinicians, scientists and advocates, developing longstanding collaborative relationships. BCCRF advocates have presented posters and participated in plenary sessions. Following the meeting, the advocates write articles posted on our website and have presented findings alongside clinicians/researchers at community lectures.
BCCRF advocates have participated in and have been speakers at conferences of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DoD BCRP) Era of Hope, California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP), Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA), National Institute of Health (NIH)/Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (BCERP) as well as at medical centers and research institutions.
BCCRF holds an organization seat on the Board of Directors of the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC).
BCCRF advocates have attended the NBCC Annual Advocate Leadership Summit and Lobby Day in Washington, DC for the past three decades. They have participated as plenary and workshop speakers.
Since 1998 BCCRF has educated breast cancer patients, survivors and the lay public through dissemination of information at lectures, on our website and newsletters and through one-on-one mentoring. We also brought education programs to colleges as well as educating researchers on breast cancer advocacy.
Our Minorities Engagement committee successfully created an informational brochure directed towards low income and underserved populations that was distributed to 50,000 women and men at 19 locations. BCCRF continues to engage with diverse communities.
RESEARCH
BCCRF members have been trained through the NBCC’s Project Lead Institute, a comprehensive science course for breast cancer advocates. This puts us in the position to collaborate with researchers and to mentor women going through treatment; newly diagnosed and those who are living with metastatic disease. Many of the BCCRF advocates are Project Lead Institute mentors and completed the Advanced Lead course.
BCCRF advocates collaborate with researchers and clinicians on their grant proposals and grant awards, always providing the patient’s voice.
BCCRF advocates participate in peer and programmatic review for the DoD BCRP and other funding agencies.
BCCRF advocates hold seats at the table where decisions are made – Institutional Review Boards, External Advisory Boards, Data Safety Monitoring Boards, Institutional Scientific Peer Review Committees and governmental agencies and private foundation boards – providing the patient voice.
Beginning in 1998 BCCRF advocates have held a seat on the California Breast Cancer Research Program’s Advisory Council.
BCCRF advocates participate in the NBCC Artemis Project, an advocate-led, innovative, mission driven approach focused on primary breast cancer prevention and prevention of metastases.
BCCRF advocates participate in clinical trials review and oversight, as well as working with industry and investigators on their trials.
BCCRF provides unbiased review articles on our website focusing on research and information regarding innovations in breast cancer.
PUBLIC POLICY
Federal legislation
In 1992 working with NBCC, we were successful in the creation of the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DoD BCRP) which continues to fund innovative and impactful research. BCCRF advocates annually lobby Congress to ensure that federal funds continue to be appropriated to secure the DoD BCRP program.
BCCRF actively participated in the passage of the federal legislation that created the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program, which guarantees breast and cervical cancer treatment for low income and underserved women. Advocates monitor this program to ensure its continuation.
California legislation
BCCRF worked as a Board member organization of the California Breast Cancer Organizations (CABCO) to pass the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (enhanced match with the federal government) in California.
BCCRF worked for passage of the Clinical Trials Patient Care Costs Act which provides coverage for routine patient care costs for individuals in clinical trials.
BCCRF worked for passage of legislation that created the California Breast Cancer Research Program, Everywoman Counts Program and the Teacher’s Study.