Research on Metastatic Breast Cancer: “Trying to Stay Alive on Two Percent”

By Dian M. Corneliussen-James, on February 4th, 2011

After spending 24 years as an Air Force Intelligence Officer, “CJ” (Dian) Corneliussen-James, retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and took a Senior Analyst position in the Defense of Defense. Slowed down by the diagnoses of both metastatic breast cancer and systemic lupus in 2006, she retired from the government but was soon busy running a support program for metastatic breast cancer. Her quest to fund much needed research for the disease led to the establishment of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, METAvivor Research and Support Inc., of which she is President. CJ writes:

“My interest in the allocation of cancer research funds began January 13, 2007 … the day I learned that only 1% of the $5 billion annual cancer fund was devoted to any stage IV cancer, despite the fact that stage IV causes 90% of cancer deaths. I had just been diagnosed with metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer, or ‘BC mets’ as we tend to call it, so the statement really hit home. The stage IV research fund allocation is now considered closer to 2%, but that is still minuscule and breast cancer is a subset of that. One might think breast cancer organizations would look after their own stage IV community. They do not.”

Read more about CJ and the dearth of research on BC mets on The Cancer Culture Chronicles.

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suegeorge

February 4, 2011 at 4:28 pm

I thank you for bringing this %2 allocation of cancer research funds for stage 4 cancers. I’m a nine year bc mets person and need to eliminate survivor from my vocabulary. I feel robbed. I have been blessed with a body holding unto hormonal therapies but what’s in my future?

How can I help? Sue

Gayle Sulik

February 4, 2011 at 4:42 pm

Thank you, Sue. For ideas, please contact /METAvivor.

February 4, 2011 at 4:45 pm

Sue, There is also a discussion board on BreastCancer.org you might find helpful.

CJ Corneliussen-James

February 4, 2011 at 5:30 pm

Sue, thank you for your support. You’ll find our contact information posted on our website (www.metavivor.org). Would love to hear from you. METAvivor can use all the support it can get.
CJ (Dian) Corneliussen-James

MARIE CARLIN

February 10, 2011 at 9:35 am

I am a survivor 11 years stage IV and have had to switch therapies 3 times when they quit working. I do not know how many more there are out there. The docs have told me that I will be on my current regiem until my kidneys can no longer take it. I get very frustrated because so many of the dollars go for funding activities such as the American Cancer Society Look Good Feel Good support. It is fine to look good and feel good but I would rather be alive.

February 10, 2011 at 10:24 am

Thank you for sharing this, Marie. The funding allocations clearly have to change. Keep speaking out, and check in with CJ about her work with METAvivor.

ellen

February 24, 2011 at 8:48 pm

Thank you CJ for your excellent advocacy for all of us living with metastatic breast cancer. YES… we need research focused on metastases…. if our mets could be stable.. under control… we could all live – and then the huge fear of bc wouldn’t be and mbc would become a TRULY chronic condition. None of this will ever happen on 2%. How do we change this?

Pink Ribbon Blues

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