Breast Cancer Research:

Where does the money go?

Research is the strongest weapon we have in winning the war against breast cancer. Through research, we systematically identify new molecular targets and new therapies to attack and one day prevent cancer.

The discoveries made in the laboratory translate to clinical trials in the patient setting. A clinical trial is the means by which each new strategy for combating breast cancer undergoes rigorous testing in patients to ensure that the new therapy is both safe and effective in comparison to the standard of care. If the clinical trial demonstrates that the new therapy is safe and effective for fighting cancer in the specified patient population, the drug will be approved and made available to all patients meeting the treatment criteria. Thus, a successful clinical trial is crucial to making the newest therapies widely available by bringing them to market.

An enormous amount of time, money, and hard work goes into completing these trials. Although additional tests, procedures, and medications required by the clinical trial protocol account for some of the costs associated with conducting a clinical trial, the majority of the expense of a clinical trial actually comes from the large amount of support staff required to conduct a clinical trial. This includes both the staff required to meet increasingly stringent regulatory requirements, with mountains of paperwork involved, as well as the staff needed to ensure that all protocol events occur within the required timeline and to accurately collect the tremendous amount of data being tracked in the clinical trial protocol. Ironically, the more that we discover about breast cancer, the more complicated and labor intensive clinical trials become. Due to the increasing complexity of clinical trials, a study coordinator today can handle only about half as many study patients as ten years ago. This translates to rising costs in order to continue conducting clinical trials and bring new drugs to market. Currently, the Cancer Center’s Clinical Research program is recruiting patients to 12 breast cancer trials and continues to collect data in over 25 trials. To date the program has enrolled over 200 patients in our community to breast cancer trials.

Quick Facts

Where

Casa Las Palmas at Chase Palm Park

When

Saturday, April 26, 2008

7:00 A.M Late registration begins

7:45 A.M Warm up; Silent Auction opens

8:00 A.M 10 mile Walkers begin

8:30 A.M Runners/Short Course Walkers begin

10:30 A.M Entertainment, raffle, speakers and lunch - Stay for the fun!

11:15 A.M Silent Auction closes

Who

Anyone who wants to help eradicate breast cancer is encouraged to participate either individually or by forming a team comprised of friends, family or co-workers. Participants who raise $250 in pledges will receive a sweatshirt with additional incentives awarded at $500, $750 and $1,000.

Why

IIn 2007, it was estimated that 178,480 new cases of
breast cancer would be diagnosed in women and an
additional 2,030 in men. Almost 41,000 peole would
die of the disease.* All proceeds from the Walk
support cutting edge breast cancer clinical research
here in our own community at the Cancer Center of
Santa Barbara.
* According to the American Cancer Society

Distance

10 miles (shorter course options available)

Register

In person at 524 W. Pueblo Street

By mail to 524 W. Pueblo Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Online at www.ccsb.org/events/irelandwalk2008

Fundraising Tips

Set a goal
Collect your pledges as you ask for them.
Ask friends, family and co-workers to sponsor you.

Don’t forget to ask about company matching gifts.

Ask for pledges from businesses you frequent or clubs/groups you belong to.

Corporate Suggestions

Profile a cancer survivor from your company (or a family member) for the employee newsletter. Colleagues who cannot participate could be encouraged to support him or her.Challenge other departments and branches to participate and see who can raise the most money.Challenge the CEO or a senior person to walk the route and encourage employees to beat his or her time.Special events such as casual days and bowling tournaments are great ways to generate enthusiasm and awareness prior to the Walk. Profile your team and the Walk in company newsletters, staff meetings, bulletin boards, e-mail.

Challenge your counterparts around town! Compete against colleagues who work in the same field to raise pledges.

How to raise $250+ in a week

Pay $40 registration fee.

Ask two family members for $25 each.

Ask three friends for $25 each.

Ask two co-workers for $25 each.

Ask your company for $50.