'Stars' in Fighting Breast Cancer

Two women take action today to potentially save thousands of women in the future

When Colette Lenner’s mother discovered a lump in her breast 14 years ago, she thought it would just go away. It didn’t. “She had breast cancer,” Lenner says. “And her denial allowed the cancer to spread to her bones, where it became fatal.”

To honor her mother and help others fight breast cancer, Lenner, an R.N. and benefits verification analyst, took a bold step. Volunteer Betty Heckman joined Lenner and nearly 20,000 other women in a groundbreaking seven-year study called STAR (Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene). It compares the effectiveness of the two drugs in fighting breast cancer.

The results: Both lower the risk for invasive breast cancer (cancer that spreads to other body parts) by 50 percent, and raloxifene does so without the serious side effects of tamoxifen. Here’s what Lenner and Heckman—along with 67 other LVHHN participants—did to help:

Betty's Story

Her age: 77

Her revelation: Reading an article in Healthy You. "It was about managing your risk for breast cancer, and it suggested participating in clinical trials. It mentioned STAR by name."
Her risk: Four breast biopsies (all negative) and numerous cysts in her breasts
Her inspiration: "Research is the only way to find out what will help other women."
Her commitment: Taking one of the trial drugs once a day for five years. She recently learned she's taking raloxifene. "I'm glad, because it also treats osteoporosis, which I have."
Her next step: "I'm telling everyone I know that I participated in the trial, and I'm encouraging them to get involved in cancer research, too."

Her age: 62
Her revelation: Seeing a sign promoting the trial at her annual mammogram appointment at Breast Health Services
Her risk: Family history. In addition to her mother, a younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. "Thankfully it was caught early enough, and my sister is doing well now."
Her inspiration: Her mom and a breast cancer patient she took care of as a nurse in the 1970s. The woman denied she had breast cancer until her breast became abnormally large. "I can still see her in her hospital room, right next to the nurses's station." The woman died soon after her diagnosis.
Her commitment: Taking one of the trial drugs once a day for five years. Though originally participants didn't know which drug they were taking, Lenner recently learned she's on tamoxifen. "Luckily, I haven't had any side effects."
Her next step: "I'm going to walk with my daughter in the Women's 5K Classic race this year to raise money for breast cancer research. I'm also going to keep reminding my family and friends to get their mammograms. Early detection is key."

ARTICLE TOOLS: