From Sidewalks to Science: An On-Route Look at Komen’s Research with Dr. Valerie M. Jansen

Opening Ceremonies

Dr. Jansen, can you tell us a bit about what led you to do breast cancer research?

My mother-in-law, with whom I was very close, was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer on the same day as my first medical school interview. Unfortunately, she passed away four years after her diagnosis and is not here to witness me doing this important work. I did not set out to be a medical oncologist and a breast cancer researcher; however, I cannot imagine doing anything different! I do this in memory of my mother-in-law and in honor of my patients touched by breast cancer.

On The Route

Since we’ve got some time, could you tell us a bit about your current research?

I study breast cancers that depend on estrogen for growth, which is the most common subtype of breast cancer. There are great options out there for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors, and patients often respond well to treatment (for metastatic ER+ breast cancer, that would be a combination of a CDK4/6 inhibitor and an antiestrogen therapy). However, after an initial response to treatment, most ER+ tumors develop resistance and start growing again. In the laboratory, I am studying how and why these cancers do that and to identify new treatment strategies to overcome resistance. My Komen grant is focused on the role of a protein (PDK1) which could lead the way to new combination treatment strategies for women with metastatic ER-positive cancers.

At Camp

Now that we’ve made it “home” for the night and are enjoying the support of our crew, can you tell us about how your work would be affected without Komen funding?

Komen funding is absolutely indispensable for my research and vital to my career aspiration to become an independently funded physician-scientist. Without Komen funding, I would not be able to perform cutting-edge research to improve the lives of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Furthermore, funding provides the foundation and results needed for future grants, enabling me to continue to grow as a physician-scientist with a robust translational/clinical breast cancer research program, and even more importantly – to continue to do work that could help save lives.

Day 2

What would you say to somebody who’s just been diagnosed with breast cancer?

While we may not be able to cure metastatic breast cancer, we can certainly treat it with the goal of living as long as possible with a good quality of life. There is also hope for new and better treatment options based on research like mine.

Cheering Station

Look at all of these enthusiastic supporters out along the route! What would your advice be to those who want to help make a difference in the fight against breast cancer?

People can make a difference by supporting programs like Komen, which in turn support early-career investigators (like me) and critical research aimed at reducing the number of deaths from breast cancer. I think it’s also important for each of us to be an advocate for our own health and to be educated about the advances being made in breast cancer research.

Pit Stop

Three things to know about Dr. Jansen:

Growing up in Nashville and passing by the Vanderbilt Medical Center as a young girl, my goal was to become a Vanderbilt doctor and help people. I am living that dream and more as a breast cancer doctor and breast cancer scientist at Vanderbilt. This is my Passion, Purpose and Focus.
I was born in Laos and immigrated to the U.S. at six-years-old. My Laotian first name is Phoukhaokham which means mountain full of gold. I did not speak one word of English and now I speak English with a Southern accent! I am the first physician and scientist in my family – hopefully not the last, but my 12-year-old daughter researched pastry chef for her career project for school!
Aside from the support from Komen, I would not be able to do what I do without the unwavering support of my family. They have made and continue to make sacrifices every day so that I can be in the lab late at night and on weekends. When I asked my daughter if she would change anything about me, including having me at home more, she replied, “No because I know when you’re not home, you are helping people.” It takes a village.

Mile 59

The finish line is in sight! Can you tell us about a defining moment for you when you realized the impact your work has in the fight against breast cancer?

I am still very early in my career as a physician-scientist, but a defining moment where I realized that my research has the potential to affect hundreds – and even thousands – of patients was when I presented a clinical trial concept stemming from my preclinical studies. In the clinic, I impact one patient at a time, but with my research I have the potential to make a huge impact that may improve on the lives of patients.

Closing Ceremonies

Thanks for walking us through your research, Dr. Jansen! Any final thoughts you’d like to share with our walkers, crew and supporters?

Komen has been instrumental in their investment of me as an early-career breast cancer researcher. My research findings will hopefully translate into clinical trials and ultimately a new treatment option for patients with metastatic ER+ breast cancer, none of which may be possible without the support from Komen.

Dr. Valerie Jansen is an oncologist and researcher at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Since 1982, Susan G. Komen has funded $920 million in breast cancer research, second only to the U.S. government and more than any other nonprofit in the world. Learn more here.

Grab and Go

Here are two ways you can use this information to help reach your 3-Day fundraising or recruiting goals:

Send a Tweet

Meet Dr. Jansen, @SusanGKomen @VanderbiltU researcher and scholar helping to change the treatment of #breastcancer. http://bit.ly/2tv21LG

Post on Facebook:

Join Dr. Valerie Jansen, a Vanderbilt doctor and Susan G. Komen researcher as she studies estrogen-dependent breast cancers. Her work is changing the foundation of breast cancer research; click the link to read more and find out why your fundraising dollars are so important in the fight against breast cancer. http://bit.ly/2tv21LG

Meet Dennis Kirkpatrick, 3-Day Route Safety Crew Member

Escorting last walker

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything was a miracle.”- Albert Einstein.

That quote lies below Dennis Kirkpatrick’s name as his email signature, and no quote could more perfectly sum up the impact he has made on the 3-Day. His official role is Route Safety Crew Member, but he also considers his job to be the “giving the walkers a ‘hard time’ person, hug giver and receiver.”

After greeting his wife at the finish line of her first 3-Day he knew he had to find a way to participate, too. He saw how much fun the crew was having together, all while keeping 3-Dayers safe and giving to a great cause. He decided to join the 3-Day as a crew member the next year.

Family time when Sandy and Carol were walking

The 3-Day is now a family affair as his wife continues to walk, and his daughter supports the walkers as well.

“I love to watch my wife figure out the route (before and during) the walk. I love working with my daughter taking care of the walkers while making them smile! We are working together for a cause which helps to bring us closer as a family.”

For those who are interested in joining the crew alongside Dennis and his family, Dennis says,

“If you like having fun and meeting very interesting people, come join us.

If you like to hear good stories of fun and encouragement, come join us.

If you like to hear about bravery and why supporting the 3-Day is so important, come join us.”

Dennis on his motorcycle heading to next stop

Dennis says he loves the combination of working with and seeing the same, familiar 3-Day faces each year, while also adding new faces to the walk! The 3-Day is “tiring, fun and inspiring,” but that’s what keeps him coming back year after year.

“It takes a lot of people behind the scenes to make big events work. We are a team that works together!”

Dennis and Sandy (Daughter) going for a ride

If you want to join the 3-Day crew alongside Dennis this year, you can find out about all the opportunities on our website. We’d love to have you!

Now tell us, what are some of your favorite Crew memories from 3-Days past?

Meet Lisa Partner, 3-Day Walker- and Breast Cancer Survivor

June is National Cancer Survivor Month, and is an excellent reminder of the strength, power and optimism we see from survivors on the 3-Day, and in all our own lives.

Race Pic 2012

We’d like to introduce you to Lisa Partner, a 3-Dayer and training walk leader from the Powered by Optimism team in San Diego. Lisa is a 12-year metastatic breast cancer survivor who has raised more than $23,000 for the 3-Day since her first walk in 2007.

Lisa found a lump in her breast when her daughter was only three months old, and after many doctors’ visits, tests and more, was finally diagnosed in early 2005. Her daughter was only 18 months old. From her initial discovery to her diagnosis, she admits that “cancer never really was in my thought process,” but it soon became a part of her everyday life.

Survivor Cred

A few months after her first surgery, Lisa explains “It was found that my cancer had spread to a single rib on the right side of my body. I was then restaged as metastatic. Due to restaging I will be on Herceptin indefinitely. After pondering my thoughts for a few months, I decided to have my right breast and ovaries removed.”

That initial reconstruction did not go smoothly, but Lisa has since seen more success with following reconstruction surgeries. Through it all, she has remained strong for herself and her family. Marianne Masterson, San Diego 3-Day coach, has sung Lisa’s praises for that immeasurable strength.

“Not only has Lisa confronted the trials associated with surgery and treatment, but also the stark odds that her daughter may be growing up without a mother. Lisa’s attitude was to do everything possible to stay alive to ensure this didn’t happen.”

Hug Lady

When she was able, Lisa joined the 3-Day in 2007, and since then has become an active participant, partaking in the Survivor Circle in 2010 and 2015, which she said was a “highly emotional” Experience. When talking about how being a survivor has affected her 3-Day experience, she explained,

“This is going to sound silly, but the walkers make me feel like a rock star. Funny, right? Survivors are looked at as heroes, even though I don’t feel like one. […] Just the fact that so many people join together for a single cause is astounding.”

That feeling of community includes walker stalkers and other San Diego locals, who Lisa says are some of her favorite parts of the walk each year.

Mile 59 2016

“It is unique in that there are so many people coming together for a singular cause. And our community support here in San Diego is bar none! We have the best city!”

Marianne summed it up best when she said, “Lisa is as dedicated to the cause as she is dedicated to living. She fully embraces living in the present and to me embodies everything the 3-Day represents!”

Opening pic

If you want to make a difference for a breast cancer survivor, or help someone battling breast cancer in your own life, Lisa says it’s very simple; just be present.

“Be available to listen, offer a positive attitude, and offer to do grocery shopping, house cleaning, cooking meals. Anything so that the person can focus on getting well.”

That is something Lisa focuses on every day. We are honored to have her in our 3-Day family during Cancer Survivor Month, and always.