Hope isn’t canceled. It turns out research isn’t entirely, either. At Johns Hopkins University, breast cancer researcher and Hope Scarves funding recipient Andrew Ewald and his team have continued to make strides in understanding metastatic breast cancer with patients always front-of-mind. “The most important thing is to convey to patients and patient advocates that they are not forgotten. We never lost focus on metastatic breast cancer, we never stopped working on metastatic breast cancer, and we have published exciting new research in this time period,” says Dr. Ewald.

Ewald’s research aims to use advanced imaging to see and understand at the single-cell level how and when metastasis happens. Understanding this process will give us more exact, tailored treatment options. As Dr. Ewald explained it, one way to think about the puzzle his research aims to solve is to think of a room full of women – some five feet tall, some five-ten. While not one woman in the room is 5’5” that may be their average height. 

In designing cancer treatment plans, we often design for how the “average” cell in a tumor behaves, even if that behavior doesn’t apply to any one individual cell. This research hopes to identify the processes and behavior of those individual cells to give us a more accurate picture of what is happening at the moment of metastatic activity.

Ewald’s lab was able to anticipate the Covid-19 crisis, and was laser focused in the first part of this year on getting key experiments done so that they could pivot to manuscript writing during the shutdown. They never stopped (not for a day) working on metastatic breast cancer. Consequently, they have exciting new papers coming out for which Hope Scarves support was essential. And they will be back in the lab (in shifts, with masks, socially distanced) within the next two weeks. In Dr. Ewald’s own words: “Breast cancer will still be here after COVID-19 has faded into memory and so our focus and resolution remain high.”

Help continue Dr. Ewald’s research and remind cancer patients  Hope Isn’t Canceled by sponsoring a Hope Scarf for $30/month as part of our Hope Isn’t Canceled Sustainability Campaign.  Our goal is to send 400 Hope Scarves each month – please join us!

I was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer 2 days after I turned 29. I’ve  been living with MBC for 9 years. My treatment has included a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, chemo, radiation, ovaries removed, and lots of other treatments along the way. In December of 2019 I started having some pain. The pain became severe in February of 2020, my March scans showed progression of the cancer. I got a biopsy that would qualify me for a new drug, but they didn’t get enough tissue. So, now all of my treatment is held up because of COVID. My treatment has been delayed by 6 weeks at this point.

It’s a difficult time for everyone, especially living with Stage 4 cancer where I feel such gratitude for being safe and home, and in awe of people who work on the front lines. At the same time there are a lot of heavy emotions too, it’s a double edge sword. It’s hard to live with the grief and uncertainty of what’s going on with my treatment and waiting an excessive amount of time for tests. I have had to go alone to scans and treatments for the first time in 9 years. It’s a real rollercoaster. So much is shut down, but we don’t get a break from living with Stage 4 cancer. I still need radiation, treatment, and doctors’ appointments. The fear and uncertainty of going into the treatment. It’s just an uncertain time. I got diagnosed with a recurrence in the middle of COVID and had to deal with biopsies and radiation and not being able to see my doctors like I normally would, layered on top of the fear and uncertainty everyone is feeling with this pandemic.

Upon being diagnosed, I was desperate to find someone young like me living with MBC and bringing awareness to people facing MBC. I was drawn to Hope Scarves mission to fund MBC research. That is something that I am extremely passionate about, there aren’t many organizations focusing on that. If we don’t fund research for MBC we won’t be able to find a cure for it. It directly impacts my life and ability to live as long as possible.  I have donated my personal scarves to Hope Scarves and I have sent a Hope Scarf to people.

I think now more than ever, people need to feel supported and seen and loved and we can’t do that in person- so we need to find ways to do that by actions like hope scarves. By donating and allowing scarves to be sent to women in need. It’s such a perfect way to support each other in a time when we can’t physically be with each other. So many people express feelings of not knowing how they can help and feeling helpless, this is a way you can really truly make a difference in someone’s life. Giving a scarf a tangible object or a donation that helps fund MBC research. It’s an easy way to help support during times of helplessness.

Help remind Meghan and thousands more facing cancer that Hope Isn’t Canceled by sponsoring a Hope Scarf for $30/month as part of our Hope Isn’t Canceled Sustainability Campaign.  Our goal is to send 400 Hope Scarves each month – please join us!