American Cancer Society’s need for donations past October
In October, you can look around and find plenty of signs of breast cancer awareness,…
In October, you can look around and find plenty of signs of breast cancer awareness, from pink ribbons to posters and T-shirts, but once the month ends the need is still there. “People aren’t battling breast cancer just in the month of October, their journeys, their diagnosis, those treatments, those surgeries are happening 365 days a year. It is just so important to remember that in terms of continuing the support,” American Cancer Society Senior Community Development Manager Danielle Sowell said. “The American Cancer Society accepts new volunteers, donations, sponsorships throughout the entire year. There are opportunities to give especially if people are looking to do some year-end giving before the fiscal year closes out.”Donations to the American Cancer Society go to a multitude of areas to help those with breast cancer. One area of importance is research. Wake Forest Baptist Health’s Dr. David Soto-Pantoja is currently researching breast cancer cells to better help patients. “Our work, it focuses on finding new drugs to stimulate the immune system to attack a tumor,” Soto-Pantoja said. “We also look at how we control our own metabolism to then attack normal tissue from the side effects.”Soto-Pantoja is also studying a lesser-known correlation of chemotherapy and heart trouble in some breast cancer patients. He said it’s something patients should be aware of. “If you’re a patient that is diagnosed with breast cancer and you have something like high blood pressure, you may want to ask your oncologist or primary care provider to maybe add a cardiologist to your team,” he said. This is a cause close to Soto-Pantoja. Breast cancer has impacted women in his family. He’s doing his part by raising funds through the ACS Real Men Wear Pink Campaign. He’s already raised more than $1,200 with a goal of $2,500. His work is ongoing and he asks others to consider supporting his work to find answers. “Researchers like me, we’re trying to find new treatments for breast cancer, and with COVID we’re experiencing a reduction in funding, so it is very important to continue supporting research,” Soto-Pantoja said.
In October, you can look around and find plenty of signs of breast cancer awareness, from pink ribbons to posters and T-shirts, but once the month ends the need is still there.
“People aren’t battling breast cancer just in the month of October, their journeys, their diagnosis, those treatments, those surgeries are happening 365 days a year. It is just so important to remember that in terms of continuing the support,” American Cancer Society Senior Community Development Manager Danielle Sowell said. “The American Cancer Society accepts new volunteers, donations, sponsorships throughout the entire year. There are opportunities to give especially if people are looking to do some year-end giving before the fiscal year closes out.”
Donations to the American Cancer Society go to a multitude of areas to help those with breast cancer. One area of importance is research. Wake Forest Baptist Health’s Dr. David Soto-Pantoja is currently researching breast cancer cells to better help patients.
“Our work, it focuses on finding new drugs to stimulate the immune system to attack a tumor,” Soto-Pantoja said. “We also look at how we control our own metabolism to then attack normal tissue from the side effects.”
Soto-Pantoja is also studying a lesser-known correlation of chemotherapy and heart trouble in some breast cancer patients. He said it’s something patients should be aware of.
“If you’re a patient that is diagnosed with breast cancer and you have something like high blood pressure, you may want to ask your oncologist or primary care provider to maybe add a cardiologist to your team,” he said.
This is a cause close to Soto-Pantoja. Breast cancer has impacted women in his family. He’s doing his part by raising funds through the ACS Real Men Wear Pink Campaign. He’s already raised more than $1,200 with a goal of $2,500. His work is ongoing and he asks others to consider supporting his work to find answers.
“Researchers like me, we’re trying to find new treatments for breast cancer, and with COVID we’re experiencing a reduction in funding, so it is very important to continue supporting research,” Soto-Pantoja said.
