“From My Breast Cancer to Enabling Genetic Testing Access”

ce. Hopefully these methods get broadly available soon to provide the confidence and comfort that patients need. Doctors, patients, and caregivers often don't know about the latest cancer tests or treatments. This is particularly true in places where access to the latest tests and treatments and information about them is scarce. As a result, patients get worse outcomes.

“From My Breast Cancer to Enabling Genetic Testing Access” ( Sandra Balladares, PhD, MSc) [#145] Consider the case of Sandra Balladares. In 2010, as a 36-year-old molecular biologist and new mother, she discovered a lump in her breast. Despite her in-depth knowledge of genomics, she faced a lack of access to BRCA genetic testing in Mexico City.

This gap propelled her mission to bring genetic testing to Mexico and Latin America. After undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy, she attended the AACR meeting in Chicago, where she connected with Dr. Jeffrey Weitzel, a specialist in clinical cancer genetics.

They collaborated on engaging with Mexican healthcare professionals to establish the genetic testing infrastructure in Mexico and other Latin American countries. Their efforts have enabled over 3,000 underserved patients to receive advanced genetic risk assessments.

Sandra’s continued advocacy promotes personalized treatment approaches and underscores the importance of genomic testing for cancer patients to enable better treatment and improved outcomes. Now in remission, Sandra is dedicated to empowering others through education and access to genetic testing. For more on her story, please see here.

What are the challenges in accessing the latest cancer tests and treatments, especially in Latin America? ●Limited availability of cutting-edge diagnostic tests, such as BRCA testing in Mexico in 2010, despite being standard in the U.S.

●Lack of genetic testing infrastructure in many countries ●Insufficient education for both healthcare professionals and patients about advanced diagnostic methods ●Economic barriers preventing access to the latest treatments ●Significant disparities between private and public healthcare systems What are approaches to overcoming these barriers?

●Collaborate with local healthcare institutions to provide testing, train clinical providers, and create awareness about the importance of genetic screening ●Create affordable testing options that can be implemented in developing countries ●Facilitate sample testing and result sharing with local institutions ●Create easily accessible education resources and information about testing for clinicians and patients What are tips for being an advocate for your care?

ed information about your specific diagnosis and treatment options - ask questions and seek multiple medical opinions ●Find out about your testing options and request additional tests or screenings you feel are important ●Seek psychological support early to manage anxiety and emotional challenges ●Trust your instincts and don't be afraid to challenge standard recommendations ●Connect with support organizations to learn from others' experiences

“From My Breast Cancer to Enabling Genetic Testing Access” ( Sandra Balladares, PhD, MSc) [#145] ●Take an active role in treatment decisions ●Prioritize your mental and physical well-being throughout the process How can we leverage the expertise and resources of the Cancer Patient Lab to support the broader breast cancer community?

●Connect with existing cancer support organizations ●Share cutting-edge information about new diagnostic methods and treatments; empower patients with technical knowledge to help them make informed decisions ●Leverage the Cancer Patient Lab’s technical experts and resources to provide visibility into emerging cancer tests and treatments How can you learn more about engaging in your care and expanding access to new tests and treatments?

●Join the breast cancer community (and other communities) on the Cancer Patient Lab discussion hub.

●See other stories of engaged patients and how they advocated for themselves: ○“What I Learned from Navigating Three Cancers” (Ert Dredge) [#139] ○“A Rogue Cancer Patient Gets Better Outcomes” (Ari Akerstein) [#109] ○“A Guy with Two Cancers Explores Treatments and Life” (Burt Rosen) [#112] The information and opinions expressed on this website or platform, or during discussions and presentations (both verbal and written) are not intended as health care recommendations or medical advice by Cancer Patient Lab, its principals, presenters, participants, or representatives for any medical treatment, product, or course of action.

You should always consult a doctor about your specific situation before pursuing any health care program, treatment, product or other course of action that might affect your health. For the video recording of this conversation, please see here.

“From My Breast Cancer to Enabling Genetic Testing Access” ( Sandra Balladares, PhD, MSc) [#145] Meeting Notes KEYWORDS breast cancer survivor, cancer diagnostics, genetic testing, chemotherapy, radical mastectomy, anxiety management, support organizations, pharmaceutical biologist, immunogenetics, cancer patient lab, oncology treatment, liquid biopsy, minimal residual disease, cancer survivorship, cancer community SPEAKERS Sandra Balladares (88%), Brad Power (7%), Phil (3%), Michael Liebman (3%), Marianne Gault (1%), David Plunkett (1%), Roger Royse (1%) SUMMARY Sandra Balladares, a breast cancer survivor and pharmaceutical biologist, shared her journey and advocacy in cancer diagnostics.

), Brad Power (7%), Phil (3%), Michael Liebman (3%), Marianne Gault (1%), David Plunkett (1%), Roger Royse (1%) SUMMARY Sandra Balladares, a breast cancer survivor and pharmaceutical biologist, shared her journey and advocacy in cancer diagnostics. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at 36, she underwent a radical mastectomy and chemotherapy, including Herceptin.

Despite initial fears, she completed treatment and later had a double mastectomy due to genetic testing revealing no BRCA mutations. Sandra emphasized the importance of genetic testing, especially for young patients, and her efforts to promote it in Mexico and Latin America.

She highlighted the need for better education and resources for both patients and healthcare providers to improve cancer care and outcomes. OUTLINE Introductions ●Sandra Balladares is a breast cancer survivor and expert in cancer diagnostics. ●She has volunteered to launch a breast cancer community at the Cancer Patient Lab.

●Sandra was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 while living in Mexico City at the age of 36. ●She discovered a lump in her breast on Mother's Day and sought immediate medical attention from her sister, an OBGYN. ●She was a chemist and pharmaceutical biologist, with cautious approach to medications.

●After a biopsy, she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma and had to quickly consult with multiple oncologists. Treatment Decisions and Surgery ●Sandra underwent a mammogram, ultrasound, and multiple consultations with surgeons, leading to a recommendation for a radical mastectomy. ●She had a PET scan to rule out metastasis, which confirmed the cancer was localized but multicentric.

●She scheduled her surgery for May 25, the day of her son Matteo's birthday, and organized a special party beforehand.

“From My Breast Cancer to Enabling Genetic Testing Access” ( Sandra Balladares, PhD, MSc) [#145] ●During surgery, her tumor was found to be well-encapsulated, and her sentinel lymph nodes were negative, but she required chemotherapy. Chemotherapy and Its Impact ●Sandra initially feared chemotherapy and was reluctant to undergo it due to its toxicity.

●She consulted with her doctor and decided to proceed with the recommended treatment plan, which included epirubicin, taxotere, and Herceptin. ●She joined a support organization to cope with her fears and contributed information about the side effects of chemotherapy. ●She experienced severe side effects, including necrotized skin, requiring a second surgery and hyperbaric chamber therapy.

Genetic Testing and Further Treatment ●Genetic testing, though important, was not initially recommended by her doctors. ●She decided to proceed with genetic testing and found she was BRCA negative, which provided her with a sense of relief. ●She underwent a second radical mastectomy due to adenomas found on her right breast.

her doctors. ●She decided to proceed with genetic testing and found she was BRCA negative, which provided her with a sense of relief. ●She underwent a second radical mastectomy due to adenomas found on her right breast. ●She became an advocate for genetic testing and organized campaigns to raise awareness and provide access to genetic counseling in Mexico.

Advocacy and Professional Career ●Sandra worked at companies like Applied Biosystems and Illumina. ●Leveraging genomics is important to improve cancer patient outcomes. ●She has been involved in projects related to comprehensive tumor profiling, liquid biopsy, and minimal residual disease testing. ●She is grateful for the opportunity to bring genomic knowledge and tools to improve cancer care.

Differences in Healthcare Systems ●Sandra compared the healthcare systems in the United States, Mexico, and other developing countries, noting significant differences in the availability and affordability of diagnostic tests and treatments. ●Education and awareness about genetic testing and cancer care is needed in developing countries. ●Programs like those initiated by Dr.

Weitzel provide access to genetic testing and counseling. Sandra's Vision for the Breast Cancer Community at the Cancer Patient Lab ●Sandra aims to connect patients with support organizations and provide cutting-edge information about new diagnostic methods and treatments. ●She believes that empowered patients will achieve better outcomes.

●She plans to leverage the technical team at the Cancer Patient Lab to share information and support patients.

“From My Breast Cancer to Enabling Genetic Testing Access” ( Sandra Balladares, PhD, MSc) [#145] TRANSCRIPT Brad Power This is the Cancer Patient Lab. Today we're honored to have with us Sandra Balladares, who is a breast cancer survivor.

She is going to talk about her journey, both as a breast cancer survivor and her work in cancer diagnostics at a number of companies, and how those stories interlink. We like to showcase people who get actively engaged in their care and are role models for others. Sandra is one of those role models. Sandra has generously volunteered to launch a breast cancer community at the Cancer Patient Lab.

We're really for all cancers, but we have a focus, given our heritage of prostate cancer, which is due to two of our co-founders being prostate cancer survivors. We added pancreatic and brain cancers because of our collaboration with Cancer Commons. Now we've added breast cancer as a focus area, and Sandra is leading that community. This is medical information. It's not medical advice.

We try to arm our patients with information they can take to their medical team. We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3), and we depend on the kindness of people who donate to us, which is easy to do. If you go to our website, there's a Donate button and you can donate there.

“From My Breast Cancer to Enabling Genetic Testing Access” ( Sandra