Dear American Cancer Society and all other Cancer Research organizations,

I would like to see what the millions of dollars in research has come up with, because it sure isn't dealing with breast cancer. The #1 most common cancer. It is referred to as an old ladies disease but younger and younger women are showing up with it. Often without any family history, why? Is it birth control, IVF treatments? What? Why aren't you researching the common trend?

1. Why is the treatment protocol the same in 2022 as it was in 2001? A/C and Taxol. It seems that the only thing that has changed, is the supporting drugs to mitigate nausea.

- I was told 4 AC and 12 taxol, but when i got to 8 and the neuropathy in my feet got so bad I could hardly walk, I was told to stop, and it wouldn't affect my recurrence rate. (Then WTF was I scheduled to do 12!!!!!)

2. When the categories of breast cancer diagnosis are ER, PR, HER-, why do we only talk about minimizing ER? There isn't any conversation about PR.

3. With the millions in dollars of research, how do we not have a threshold for what range to stay below for estrogen? Majority of the women in my cancer groups are told to go into menopause, and you "should be good". But wait... there's more... women in menopause are STILL being diagnosed with cancer for the first time..

4. The now 10 year protocol for most women, (went to 10 from 5 because women younger and younger are showing positive with it) is a monthly injection to suppress the ovaries OR remove the ovaries. And oh by the way, the monthly injection is a one size fits most. After 3 months of injections, my ovaries were still working. Once women start it, testing for estrogen levels is quite rare. There is generally a fire and forget type attitude, that is 120 injections. How many women out there trusted their doctor and "the science", and still had recurrence?

5. Next part of the protocol is a daily Aromatase Inhibitor pill for the .... Next.... 10.... Years... (3,650 pills). Not to mention the side effects (bone loss, bone and joint pain that feels like your back and hips are breaking, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings). So then we give more pills to help manage these side effects.

6. Why isn't there research being done to find what range of estrogen and progesterone levels have the most success in mitigating recurrence? There are soooooo many women that would be willing to be part of a study. I keep hearing that hormone levels fluctuate so much. Hell, we track sugar levels, why cant we do the same for hormone levels?? Sign me up.

7. If the only knowledge we have is that we need to maintain menopause for the best chance of reducing recurrence, then why can't we add the hormone testing to the quarterly or semi annual bloodwork you already pull?? Treat it like a titers and only take the meds if we have a spike? Tailor treatment to the individual. 

Margaret K. Snyder
Breast Cancer survivor (2020 at 36 yo- Ductal Carcinoma In Situ grade 3 & Invasive Ductal Carcinoma grade 2. Stage 2B)