Alongside 16 of my biotech colleagues, we aim to raise $700K for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, an organization funding high-risk, high-reward cancer research. My personal goal is to raise $50,000, and I need your help to get there.
The Why: It's personal. As I approach the big 5-0, I’m reflecting on the journey that has shaped my life—especially my experience with cancer. In 2017, I discovered a lump in my breast. Despite initially being dismissed with a “This is probably nothing,” I insisted on further testing. The phone call I received shortly after still echoes in my mind: "Susan, you have Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), stage 0 breast cancer. The good news is no one dies from DCIS." What a relief, I thought. But that relief was short-lived as I learned the treatment options—mastectomy or lumpectomy plus radiation, followed by years of endocrine therapy—were just as intense as for invasive cancer.
I wasn’t ready to accept this without exploring other possibilities. I found a clinical trial investigating immunotherapy and enrolled. This trial offered a chance to contribute to research that could lead to better options with mimimal side effects for future patients.
Since then, I’ve faced a breast cancer recurrence (stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma) and an unrelated diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer. I feel incredibly lucky to be here today, and it’s because of innovative treatments and research that I’ve had these chances.
Throughout this journey, I’ve come to deeply understand the emotional and physical challenges faced by cancer patients as they go through treatment. This experience, combined with my career as a drug developer, has only strengthened my resolve to advocate for better therapies. It has also made me a more compassionate and effective caregiver & advocate for my father, who is currently fighting small cell lung cancer.
The What: In April 2025, I will trek through the Himalayas to Everest Base Camp with the Timmerman Traverse. This trek wont be easy, as we will:
- Climb for several hours a day over 8 days
- Battle high altitude challenges at >17,000 feet - where oxygen is half vs sea level
- Conquer steep and varied terrain while enduring extreme weather conditions
The Who: The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation identifies and supports young, bold scientists who are thinking outside the box—people whose groundbreaking ideas might otherwise go unfunded. Their work has led to incredible breakthroughs, from proving the link between smoking and cancer to curing a patient with stage IV melanoma using immunotherapy. Damon Runyon scientists have even developed the liquid biopsy, a tool that can detect cancer DNA in a blood sample, offering new hope for early detection and treatment. To date, thirteen of these scientists have earned the Nobel Prize.
By donating, you are directly supporting the future of cancer research and helping to fund scientists who are daring to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Please note that I will be covering all personal costs for the trip and 100% of your donation goes directly to the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation..
Thank you for your generosity and support.
Wishing you good health and in gratitude,
Susan Whitehead
(susan.whitehead01@gmail.com)