Support Lynn Sage this Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer comprises over 15% of all cancer diagnoses thus far in 2023, and in 2020, there were an estimated 3,886,830 women living with breast cancer in the US alone, according to the National Cancer Institute. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time for increased thought and action, where every dollar donated goes toward supporting those currently in treatment, and importantly, finding a cure.

While October is the month dedicated to bringing attention to this disease, organizations like the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation are committed to this awareness and support year-round. We're honored to be a supporter of this organization for the third year in a row.

Save to Give at a Zen Leaf Near You

Zen Leaf is all-in in supporting the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation. Head to your local Zen Leaf Dispensary starting September 29 for a Save to Give punch card. With this initiative, you not only save on your purchases but help us achieve our donation goal of $50,000. Just turn in your completed card any time in the month of October.

Help be the change and support this groundbreaking organization in states:

Visit your local Zen Leaf Dispensary from September 29 through October 15 for your punch card.

Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation

Image credit: lynnsage.org

Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation (LSBCF) was established by friends and family in honor of Lynn Sage, who died of breast cancer in 1984. Their tireless efforts have not been in vain; LSBCF has raised over $40 million since 1985, with funds going towards cancer research and education.

Early detection is crucial and warrants further research. Without research support, options such as Tamoxifen (considered “the standard of care treatment” for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer) would not be possible for today’s patients. LSBCF was an early donor to the research of this now-standard treatment option.

However, LSBCF’s support goes beyond research and education. The Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center, the largest of its kind in the Midwest, opened in 1991. The center was recognized by the American College of Radiology for providing the highest-quality imaging, safety, and care.

Additionally, LSBCF is responsible for:

• Oncology fellowships
• Funding Northwestern Medicine
• Funding the Breast Cancer Survivorship Program

We're proud to support their life-changing initiatives with Save to Give.

Lynn Sage: Funding Breast Cancer Research

One of the most important pillars of LSBCF is the Lynn Sage Scholars. These scholars are gifted researchers who are devoted to groundbreaking projects regarding breast cancer treatment and cures. The foundation awards $200,000 to scholars over a two-year period so that they may pursue their individual breast cancer projects.

Ultimately, the projects will be made into a larger effort, and along with governmental support, may translate to better treatment and an eventual cure. In 2023, there are four scholars exploring novel theories:

Dr. Peiwen Chen is an Assistant Professor and Neurological Surgeon at the Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern University. His area of focus: "Targeting macrophage reprogramming in brain metastatic breast cancer."

Breast cancer often spreads to the brain, and the current treatments aren't really helping patients live much longer. There are cells called TAMs that are usually found in breast cancer. These TAMs often help the cancer spread because they're in a state called "M2-like." If those TAMs could be switched to another state, "M1-like," it might be a great way to treat the spread of breast cancer. But, we don't fully understand how to make this switch, especially when it comes to the spread to the brain. Dr. Chen is looking into ways to better understand this process and see if changing these TAMs can help reduce the spread of breast cancer to the brain, in addition to exploring if this approach can work together with other cancer treatments to be even more effective.

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine, Dr. Lu Wang's research is "delineating the role of TET2 mediating metabolic and epigenetic coordination in breast cancer."

Most breast cancers (around 70%) are caused by something called ER-positive BCa. Currently, if someone has this type of breast cancer, they can be treated with hormone drugs like tamoxifen. However, even after treatment, this cancer can return many years later. Dr. Wang has developed a new approach. He's focusing on a treatment that targets the way cancer cells use energy. This could help combat the resistance some breast cancers have to hormone treatments.

From University of Chicago Medicine, Assistant Professor of Medicine Dr. Nan Chen is working to "discover novel biomarkers of therapy response and resistance in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients."

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is a tough type of cancer that we don't have a cure for yet. There are treatments that can help manage it and let patients live longer, but picking the right treatment can be tricky. That's where Dr. Chen comes in. She's looking at DNA changes in patients with MBC to see if there's a pattern that shows which treatments work best. By studying blood samples from these patients over time, the goal is to understand how their DNA changes relate to how well they respond to treatment. Ultimately, using this information, there's hope to create a blood test that can guide MBC patients to the best treatment for them.

Last but not least, Dr. Arjun Raman, Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Chicago is looking to "define transcriptional signatures of triple-negative breast cancer."

There's a genetic tool called "single-cell transcriptional profiling" or "scRNA seq" for short; think of it like a super-powered microscope for our genes that shows if specific genes in a cell are turned "on" or "off." By using this tool on tissue samples from patients, Dr. Raman believes we can pinpoint the exact cells and genes that cause diseases. This is incredibly useful for conditions like triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), where the only current treatment is general chemotherapy. His lab has come up with a method named SCALES to spot the main culprits of the disease. Early tests look promising, especially for TNBC. Dr. Raman is diving deep into the data to make sure our predictions are on point. If all goes well, he and team could craft new treatments for TNBC, marking a big step in personalized medicine based on hard data.

Fellowship Programs

The Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation supports special training. After specialized training, many doctors go on to be globally-recognized leaders regarding breast cancer research. Support of the program ensures that the brightest in the nation have access to top training and equipment.

The Breast Surgery Fellowship devotes resources toward imaging and techniques. The fellowship enhances basic knowledge of breast disease. Residents of the program gain advanced knowledge and skill in treating breast disease. This leads to leadership roles regarding the realms of education and the field of research.

The Breast Imaging Fellowship involves training in mammography, ultrasound, and image-guided techniques.

The Hematology/Oncology Fellowship program develops candidates to become the next leaders of breast cancer research.

The Pathology Fellowship provides training in diagnostic breast pathology. The candidate participates in the evaluation and diagnosis of breast specimens, inter-departmental conferences, and clinical services of the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Center.

A donation to the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation creates a ripple effect that influences the lives of many diagnosed with breast cancer along with scholars with the aspirations to improve upon available remedies and ultimately end breast cancer forever. It starts with awareness. And, donations spread and strengthen awareness.

The Breast Cancer Symposium

The Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium is described as the "most valuable breast cancer meeting worldwide for the practicing clinician." This 3.5-day gathering spotlights leading international researchers and oncologists in the breast cancer field, who present the latest cutting-edge research via presentation, followed by invaluable Q+A sessions. This year, the symposium held its 25th event, an added milestone to Lynn Sage's ongoing list of achievements.

Breast Cancer Statistics 2023

13% of women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer; this year alone, a portion of that is reflected in an estimated 297,790 new cases. And, this cancer is not biased. An estimated 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023.

Death rates have been steady for women under 50 years of age and, thankfully, the overall death rate from breast cancer decreased from 2013 to 2018. Advances in treatment and early detection through regular screenings are large contributors to this positive trend.

Aside from those related to lung cancer, breast cancer death rates are the highest amongst US women. This year, breast cancer will comprise 30% of newly diagnosed cases. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form amongst American women.

But, it’s not a national issue, it’s a global one. Breast cancer became the most common cancer globally in 2022, accounting for 12% of all new annual cancer cases. Lynn Sage recognizes this; that's why their impact is far-reaching through their many grants, fellowships, and the impactful Breast Cancer Symposium.

Our Continued Support of Lynn Sage

In 2021 and 2022, you helped us to make the largest donation received by a cannabis company to date to the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation. This year, we are honored to keep the tradition going with your help.

Visit your local dispensary starting September 29 to get your Save to Give punch card and help LSBCF this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

*This post was originally published on September 26, 2021, and updated on September 30, 2022, to reflect the 2022 breast cancer statistics and Zen Leaf campaign. It was updated again on September 26, 2023, to reflect the 2023 statistics and Zen Leaf campaign.