Family turns breast cancer diagnosis into fundraising organization, hope for others

A new study suggests women of color may need to consider earlier screening for breast cancer. According to research from Massachusetts General Hospital, black, Hispanic and Asian women are generally diagnosed with breast cancer earlier than white women.

It also found that black and Hispanic women tend to be diagnosed with more aggressive forms of cancer.

Outside experts say the solution may not be earlier screening, but rather, improving the quality of overall cancer care among minorities. Early detection of breast cancer increases the odds of survival.

Almost five years ago, Rhonda and Adam Howell's son Luke had just been born. What should have been the most joyful time in their lives took a scary turn.

“I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in August of 2013,” Rhonda Howell said.

She chose a double mastectomy plus chemotherapy and radiation treatments as well as Tamoxifen, a drug designed to starve remaining cancer cells.

“I just wanted to get back to life and just kind of forget cancer ever happened,” Rhonda Howell said.

A year later, she woke up one day with severe back pain. Imaging revealed the bad news.

“They told me that my cancer was back and it was in my pelvis and in my spine (and liver),” she said.

Howell was able to benefit from a new drug for metastatic breast cancer that she believes has given her more years with her family.

She learned it took 15 years for the drug to move from the lab to FDA approval. The process is often faster for drugs intended for earlier stages of breast cancer.

“Stage 4 is the only one that kills you, and yet it gets the least funding, it gets less than 10 percent,” Adam Howell said.

That's why the couple is helping to organize a fundraising event for an organization called Metavivors, an organization focused on metastic breast cancer awareness, research and support.

“Metavivors is a great organization, and they're the only ones that give 100 percent of money raised to metastatic breast cancer research,” Adam Howell said

They're encouraged that awareness is growing, and they feel that progress is being made.

“I think we're making steps in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go,” Rhonda Howell said.