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The John Fetting Fund for Breast Cancer Prevention

Make your gift to support breast cancer prevention. Please select the “Fetting Fund for Breast Cancer Prevention”
Breast cancer survivor, Leslie Ries, writes a letter to her daughters describing her journey with breast cancer and her efforts to fund breast cancer prevention at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Watch the video, A Letter to my Daughters
Updates in breast cancer research by Johns Hopkins Experts supported by the John Fetting Fund for Breast Cancer Prevention.
Experimental Blood Tests Spots Recurrent Breast Cancers and Monitors Response to Treatment
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center investigators report they have designed a blood test that accurately detects the presence of advanced breast cancer and also holds promise for precisely monitoring response to cancer treatment. Read more.
Meet our Fetting Fund Researchers

Kala Visvanathan M.D., M.H.S
is leading a multispecialty team that is working to identify genetic changes suggestive of cancer that could be used to monitor normal breast tissue for early signs of a developing cancer. This study involves women who are undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer. If successful, it will provide a much-needed method to identify precancerous changes in breast tissue that will allow us to recognize women who have a higher chance of developing breast cancer and those who have a lower chance when factoring in established risk factors. Most importantly, this research could one day provide us the opportunity to intervene early to prevent the cancer.

Dipali Sharma, Ph.D.
is testing honokiol, a natural chemical extracted from the bark of the Magnolia tree. In mouse models, the natural extract demonstrated the ability to prevent some breast cancers. Dr. Sharma’s research uses honokiol in mouse and cell line models to explore what mechanisms are affected by this substance. This study is the first study to investigate the breast cancer prevention potential of honokiol. It is an initial step in moving novel preventative treatments to clinical studies in women and hopefully finding a way to prevent breast cancer.