Shabby Treatment of Cancer Icon

Nearly three million breast cancer survivors enjoying active lives today owe a debt of gratitude to Nancy G. Brinker.  Her promise to her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, inspired a movement to conquer an ugly disease that will strike more than 226,870 women this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

In 1982 when Komen succumbed to breast cancer at age 36, Brinker took upon her shoulders the burden of raising awareness of the disease.  She faced a steep uphill struggle.  No one talked openly about breast cancer.  In fact, some newspapers even balked at using the words in print.

There were precious few resources to assist women with breast cancer.  There were no support groups. Mammograms were not considered a mandatory part of women's health care.  Only a handful of breast cancer treatment options were available to women.

All that changed thanks to the courageous efforts of Brinker.

Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure was launched in 1982. Under Brinker's tireless leadership, the organization broke the silence surrounding breast cancer. The group lifted the profile of breast cancer and energized scientists to tackle a cure.

Brinker also enlisted the help of breast cancer survivors and activists to hike government funding of breast cancer research.  She created the Susan F. Komen Race for the Cure, raising billions of dollars for breast cancer research, screening and treatment. She put breast cancer on the nation's agenda.

Her crusade has produced results.  After increasing for more than two decades, breast cancer incidences fell by about two percent a year from 1999 to 2005.  Death rates also declined sharply, tumbling to three percent of all breast cancer cases.   Once breast cancer was a death sentence.

For all her contributions, Brinker has been savaged by the media and the bullies at Planned Parenthood for a single policy move.  Earlier this year, the Komen foundation announced it was reconsidering its financial support for Planned Parenthood, incurring the feral rancor of the pro-abortion crowd.

A firestorm ensued that threatened to cripple the foundation's fundraising.  Brinker was personally attacked by the same Planned Parenthood activists who had benefited for decades from her foundation's largess.  The ungrateful pro-abortion advocates reacted like spoiled brats.

Twenty-six members of the U.S. House and Senate signed a letter pressuring the foundation to renew its grants to Planned Parenthood. After weeks of blistering media coverage, Brinker was forced to apologize publicly and reverse her foundation's stance.

Despite the restoration of the grants,  Planned Parenthood's bullies were not mollified.  They continue their relentless campaign of intimidation by boycotting the foundation's chief fund raiser, the annual Race for the Cure, in cities across the country.

That led founder Brinker to step down recently from her role as chief executive of the organization after 30 years at the helm. Because Brinker will retain a management role, the media and the pro-abortion brutes remain unimpressed.   They are determined to oust her from the organization.

The controversy should sadden every women.  Brinker has done more for women's health than Planned Parenthood or any single person.  For her unselfish dedication to the cause, she has endured withering attacks for a single policy decision that was later rescinded.  Her apology fell on deaf ears.

Women concerned about cancer cannot remain silent.  Nancy G. Brinker gave voice to a movement that changed the course of women's health care.  In return, she deserves every women's vocal support, not the verbal mugging administered by Planned Parenthood.