Survivor Story

“Everybody finds a niche…for me, it was to become informed and educated.” That is just one of the most important goals Rose Gerber set for herself after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003.  Rose was HER2 positive, a rare sub type of breast cancer occurring in only 20- 25% of all breast cancers.

Three years after her diagnosis, Rose felt the need to get involved in the breast cancer movement, “but first I wanted to be informed and educated about the disease. “I didn’t want to start talking until I knew what I was talking about.” She immediately began to look for opportunities through Susan G. Komen for the Cure and began advocating full time.   Rose has been a Grant Reviewer for Komen since 2006 and has also done educational outreach and special events for Komen.

Rose is a graduate of the National Breast Cancer Coalition Project Lead’s Science Institute; Komen Connecticut provided her scholarship.   Rose was also awarded a scholarship through the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation to attend the 2008 San Antonio International Breast Cancer Symposium.

At the Symposium, Rose was assigned a special topic to research, and wrote a paper on HER2 as a biomarker, specifically new methods of determining HER2 status.   Rose states it’s important to remember that breast cancer is not just “one disease” but that there are many different types of breast cancer.   “I was really honored to be a part of the symposium,” Rose said. “I am driven to gain current knowledge and share the information I learn.”

Upon returning from the symposium, Rose was selected as a Consumer Reviewer for the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. She has served as a consumer reviewer in 2008 and 2009.   The application process was extensive, as she had to provide evidence of all her hard work as a breast cancer advocate.

“Participating as a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense was the hardest thing I had ever done,” Rose said. She was one of four advocate survivors working alongside 12 prominent research scientists. Throughout the three days at the Department of Defense, Rose has to review, analyze and provide written and verbal critiques on breast cancer research proposals. She then had to determine their merit, and most importantly, provide the collective insight of survivors. “It was very inspirational meeting other advocates and I was so honored to present the survivors viewpoint.  Educated breast cancer survivors deserve a seat at the table. We have the patient experience,” Rose reflected. “I learned that the scientists really do care. The scientists gave us [advocates and survivors] so much respect.  I believe that they will find a cure someday.”

Rose has been on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C on three occasions advocating for cancer care. Rose plans to continue educating herself, especially on the legislative process to ensure that funds are appropriated for breast cancer research. “Komen has been the foundation of everything I do. I refer individuals and other organizations to the Komen website constantly.   By combining my personal story, with my training and education, I will continue to speak out about critical issues affecting newly diagnosed patients and survivors.”

This story was written by Lea Aglione, a student at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, and an intern with Komen Connecticut.