Wetherill Recognized for Outreach

Inside the Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Volume 14, Issue 4

Women entrepreneurs recently honored Yelena Wetherill, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in Cancer Biology, for organizing a symposium last June in her native Irkutsk, Russia, focused on breast cancer education, prevention, advocacy, and survivorship. Wetherill was one of three recipients of a “Giving Back” award at the January meeting of Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (WEST), a professional group encouraging its members to take risks, solve problems in new ways, and lead others to success.

In a culture where privacy is valued, 50 percent of Russian women diagnosed with breast cancer die from the disease – far higher than the normal mortality rate – because they do not seek care until their cancer is already advanced. The most common treatment there is radical mastectomy.

“In Russia, breast cancer is a subject with so much stigma,” notes Wetherill. “Our aim was to help clinicians, community leaders, and patients begin a dialogue, and we exceeded our expectations.” She planned and led the three-day symposium with Martha Hayward, a breast cancer survivor and member of Dana-Farber’s Adult Patient and Family Advisory Council.

For Wetherill, the award from WEST provided a welcome opportunity to speak publicly about her experience in Irkutsk. “It was very energizing,” she says. “Several members of the audience said my talk inspired them to consider similar outreach.” She and several Dana-Farber colleagues are seeking funding to sponsor another such event in Russia next summer.