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Susan G. Komen for the Cure

By gabrielled4

  • Early 1950's

    The NY Times refuses to publish an ad for a breast cancer support group stating that it would not print the words “breast” or “cancer.”

  • 1970's

    The standard treatment for breast cancer is a one-step surgical process in which a patient is put under anesthesia for a biopsy and, upon a positive result, is immediately subjected to a radical mastectomy without consultation.

  • !980

    After a 3-year battle with breast cancer, Susan G. Komen dies at the age of 36.

  • 1980

    The first international Race for the Cure® is held in Costa Rica.

  • 1982

    Nancy Brinker establishes the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

  • 1984

    Komen founder Nancy Brinker is diagnosed with breast cancer.

  • 1995

    Race for the Cure® events take place in 57 U.S. cities

  • 2002

    More than 1.3 million participate in over 100 Race for the Cure events in the U.S. and two other countries.

  • 2007

    Komen awards the first grant for the Komen Tissue bank, the only biorepository of its kind collecting normal breast tissue to study the causes and prevention of breast cancer.

  • 2008

    The Race for the Cure® celebrates its 25th anniversary.

  • 2014

    150 Komen race events will be held worldwide, including in the U.S., The Bahamas, Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Puerto Rico and Tanzania.