“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” wrote English playwright William Congreve in 1697, and it can apply also to the founder of Komen For The Cure. In 1982, Susan G. Komen lay dying of breast cancer in her mid-thirties, she and her family felt robbed of the years she should have had. And Susan G. Komen knew that they weren’t the only family being cheated of life by breast cancer. She made her beloved sister Nancy promise that she would do everything in her power to kill breast cancer once and for all.

Although millions are now donated to the slick, US breast cancer society, Komen For The Cure is still al grassroots organization. They aren’t just a lottery waving magic bags of money to researchers and hospitals. They not only want to educate people about how common breast cancer is and how to detect it early, but be sure those who have breast cancer get proper treatment, no mater where they live or how poor they are. They put out a yearly “State of Breast Cancer Research” report in everyday jargon-free language so that everyone can be educated on how possible it is to eliminate breast cancer and to demand results of the institutions getting so much donations.

Breast cancer is quite common, which is one reason for the success and popularity of this US breast cancer society. It’s one of the most common cancers in the world, effecting men and women, old and young. You don’t have to have a family history of breast cancer or any other kind of cancer to get it. You don’t have to be a particular race to get breast cancer. There are not many people in the world who don’t know anyone who hasn’t been affected by breast cancer. Singers Melissa Etheridge and Olivia Newton John are breast cancer survivors, as are actresses Suzanne Somers, Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson. Most famous for his role in Shaft, African America actor Richard Roundtree is also a survivor who had to undergo a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
One of the most famous fundraisers and get-togethers begun by this US breast cancer society are marathon walks or runs, usually billed under the name “The Race For The Cure”. These sponsored runs are held in major cities in America and Europe. They also helped start the practice wearing pink ribbons to show that they support and do not forget the fight against breast cancer.

Komen For The Cure also helps distribute and make informational literature, web reports and videos about breast cancer. Their website is in both English and Spanish. They also don’t look at conventional medicine as the only choice for breast cancer victims. They also have sections about alternative therapies such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and acupressure. They also talk about therapies that help your mind and soul as well as your body, such as Art therapy and Pet therapy. This US breast cancer society hasn’t forgotten that cancer affects an entire person, not just the physical body.