Fayanju honored for breast cancer research

Oluwadamilola “Lola” Fayanju, MD, MPHS, a clinical research fellow at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, has been named one of 16 recipients of the 2012 Breast Cancer Symposium Merit Award.

The award, which is given by the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), recognizes early-career oncology professionals for their breast cancer research.

Fayanju is studying barriers to mammography among underserved women, part of a broader look at health disparities and clinical outcomes in breast cancer. She’s working closely with Susan Kraenzle, manager of the Joanne Knight Breast Health Center, who leads Siteman’s mammography outreach program, and Melody Goodman, MS, PhD, assistant professor in the Division of Public Health Sciences at Washington University, who is principal investigator of a study that looked at socioeconomic and psychological factors that might prevent women from being screened.

“The Siteman Cancer Center and other local organizations have come together in recent years to provide free and low-cost screening for women in traditionally underserved communities throughout Missouri,” Fayanju says. “Nevertheless, our research revealed that financial concerns and procedure-related fears about mammography remain widespread, indicating the need for further breast health education among medically underserved women.”

She and the other awardees will be recognized at the 2012 Breast Cancer Symposium, which will be held Sept. 13 to 15 in San Francisco. They also will present their research at the conference, a multidisciplinary meeting for breast cancer clinicians and others who treat breast cancer patients. The symposium will focus on taking the latest scientific results in the field and bringing them into the clinic for practical application.

“This year’s Merit Award recipients are helping to contribute to the growing body of clinical evidence in breast cancer that that helps patients live longer and have better outcomes,” says Gary Levine, MD, chair of the Breast Cancer Symposium Steering Committee. “We are honored to recognize the scientific advances of this year’s recipients as well as their dedication to improving care for patients living with breast cancer.”