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Earlier breast cancer detection for Black women

Dr Paola Marignani in a laboratory
Dr Paola Marignani, CCS-funded researcher

Black women have the highest mortality rates for breast cancer worldwide. In fact, women of African descent have a higher likelihood of developing HER2-positive breast cancer – an aggressive type of breast cancer that is more likely to grow, spread and come back after treatment.  

With funding from donors like you, Canadian Cancer Society (CCS)-funded researcher Dr Paola Marignani is targeting care to this at-risk group by tapping into advanced laboratory technologies and artificial intelligence that can identify unique biomarkers for HER2‑positive breast cancer in Black women. If successful, these new biomarkers could enable earlier diagnosis of this cancer in women of African ancestry, improving survival. 

“Your continued support of cancer research is making a difference in the lives of people living with cancer,” says Dr Marignani. “Thank you.” 

Learn more about how your support advances health equity