JOHN YANG: Every October for the past# 40 years, pink ribbons have sprouted as## the symbol of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.# It's a good time to take stock of the latest## in breast cancer research and the experience of# patients.

Ali Rogin spoke with Dr.

Arif Kamal,## the American Cancer Society's chief patient# officer and a Duke University Medical School## professor and Kristen Dahlgren,# a former NBC News correspondent## who's a breast cancer survivor and the# founder of the Cancer Vaccine Coalition.

ALI ROGIN: Thank you both so much for joining# me.

Arif, I'd like to start with you.

We have,## as a country been commemorating Breast# Cancer awareness month for 40 years now.## What are some of the major milestones you# see that we've achieved over that time?

ARIF KAMAL, Chief Patient Officer,# American Cancer Society: Yeah,## 40 years is pretty r.. really center around the number 40, actually,# for a lot of the great accomplishments.

Breast## cancer mortality has reduced by over# 40 percent over that period of time.

In addition, we've now reduced the age of which# we recommend starting mammograms now down to the## age of 40.

In addition, we're starting to see# other areas of disparities and gaps closing## as well.

Mammogram rates, for example, are at# all-time highs across multiple communities.

Now,## we still got some room to grow, but a lot has# happened over, you know, a couple decades of time.

ALI ROGIN: And to that point,# Arif, sticking with you,## where do some of the main challenges still remain?

ARIF KAMAL: You know, again, I'll stick to the# number 40 here for a minute.

So black women,## for example, are 40 percent more likely# to die of breast cancer when matched## stage for stage with white women.# In addition, we're starting to see,## you know, some areas and pockets of# mammogram low rates across the country.

In addition, we're starting to# see some of the experience be## varying across different populations.

For example,## some data from the American Cancer Society# looked at loneliness and social isolation,## and we found that breast cancer survivors# only reported about 40 percent of them having## adequate social support during the course of their# cancer treatment.

So we've got some work to go.

ALI ROGIN: Kristen, you come at this from# so many interesting places yourself.

You## were diagnosed with stage two breast# cancer in 2019, and following that,## you've committed your work to pursuing a# vaccine for breast cancer.

What inspired## you to make this more than just your# own personal breast cancer journey?

KRISTEN DAHLGREN, Founder, Cancer Vaccine# Coalition: I was a network correspondent## and I was 47 when I was diagnosed.# You know, I went through my treatment,## but it wasn't easy.

And as soon as I learned as# part of my reporting that there were breast and## other cancer vaccines in development, I was# blown away.

And I didn't believe it at first.

Once I learned that these are not just# pie in the sky down the road treatments,## they actually are included clinical trials# and seeing incredible results, I had to do## something about it.

So I decided to put together a# coalition of top doctors from around the country.

We're bringing them together for some# collaborations.

These research trials## take a lot of funding, so we're raising# money to help accelerate the process and## then we're out there talking about it# so that people know what's available.

We don't have to do these treatments, you# know, that are were developed in the 1800s## and in the mid-century.

And, you know, there# really is this future down the road and it## could be closer if we get behind this idea that# our immune systems really can fight off cancer.

ALI ROGIN: And speaking of that# research, Kristen, sticking with you,## how has that research, if at all been affected# by some of the cuts we're seeing from HHS,## particularly when it comes to things# like MRNA platforms for vaccines?

KRISTEN DAHLGREN: Right.

So, you know,# the head of NIH went on TV and said,## our concerns and what we're doing in the# MRNA space, cutting research does not## apply to cancer vaccines.

Those are really# promising.

We need to pursue that research.

Cancer is nonpartisan.

It doesn't care which# way you vote.

It impacts all of us.

And so## while there have been funding cuts, I think if# the government gets better behind this type of## forward thinking in modern medicine,# we really could change things.

And## so it's something that I'm really passionate# about, encouraging our government to do more## and more research in this space because it# could be world changing for so many of us.

ALI ROGIN: And you both are thinking a lot and# doing a lot to address the patient experience.## So what would your message be to somebody who# has breast cancer on the mind right now?

Either## because they're going through a diagnosis or they# are facing screening.

Arif, let's start with you.

ARIF KAMAL: The reality is today, many# people, even with advanced disease,## don't require or need chemotherapy that# makes them lose their hair or stay in bed## for long periods of time.

Oftentimes# now, the average person with cancer## is someone who may be next to you on# a train or maybe with you at work.

As cancer becomes an experience for# many people that lasts now, you know,## over months and potentially even years, means we# have to continue to reform the oncology delivery## community to think about these journeys now# being measured over marathons instead of sprints.

ALI ROGIN: Kristen?

KRISTEN DAHLGREN: Yeah, I like that because# this i.. these long lives ahead after a cancer# diagnosis.

I know for me, I'm aware of## cancer every day and I think we need to look at# it year round as something that we're aware of.

For me as a patient, I worry about recurrence and# it's why you know, getting additional treatments,## more interventions that could prevent# recurrence is so important.

I also found## my own breast cancer.

I had a mammogram in# May of 2019 and just four months later I## saw a dent in my breast and I insisted on more# screening.

It turned out I had dense breasts.

I didn't understand what that meant and that# I could have gotten more screening after that## initial mammogram because that if we can do# earlier detection and better screening and## then we can have more interventions and things# that make a better outcome as far as treatments,## we really could get this disease even more under# control than we have over the past 40 years.

ALI ROGIN: Such important messages.# Dr.

Arif Kamal and Kristin Dahlgren,## thank you so much.

KRISTEN DAHLGREN: You bet.

ARIF KAMAL: Thank you.