NFCR Celebrates the Legacy of Lucy Stanovick

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) today honors the life of Lucy Stanovick, who recently lost her four-year battle with metastatic breast cancer.  Just last week Lucy hosted her 5th Annual "Party4Life," raising funds dedicated to metastatic breast cancer research.  Lucy Elicker Stanovick, a mother of two, was 46 years old and leaves us with a legacy of action to cure this disease. 

In 2008 Lucy was diagnosed with Stage IV, or metastatic, breast cancer.  She could find little useful information about this form of cancer—she was shocked by how little research was being done to suppress or combat metastasis. Lucy refused to believe metastatic cancer patients were a lost cause and founded the Lucy Fund whose mission is to have metastatic breast cancer become chronic, not deadly.

"Lucy's legacy is that everyone can make a difference," said Franklin C. Salisbury, Jr. President of the National Foundation for Cancer Research.  "In the face of adversity, Lucy summoned the will to cure metastatic breast cancer.  Her passion energized all of us, inspiring us to redouble our efforts to support research that will focus on cancer metastasis.  A member of NFCR Board of Advisors, Lucy has worked passionately and actively with NFCR to make a difference."

"Knowing from day one that she was on the clock, Lucy turned her efforts toward the impact she could make on generations to come.  Her desire to bring about cures was remarkable.  I will not give up," said Dr. Danny Welch, Director of the NFCR Center for Metastasis Research at the University of Kansas. 

The research supported by the Lucy Fund has provided new insights into the causes and mechanisms of cancer cell metastasis.  These discoveries by scientists at the NFCR Center for Metastasis Research have already stimulated prognostic and therapeutic research in other laboratories.   

About Lucy

Lucy Stanovick was a wife, mother of two and Associate Professor at East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, PA. After her diagnosis, she sought out leading researchers in metastasis where she found Danny Welch, Director of the NFCR Center for Metastasis Research.  She motivated her community, and with grass roots support she raised more than $160,000 to fund metastatic breast cancer research.

Lucy spread awareness about metastatic cancers through multiple TV interviews, press articles and speeches.  Lucy has touched countless lives, including those that will be saved. Thanks to Lucy's efforts and leadership, everyone she encountered was changed for the better, including the entire team at the National Foundation for Cancer Research. 

"We are so saddened that we have lost Lucy - she is already missed.  Lucy's passion, her spirit, her caring, and her fight live on.  Lucy's courage in her battle against cancer and her ability to take actions to make a difference for others touches all of us profoundly.  We vow to keep her spirit and her fight on against metastatic breast cancer," said Sujuan Ba, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer at the National Foundation for Cancer Research. 

About Metastatic Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is most likely to become fatal when cancerous cells metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.  In fact, more than 90% of cancer mortalities are due to cancer that has metastasized. Even after successful removal of a primary tumor, cancer patients still live under the constant fear that a few cancer cells have escaped the surgery, and that these cells may eventually become secondary tumors in other locations of the body. To date there has been insufficient research on the root cause of metastasis, which means that there are no effective medical strategies to prevent or stop cancer once it has spread. This particular disease kills over 100 people a day, mostly women, in the United States. 

About NFCR

The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) is a leading charity dedicated to funding cancer research, including metastatic breast cancer and public education relating to cancer prevention, earlier diagnosis, better treatments and, ultimately, cures for cancer. For more information, please visit www.NFCR.org.

Media Contact; 
Silas Deane, National Foundation for Cancer Research
615-319-6007  [email protected]. 

SOURCE National Foundation for Cancer Research