Diana Chingos, Young Survival Coalition Consumer Reviewer:

My name is Diana Chingos. I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 34 years old. I have been affiliated with the Young Survival Coalition almost ever since. I have a unique situation at the USC/Norris Cancer Center as a patient advocate in research. So while I'd spent some of my time talking to newly diagnosed women with breast cancer, most of my work takes place with scientists. For example, we have a Department of Defense-funded Breast Cancer Center of Excellence and I spend my time working with the scientists who are on that project.

I came first to the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program as a consumer reviewer, and that was an incredibly exciting experience for me. To be able to sit along side all of these different scientists and physicians and experts in the field and contribute my perspective as a breast cancer patient. I had been diagnosed three times. I had been through the system of diagnosis and treatment, etc., and I really felt I had a lot to contribute, and I think I did.

I like to come to the Era of Hope meeting because I get to see the findings of research funded by the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. I consider it very important to take these findings back to my community of women with breast cancer, to let them know what the latest findings are around -- any clinical type work that's relevant to them immediately, whether it be very basic science, anything around screening and diagnostics. There is such a huge body of work that's here in the posters and the presentations that I know these women really enjoy finding out what the latest information is.