Cancer’s “Loudest” Women

In recent decades, the public conversation around cancer—especially those affecting women—has gained significant attention. Mainstream media campaigns focusing on cancer prevention and education are gaining global attention in some of the most-watched sectors of pop culture. Successful initiatives like Estee Lauder's 'Hear Our Stories, Share Yours,' and more recently, Novartis's Super Bowl commercial featuring Wanda Sykes and Hailee Steinfeld, which broadcast to an audience of over 123.4 million viewers, are exposing cancer’s burden to the world. 

Long before Think Pink hashtags, the rise of cancer storylines in film, and cancer health influencers, many women fought alone. Some used their platform to raise awareness and bring cancer into the public eye, while others pursued cancer research on the frontlines as pioneers in the field. 

This Women’s History Month, we’re looking back at some of the bold women whose culture-shifting advocacy and curiosity has played a pivotal role in challenging societal stigma and advancing cancer discoveries.  

Mary Lasker (1900-1994) 
Early Cancer Research Philanthropist and Activist

Mary Lasker played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of cancer research in the United States in the early 1900’s. In 1943, she and her husband Albert Lasker, an advertising mogul, launched a groundbreaking campaign that helped form the American Cancer Society, building upon an existing organization of physicians who had been hesitant to prioritize cancer research. The Laskers' efforts not only created a powerful volunteer network but also turned cancer research into a national priority, pushing for increased federal funding. This advocacy culminated in the passage of the 1971 National Cancer Act, which significantly boosted funding for cancer research through the National Institutes of Health. The Laskers also founded the prestigious Lasker Award, which honors outstanding contributions to medical science and research. The award has been a steppingstone for many scientists, with 51 Lasker laureates later going on to win the Nobel Prize.  

Dr. Jane Cooke Wright (1919-2013)  
Mother of Chemotherapy 

Dr. Wright first discovered that methotrexate (now a chemotherapy drug) is effective against cancerous tumors. Known as the “mother of chemotherapy,” Wright also was the first to identify which chemotherapy drugs were successful, along with the first to discover the importance of the order in which they were administered. She also pioneered using human tissue (cells taken from tumors) to test the efficacy of various cancer drugs. Dr. Wright went on to be a co-founder of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and was the first Black woman named associate dean of a medical school (in 1967) and the first woman elected president of the New York Cancer Society (in 1971). 

Henrietta Lacks (1920–1951) 
Woman Behind the Lifesaving ‘HeLa’ Cells

The story of Henrietta Lacks exposed serious ethical issues in medical research. Lacks sought treatment for vaginal bleeding at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, which was one of the few hospitals at the time to treat Black women, where she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. During her treatment, Lacks’ cancer cells were retrieved during a biopsy without her knowledge.  These cells proved to be extremely rare when tested in the lab. Her cells, called “HeLa” cells, have been used to test modern cancer treatments, learn about viruses, and played a crucial role in the creation of the polio and COVID-19 vaccines. Lacks has dozens of descendants today, and while they acknowledge the importance of her cells for advancing cancer research, they also highlight the racial inequities and lack of consent involved in Lacks’ contribution to cancer that benefited so many. 

Shirley Temple (1928–2014) 
First Public Figure to Speak Openly About Breast Cancer 

Child star Shirley Temple is known as one of the first public figures to discuss her cancer diagnosis with the media. Temple, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1972, was the first of many other high-profile individuals to come forward about their cancer journeys, such as Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan. Breast cancer was not frequently talked about openly during this time, and Temple laid significant groundwork to help women understand breast cancer, their options, and how to advocate for themselves through treatment. She was passionate about holding medical systems accountable, and she did this by using her voice to share the realities and burden of cancer for patients. 

Audre Lorde (1934–1992) 
Poet & Breast Cancer Activist 

Author Audre Lorde’s writing is deeply rooted in societal issues and identity. She often wrote to fill a gap in representation, and when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1977, she turned to her craft to make sense of a new identity she felt alone in. Lorde wrote The Cancer Journals to chronicle her diagnosis and cancer treatment through diary prose. In the book, she confronted feelings of isolation related to cancer, saying “Where are the models for what I’m supposed to be in this situation? But there were none. This is it, Audre. You’re on your own.” She shared her experience with cancer publicly so others like her would have an example and be empowered in the decisions they make in their own cancer journey. 

Gilda Radner (1946–1989) 
Comedian & Ovarian Cancer Awareness Advocate 

Gilda Radner, a Saturday Night Live veteran and comedian, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1986. True to her comedic roots, she used humor and wit to share her experience through "It’s Always Something", an autobiography on her cancer battle, which earned a posthumous Grammy Award in 1989. 

Radner was active in support and wellness circles while she managed her cancer and was a public advocate for the importance of mental health and social support for others facing the disease. She inspired many other community support organizations, including Gilda’s Club, which was founded to support people with cancer seeking a holistic approach to wellness and an outlet for emotional connection.  

Dr. Mary-Claire King (b. 1946) 
Geneticist Who Discovered BRCA1 

BRCA1 (Breast Cancer Susceptibility Gene 1) is a gene that plays a crucial role in DNA repair. Mutations in this gene significantly increase one’s risk of developing certain cancers, especially breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer. The discovery of BRCA1 in cancer was a modern revolution in cancer prevention and treatment. Dr. Mary-Claire King carried out painstaking genetic research for decades to try and find a genetic marker that accompanies breast cancer. In 1996, with support from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) King and social worker Joan Marks began the New York Breast Cancer Study, which definitively determined that incidence of breast and ovarian cancer was linked to inherited mutations of the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. The researchers studied women of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry in New York, a group that has a high incidence of breast cancer. Dr. King’s revelation has transformed modern genetic testing to identify those who have a high risk of developing cancer. 

Dr. Karen Antman
Early Advocate for Clinical Trials at Columbia

Dr. Karen Antman served as the director of the HICCC from 1993-2004. Her connection to cancer and clinical trials started from a young age. As a medical student, she watched her friend with late-stage Hodgkin’s lymphoma enroll in an NCI clinical trial to test a novel drug combination for this disease. This landmark trial provided the first long-term survivors for a once-fatal disease. Upon joining the HICCC as director, she quickly began to strengthen the clinical presence at the center.  

She is credited with designing and leading clinical trials that tested new therapies for metastatic breast cancer and sarcomas. Antman also served as principal investigator of a vital grant by the Avon Foundation that provided $12 million in support of breast cancer research, establishing cutting-edge breast cancer treatment at Columbia and the Avon Foundation Breast Imaging Center.  

“We designed the breast floor of the hospital to have surgery, radiology, medical oncology and psychiatry, all on the same floor, with a library for the patients as well,” Dr. Antman says. “The goal was to build infrastructure that gave patients total multi-disciplinary care.”