Donate to Better Than Ever

The University of Arizona Cancer Center mission is to prevent and cure cancer. Better Than Ever encompasses that mission by working to prevent cancer through exercise as well as providing vital funds to be used for cancer research.

Proceeds go directly to research at The University of Arizona Cancer Center. This is possible because the Better Than Ever program expenses are paid for by generous sponsors in the Tucson community.

The funds are distributed yearly in the form of women’s cancer research grants. Women’s cancers include those of the breast and the female reproductive system. Research advancements made in the field of women’s cancers often translate into the development of treatments for other cancers as well.

Each year, the BTE Scientific Review Committee chooses recipients for pilot grants or faculty career development, and is a part of Women's Cancers at The University of Arizona Cancer Center. Led by Setsuko K. Chambers, MD, this group brings together clinical and research faculty from many departments who focus on breast and gynecologic cancers under one umbrella.

The $100,000 distributed in 2011 brings the 11-year grant distribution total to more than $1.7 million.

Studies funded by Better Than Ever include:

• Targeted laser ablation of ovarian cancer
• Prevention of frailty in breast cancer survivors
• Effect of pregnancy history on the presence of breast tumor initiating cells
• Breast density measurements: comparison of radiographic and quantitative MR imaging
• Natural killer cell receptor immunogentic variability and susceptibility to persistent HPV infection
• Efficacy of amifostine in preventing and minimizing limb swelling and promoting wound healing to study cancer-treatment related lymphedema: a pilot preclinical trial