By Robin Zon, MD, FASCO, FACP – 2024-2025 ASCO President
Every October, the healthcare community ushers in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although our group has written about breast cancer in prior years, I think it’s extremely important to reiterate the following message: Awareness Saves Lives. This month is an opportunity to amplify the message that early detection is the strongest weapon we have against breast cancer.
Just this week, I provided a CCA-sponsored free second-opinion consultation for a middle-aged woman whose screening mammogram detected her breast cancer early. This not only led to a more conservative surgery option, but will result in less treatment after surgery to keep her cancer-free. This is a perfect example of how and why screening mammograms are so important.
People often wonder why they need to have screenings. The answer is simple: one out of every eight women will develop breast cancer, and the risk increases with age, peaking at age 70, but continues for her lifetime. The good news is that when breast cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is over 90%.
Breast cancer is a disease which does not discriminate and can affect men as well. Furthermore, we know that access to care can challenge the ability to get appropriate screenings and care. So, closing the gap on access is essential for saving more lives.
During 2024-2025, I was honored to serve as President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, working towards my theme “Driving Knowledge to Action: Building a Better Future,” supported by engaging technology, embracing advocacy, and empowering the community.
My ultimate goal is to emphasize the importance of taking the knowledge, resources, and technologies that we already have, and applying them to everyone everywhere, thereby improving cancer care outcomes by preventing cancer, increasing cures, or turning cancer into a chronic disease.
What New Drugs Have Been Approved Since Last Year?
Great news! As a result of decades of investment in cancer research, by the NIH, NCI, and the pharma industry, we have more drugs approved for breast cancer, especially over the past 12 months. These advances not only are increasing cure rates for women with breast cancer but are also improving the quality of their lives. This past year, FDA approvals included expanding use of, and introducing, new drugs, called antibody-drug conjugates, such as Datopotamab and Enhertu. Additional drug approvals have focused on targeting the drugs against a particular characteristic that a cancer has, which means more precise treatments with better chances of working and fewer toxicities. We are also witnessing promising results in cancers related to genetic mutations, which some women harbor in the BRCA gene.
Technology and Early Detection Advances
Many people, if not everyone, are affected by, either knowingly, or unknowingly, artificial intelligence (AI). Healthcare may have been slower to adopt the benefits of AI, but this past year there is growing evidence of the usefulness of AI in cancer care, including a new deep learning model using digital breast tomosynthesis imaging, which basically enhances early detection and personalizes monitoring strategies in screening mammograms. This is a fantastic advancement demonstrating how engaging technology can improve the odds of catching cancers early and improving lives.
Beyond AI use in streamlining diagnostic tools, AI is also assisting pathologists in better classifying and distinguishing benign from cancerous tissue. In fact, one use case shows that by using AI to assist pathologists, patients who were not candidates for certain life-saving medicines have become eligible for the treatment due to better AI detection.
Robin Zon, MD, FASCO, FACP
2024-2025 ASCO President
Dr. Zon currently serves as the Director of Breast Cancer Oncology at the Cincinnati Cancer Advisors (CCA), a provider of no-cost second opinions to cancer patients in or near the Greater Cincinnati area. Prior to joining CCA, Dr. Zon served as Past President, and is now Physician Emeritus at Michiana Hematology Oncology in Mishawaka, Indiana.
She formerly served as Medical Director of Oncology Research at Memorial Hospital an NCI CCOP Associate and then Principal Investigator until 2013 for the Northern Indiana Cancer Research Consortium, the only NCI designated Community Cancer Oncology Program in the state of Indiana.
Dr. Zon is an active volunteer for ASCO, most recently being awarded ASCO’s Advocate of the Year for her significant advocacy work on behalf of individuals living with cancer and their cancer care teams and was the recipient of ASCO’s Distinguished Achievement Award. Dr. Zon is a Past Chair of ASCO’s Government Relations Committee, where she provided distinguished leadership in the society’s advocacy efforts and Past Chair of Clinical Practice Committee. She also served on the Board of Directors from 2010 to 2013, along with participating in many other ASCO related responsibilities. Dr. Zon was ASCO’s President 2024-2025, and amplified her theme “Driving Knowledge to Action”. Of her many activities, she is visiting all of the state societies and is the innovator of ASCO Edge. Currently, she serves as Chair of the Society’s Board of Directors, Nominating Committee, Compensation Committee and Executive Committee.
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