The WCP is a leader of an effort to recognize breast and gynecological cancers as a family of diseases and to rapidly circulate information on these diseases. This approach has caught on both nationally and internationally. "The rate at which people have take up this idea is striking," according to Eric Winer, MD. "Increasingly, doctors and patients alike want to know about the biologic subtype of the cancer, not just how big the tumor is and whether or not it has spread to the lymph nodes. Ultimately, the biologic features, or 'personality' of the tumor, will guide the treatment course."

To further communicate this concept, the WCP initiates programs to reach out to the community at-large, as well as working to support the underserved:

• WCP convenes a series on risk, prevention and early detection of breast cancer. These sessions are jointly coordinated with the Blum Mammography Van staff that offers free mobile mammograms. This is an effective way to reach out to the Hispanic, African-American, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean, Russian, Haitian communities. We have been successful in meeting with deaf women, homeless women, women with physical disabilities and incarcerated women.
• Another initiative using the Blum Van is visiting college campuses to provide information on cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus. HPV education on college campuses
• "What Every Woman Should Know" lecture series.
• "Facing Forward:" a six-session program for women finishing breast cancer treatment.
• Support groups for women diagnosed with advanced breast cancer.
• Support groups for women and their partners focusing on living with gynecologic cancer.
• "Beyond Gynecologic Cancer: Celebrating Survivorship" conference.
• Groups for young gynecologic and breast cancer patients who are more than six months out of treatment.
• A group offering information and support for women who have been treated with chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic disease, a rare cancer-like condition.
• Formal organization and support for the Breast Cancer Advocates Group. This group attends Breast SPORE meetings providing invaluable input for basic and clinical translational researchers. In addition to participating in the Breast SPORE, the Advocates are available to support other research initiatives, as they develop.

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