What if there was a vaccine to prevent cancer? While that might sound like a distant dream, it’s closer to reality than many of us realize. This week, Christina sits down with Kristen Dahlgren, a former journalist turned cancer advocate, whose passion is driving the search for a cancer vaccine. In a powerful conversation with Christina Daves, Kristen Dahlgren opens up about her personal experience with breast cancer and how it ignited a new mission to bring cancer vaccines to the forefront. From her diagnosis to her transition from a career in journalism to advocating for groundbreaking cancer research, Kristen shares her journey in the hopes of inspiring change for the millions affected by cancer. This conversation is not just about survival; it’s about how we can actively work toward a world where cancer is no longer a death sentence.
Read on to discover how these innovations are shaping the future of cancer care, how you can get involved, and why this mission is so personal for Kristen.
The Unexpected Path to Advocacy: Kristen’s Personal Story
Kristen Dahlgren didn’t start her career as a medical journalist. In fact, her first job in the industry was as a weather reporter in Binghamton, New York. Over time, her passion for science and storytelling led her to medical reporting, which ultimately became the core of her career at NBC. It wasn’t just about reporting the facts; Kristen found herself drawn to the stories of patients overcoming incredible odds and doctors doing life-saving work.
In 2016, she worked on a study about breast cancer at the Mayo Clinic: One in six women doesn’t present with a lump when diagnosed with breast cancer. As someone who had just had a baby and wasn’t thinking about breast cancer, she moved on from the story, until three years later, when a change in her own body made her reconsider everything, she thought she knew.
On her 47th birthday, Kristin noticed a dent in her breast that didn’t seem right. It wasn’t a lump, more like a thick, dense area of tissue. But thanks to the story she had reported years earlier, Kristen knew that any change, no matter how subtle, was worth investigating. Her instincts were right. Within days, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Importance of Early Cancer Detection and Vaccine Development
When it comes to cancer, early detection and prevention are often the keys to survival. Clinical trials are now showing that vaccines targeting specific cancers could save lives in ways we never thought possible. Kristen’s work revolves around these clinical trials, and one example she shared proves just how promising these advancements are. A decade-old trial involving HER2 positive late-stage breast cancer, for example, has shown incredible results. Patients who received the vaccine at the right dosage (the middle dose) have a survival rate of 85%, well beyond the typical five-year survival expectancy for this aggressive cancer. Even those who received lower or higher doses of the vaccine still showed positive results, with a 75% survival rate.
Kristen is quick to point out that these trials are still in their infancy. But the potential for a breakthrough is enormous. While it’s still early, researchers are hopeful that these vaccines will become a mainstay in cancer treatment, saving countless lives that otherwise would have been lost to the disease.
How Women Are Driving Change in Cancer Research
What’s particularly striking about Kristen’s efforts is her focus on supporting female scientists and researchers in the cancer field. As she explains, women often face significant barriers in receiving funding for their research—despite the fact that they may have groundbreaking ideas. This issue is particularly poignant when it comes to cancer treatment, where the need for innovation and fresh perspectives is so critical. Collaboration with organizations like the V Foundation, which funds cancer research, is aimed at changing this dynamic. She’s helping amplify the voices of women scientists and ensuring they have the resources to bring their ideas to life. With so few women receiving research funding—just 38%—the need for support and visibility is greater than ever.
In fact, the Cancer Vaccine Coalition is actively looking for partnerships with organizations and individuals to support the rapid development of cancer vaccines. Kristen’s belief in the power of collective action is infectious, and she emphasizes that this effort is not something one person can do alone. It will take everyone—from scientists to advocates to everyday people—to make this dream a reality.
Immunotherapy: A Personal Mission
For Kristen, this mission is deeply personal. Kristen is acutely aware of the fear that accompanies the possibility of recurrence. She dreams of a future where her own daughter and others won’t have to fear the same fate.
Immunotherapy, a form of treatment that boosts the body’s immune system to fight cancer, has been a major source of hope in recent years. Christina shares an emotional story about her brother-in-law, who was given only 12 months to live, but thanks to a promising immunotherapy trial at Duke University, he lived for three more years—an extra time with his family that they never thought possible.
That’s the power of immunotherapy. It’s a beacon of hope that Kristen is actively promoting. Her mission isn’t just about science; it’s about fighting for the lives of loved ones. In fact, one of the most powerful aspects of her work is the way it brings people together. Her “Give Us a Shot” campaign encourages people to share what they’re fighting for in life—whether it’s a moment with family or the chance to see a loved one walk down the aisle.
The Global Push for Cancer Vaccines: What’s Happening Now?
While the United States has a strong history of medical innovation, Kristen is quick to point out that progress is happening elsewhere as well. In the UK, for example, national trials are underway that are giving out 10,000 cancer vaccines across multiple cancer types. The goal is to accelerate the process and make these vaccines available to the public as quickly as possible.
This is the kind of momentum Kristen hopes to see in the US. As she points out, with the right investment and public will, we can move much faster. She highlights how during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers were able to compress a decade of work into mere months, thanks to the collective global effort. Kristen believes that with the same level of commitment, we could have cancer vaccines ready for widespread use in a fraction of the time.
She’s passionate about the role of individuals in this process. Every dollar counts, she emphasizes. With just a small financial contribution, anyone can help fund this groundbreaking research. More importantly, spreading the word and sharing the importance of cancer vaccines can have an even greater impact. The more people who understand this potential, the faster we can push for solutions that save lives.
What You Can Do to Help
Kristen’s message is clear: Get involved. Share the news about cancer vaccines, donate, and support research. Whether it’s through following the Cancer Vaccine Coalition on social media, visiting CancerVaccineCoalition.org or sharing this message with friends and family, everyone has a part to play.
As Kristen puts it, “If everyone in this country gave three dollars, we could get this done.” And when you consider that billions are spent on cancer care each year, the cost of supporting life-saving research is minimal in comparison.
Ultimately, Kristen’s work isn’t just about finding a cure for cancer—it’s about ensuring that the future generations don’t have to face the same battles. It’s about giving everyone a shot at a better, cancer-free life.
The Power of Collective Action
This conversation serves as a wake-up call for anyone who has been touched by cancer. It’s clear that we are on the cusp of something groundbreaking, and that the key to success lies in coming together as a community to push for these life-saving treatments.
Kristen Dahlgren has turned her journalistic background into a powerful platform for change, and with the help of people like you, she believes we can make cancer history. By sharing the message, raising awareness, and supporting the research, we all play a role in making cancer vaccines a reality.
So, what shot do you want in life? It’s time to start fighting for the future we all deserve—one where cancer is no longer a death sentence, but something we can prevent, treat, and eventually eliminate.
Dive deeper into this episode! Together let’s make history.
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