Every month, 265 Australian women tragically lose their battle with breast cancer, and in 2020, breast cancer was responsible for 685,000 deaths worldwide.
Shockingly, one in seven women will receive a diagnosis of breast cancer. However, there is hope thanks to scientific research.
In the early 1990s, a young scientist named Professor Vaso Apostolopoulos developed a promising vaccine for breast cancer. Clinical trials have shown that this vaccine can provide protection against breast cancer recurrence for an impressive 25 years.
It has undergone rigorous preclinical and human clinical trials, but before it can be made available to the public, a large multicenter Phase III study must be completed.
The success of this vital Phase III study hinges on securing the necessary funding, and this is where a private initiative comes into play.
Irene Sofos, who leads the ‘Va-xxo – Fundraising for Breast Cancer Vaccine’ initiative, passionately states, “We are here to make the vaccine available, but we need help!”
She emphasises that their initiative is not an organisation, but a “grassroots” effort consisting of mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends of those affected by breast cancer.
Sofos said that, with its “excellent safety profile and long-term efficacy data, there is no reason for this vaccine not to be available to everyone — from cancer survivors to those currently battling breast cancer and even those who may be at risk. We cannot afford to sit idly by and wait; we must take action now. Each of us has a role to play in this mission.”
Sofos, as the daughter of a breast cancer survivor and a close childhood friend of Prof. Vaso Apostolopoulos, intimately understands the impact of this disease and the dedication of the Greek researcher to improving public health. Professor Apostolopoulos has dedicated her career to developing vaccines and treatments for significant diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes.
To raise funds for breast cancer vaccine research at Victoria University, Ms Sofos has organised events like a private screening of the movie ‘Barbie’ in late August and an upcoming screening of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ on Monday, September 18.
“There is a vaccine, and no one, whether a woman or man, should lose their life to this disease. We have the opportunity to make history; we have the scientist, but we need the funds. These fundraising activities will channel all net proceeds directly into research.
“Every dollar brings us closer to our goal, but it’s essential for our voices to be heard worldwide so that people know a vaccine is within reach.”
The private screening of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ will occur on Monday, September 18, at 7 pm (with arrival at 6:30 pm) at Hoyts Cinema in Highpoint. The participation fee is $50, which includes the ticket, a small popcorn, and a soft drink.
Reservations are available until September 14.
