Women & Infants Fellow Honored for Breast Cancer Research

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Monday, July 25, 2011

GoLocalProv Health Team

A fellow in the Breast Health Center at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island was one of 25 nationwide to earn a 2011 Breast Cancer Symposium Merit Award from The Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

The award, which recognizes researchers’ contributions to progress against breast cancer, was given to Shannon MacLaughlan, MD, who is also affiliated with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Her winning research study is entitled “Comparison of hypnotherapy versus gabapentin in the treatment of hot flashes: A pilot study.”

Bright minds making contributions

“It is because of scientific research, like that of this year’s merit awards winners, that death rates for patients with breast cancer have steadily declined over the past 20 years,” said Shawna C. Willey, MD, FACS, chair of the 2011 Breast Cancer Symposium Steering Committee. “The bright minds receiving the awards this year are making great contributions to the lives of patients living with breast cancer.”

Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in women, and it is estimated that more than 230,000 women and 2,000 this year will be diagnosed with the disease. Research conducted by the 2011 award recipients explored novel approaches to breast cancer treatments, such as Dr. MacLaughlan’s hypnotherapy study, as well as an understanding of breast cancer on the molecular level.

Doctor MacLaughlan will present her research at the symposium in September.