In memoriam: Helene Brown, 91, ‘political oncologist’ who campaigned for cancer research, prevention

Helene Brown, a UCLA alumna  and member of UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center who was a trailblazing advocate for cancer research and public education about the disease, died Oct. 4 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 91.Brown began serving as director of community applications of research at the Jonsson Cancer Center in 1982, following several decades of activism in cancer prevention and early detection. During her tenure at UCLA, she was the recipient of numerous awards for her leadership in addressing cervical and breast cancer issues in the political arena.Although she had no formal medical training, Brown famously referred herself a “political oncologist,” telling the Los Angeles Times in a1997 profile that “you can save lives through politics.”“When I think about cancer control, cancer advocacy, speaking truth to power — all done with incredible grace, no small amount of sass and a bold sense of humor — I can think of no one other than Helene Brown,” Dr. Patricia Ganz, a distinguished professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Publi c Health and director of cancer prevention and control research at the Jonsson Cancer Center, recently told the Cancer Letter.Brown is credited with helping to implement community-based cancer-control screening programs in Los Angeles after the signing of the National Cancer Act in 1971 and played a critical role in establishing the Jonsson Cancer Center ’s presence in the community.“Helene was one of the giants...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news