ASCO AND THE ONCOLOGY COMMUNITY mourn the loss of Karen Durham, who passed away on March 26, 2018, in Tyler, Texas. Karen was a highly respected and beloved advocate for people living with cancer.
Karen Durham
Karen was diagnosed with stage II invasive breast cancer in 1989 and began volunteering with Susan G. Komen soon after. Her advocacy with Komen began as a Race for the Cure volunteer but evolved to serving as a Komen Advocate in Science and a Komen Scholar. In the latter two roles, she participated in the peer-review process for research programs and as an ambassador for the importance of and need for cancer research.
In 2009, Karen was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic disease and her advocacy only increased. In 2014, she joined the CancerLinQ Patient Advisory Committee, which oversees ASCO’s initiative to develop a learning health system in cancer care. During her tenure on the committee, Karen helped guide the development of the CancerLinQ® platform by providing her perspective and knowledge. In addition, she participated in the first CancerLinQ Patient Advocate Forum in 2015, sharing her experience with her fellow patient advocates and discussing how future care could be improved using the CancerLinQ platform.
Karen also served as a member of the Research Advocacy Network, National Breast Cancer Coalition, Metastatic Breast Cancer Network, Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance Information Task Force, and the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. She was also active in the First United Methodist Church in Lindale, Texas.
Karen worked for 26 years for the Federal Aviation Administration at Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, before retiring as a Nav-Com Tower Chief in 1995. She is survived by her husband of 22 years, Tom, and daughter, Tina Sterling. ■
Originally published in ASCO Connection, March 22, 2018. © American Society of Clinical Oncology. All rights reserved.
