Profile: Beena Thomas

This post is an installment of our profile series featuring participants, loved ones, advocates, and team members of the MBCproject. Thank you to all who have shared their voice and stories.

Today's profile features team member, Beena Thomas.

Q1. In a few sentences, can you please share what being a part of the MBCproject means to you?

I believe that life is most meaningful when lived outwardly working towards a mission larger than oneself. By being a small part of the MBCproject, I get a chance to do exactly that. It is fulfilling to know that this project provides robust, unique data to the scientific community which will further facilitate research. And only more research can bring new therapies for patients. Also, having walked with an aunt who passed away of MBC, it is deeply personal for me to see major strides in this heartbreaking disease.

Q2. Can you please share and describe your role on the team? What do you like most about your role?

I am a clinical data specialist working primarily on abstracting medical records. What I like most about my role is learning about a patient’s clinical journey through this disease. Reading about the joys of NED and sorrows of progression is unique in each patient’s story. These stories are brave, heartbreaking and beautiful simultaneously. I also enjoy helping the team with identifying nuances in the dataset whether it be about specific patient responses or specific medications.

Q3. If you're willing to share, can you please describe the most challenging part of your job? (or the most challenging day you've experienced thus far?)

The most challenging part of my job is dealing with unstructured data from a variety of different sources. This can be quite time consuming. Also, at times, pertinent data is missing or incomplete and this can impact the coherence of the patient’s clinical story and hence the dataset.

Q4. In a few words, what are your hopes for the future of metastatic breast cancer?

My ultimate, lofty hope is that the disease will become a thing of the past! Meanwhile, I hope that new therapies can be discovered that improves survival and quality of life for patients.