Conversation with… Lynne Archibald – GIMM Conversation with… Lynne Archibald – GIMM

  January 13, 2025

Conversation with… Lynne Archibald


We had the pleasure of speaking with Lynne Archibald, founder of the Associação Laço in 2001. The organization’s mission was to raise awareness about breast cancer, promote early diagnosis, and, most importantly, break the taboo surrounding the topic in public discourse.

Years later, the focus shifted towards scientific research, leading to a partnership with the Institute of Molecular Medicine (iMM), one of the institutions that laid the foundation for the GIMM Foundation.

“Around 2008/2009, we realized that despite significant advancements in treatments, breast cancer mortality rates hadn’t declined as much as anticipated. Increasingly, studies showed that about 30% of women whose cancer was detected early and treated experienced recurrence years later, often as metastatic cancer in other organs. This revealed that the problem lay within the tumor itself and needed deeper understanding to predict its behavior.

Accepting this reality was a challenge. When the first study came out, I remember thinking it couldn’t be true… but more and more studies confirmed the same findings. These were large international studies comparing regions with and without screening programs. In areas with screening, more cancers were detected, including smaller tumors, some of which might never have developed. This confirmed that early detection is vital—but only for certain types of cancer. By focusing solely on screening, we weren’t helping as many women as we thought.

This stark reality forced us to rethink our actions and investments. We had absolute faith in screening’s effectiveness, yet we felt we weren’t living up to expectations. We had a responsibility to do better, to be truthful, and to follow the evidence. So, we decided to go back to the source—cancer biology and science—because we realized we needed it to better understand breast cancer itself.

This led to a strategic and structural shift. We launched the Bolsa Laço as an incubator for breast cancer science. Ultimately, we decided to close the Associação Laço and hand over its mission to the iMM. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we felt Laço had fulfilled its role and that it was time to focus on science and research.

Over the years, we learned the value of science in medicine. We felt it was essential to share this with the general public—to show people how a lab works, which is very different from a hospital. When information about treatments and diagnoses reaches the hospital, it has already gone through extensive thought, testing, and refinement in the lab. We wanted to show this process and believed the iMM was the best institution to do so.

Above all, we wanted to raise awareness about metastatic breast cancer. Breast cancer remains a leading cause of death in Portugal, and it requires special attention and investment.”

GIMM logo Striving for a Better Future

DONATE

3 1 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x