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Cancer care

Propel advances in cancer research and treatment, bringing hope and healing to patients.

Capital & technology

Invest in the future of healthcare by helping expand and modernize our North Texas facilities.

Community health

Expand access to compassionate healthcare for underserved individuals and families.

Graduate medical education

Shape the future of medicine by helping train the next generation of physicians.

In your region

Make a direct impact on Baylor Scott & White hospitals and patients in your community.

Patient programs

Help enhance patient well-being through innovative, patient-centered programs.

Research

Help drive discoveries and improve patient outcomes by supporting accessible research and clinical trials.

Transplant

Support life-changing care for transplant patients and their families.

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Your gift can make an immediate difference in the lives of those we serve.

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Patients and loved ones can show appreciation for the caregivers who made a difference during their healthcare experience.

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Learn about the multiple ways to make a planned gift and create a lasting legacy.

Giving societies

Giving societies honor donors for their generosity in empowering people to live well.

Celebrating Women

Help us advance the fight against breast cancer through Celebrating Women.

Grand Rounds

Support graduate medical education at Baylor Scott & White by participating in the Ground Rounds golf tournament.

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The Compass

Read the latest issue of The Compass, a quarterly newsletter from the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation.

Intercepting breast cancer recurrence through weight loss 

Philanthropic support launched a groundbreaking research study to explore the impact of weight loss drugs and breast cancer recurrence. 

Addressing obesity and breast cancer recurrence 

Breast cancer remains the second-leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. While early detection significantly improves survival rates, the ultimate goal is prevention.  

Research has established a strong link between obesity and breast cancer recurrence, highlighting an urgent need for new strategies to reduce risk in patients with obesity.  

Can weight loss reduce breast cancer recurrence? 

While advancements in early detection and treatment have significantly improved breast cancer survival rates, a critical unmet need remains: preventing recurrence in patients at high risk.

Research suggests that sustained weight loss may lower the risk of developing breast cancer, but no clinical trial has specifically tested whether medically assisted weight loss can actively reduce recurrence in breast cancer survivors. This gap presents a unique opportunity to explore a novel intervention that could fundamentally change the way breast cancer is managed. 

To address this need, physician-researchers at Baylor Scott & White are pioneering new approaches aimed at changing this trajectory. Funded by philanthropy, the TRIM-EBC trial is a first-of-its-kind study exploring whether targeted weight loss can help eliminate microscopic cancer cells, reducing the risk of recurrence and improving long-term outcomes for patients. 

The TRIM-EBC clinical trial 

Led by Dr. Joyce O’Shaughnessy, Celebrating Women Chair in Breast Cancer Research, and Dr. Ronan Kelly, Chief of Oncology at Baylor Scott & White North Texas, the TRIM-EBC trial is evaluating if the new weight loss drug, Zepbound (tirzepatide), can eliminate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)—a marker of microscopic cancer in the blood.  

Studies show that there are multiple pathways linking obesity to breast cancer, and that weight gain after diagnosis increases breast cancer mortality. However, researchers are exploring if tirzepatide-induced weight loss can prevent the development of metastatic disease within two years following detection of ctDNA in the blood. By studying patients who have already completed treatment but remain at high risk due to obesity, researchers aim to determine if a 10% or greater weight loss can significantly decrease or eliminate ctDNA, ultimately reducing recurrence rates. 

If successful, this research could redefine breast cancer treatment protocols, reducing the risk of recurrence and improving patient survival rates. 

This study aligns with the work of the Texas Cancer Interception Institute, which focuses on identifying and addressing early-stage cancers before they progress. 

Your impact: Transforming the standard of care for breast cancer survivors 

Philanthropy makes it possible to translate innovative research into real-world solutions, ensuring that these advancements can reach those who need them most.  

Fully funded through philanthropy, the success of the TRIM trial hinges on support from generous donors. With your help, we can continue to push the frontiers of breast cancer research forward and offer renewed hope to patients and their families. 

“Philanthropy has played a major role in advancing our understanding of the identification and treatment of breast cancer, as well as how to prevent its recurrence. Knowledge like this can advance treatment from the thousands of breast cancer patients Baylor Scott & White treats in Texas each year. On a much larger scale, this could benefit the tens of thousands of people who are overweight or obese and are diagnosed with high-risk breast cancer annually throughout the U.S.” 

Joyce O’Shaughnessy, MD, the Celebrating Women Chair in Breast Cancer Research at Baylor Scott & White 

Featured stories

See how generous donors are making an impact in breast cancer research. 

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Intercepting breast cancer recurrence – Dr. Joyce O’Shaughnessy

September 1, 2024
A groundbreaking trial: New weight-loss drugs can help keep pounds away. Can they also help keep cancer at bay? Medications such as Wegovy® and Zepbound® have revolutionized the management of being overweight or obese. Researchers are now exploring these drugs’ potential benefits for a range of other conditions—possibly even to help prevent a recurrence of […]
Learn More Intercepting breast cancer recurrence – Dr. Joyce O’Shaughnessy
Photograph of York family

York family turns personal journey into mission to transform cancer care

March 22, 2025
Building on this passion and gratitude, the Jeff and Carmen York Family have generously committed $7 million to help fund a new era in cancer detection, the Texas Cancer Interception Institute (TCII).
Learn More York family turns personal journey into mission to transform cancer care
Multi-Cancer Early Detection Program

Multi-Cancer Early Detection Program

September 1, 2024
With an aim of intercepting cancers in Texans earlier, the program includes approximately 50,000 MCED tests being administered to BSW patients across North Texas.
Learn More Multi-Cancer Early Detection Program