Ellen has been living with an incurable form of breast cancer for eight years, yet she is one of the American Cancer Society's most active and passionate volunteers. She is particularly passionate about medical and cancer research funding, since several new drugs found through research have helped extend her life longer than doctors could imagine. Despite the fact that her cancer continues to spread (presently in her my lungs, and due to the toxicity of treatment she now has advanced kidney disease as well), she is the advocate that most of our other volunteers and advocates not only ask about, but look up to. She spends her days meeting with elected officials in her home state of Florida, in-between treatment appointments.