Kathryn Petrides

Born in Atlanta, Kate grew up in a Park Ridge, New Jersey.  In Middle School, Katie began to study German and, during an exchange trip, fell in love with its culture and people.  Bitten by the travel bug, Katie went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs, with a minor in German and Religion, from the George Washington University in Washington, DC.  She maintained her passion to travel and engage with other cultures, accomplishing travel to more than 20 countries and 31 states. 

Since her early-state breast cancer diagnosis in 2012, Katie has been a champion and fierce advocate for breast cancer patients.  At the age of 25, Katie was diagnosed with early-stage triple positive breast cancer.  She immediately became an advocate, first educating herself about the disease and her treatment, and later using the education she gained to advocate on behalf of others.  Mere months after her diagnosis, Katie appealed to attend a medical conference aimed specifically at young women.  The November 2012 Breast Cancer in Young Women Conference, held in Dublin,  Ireland, was hosted by the European School of Medical Oncology.    In her research, Katie became aware of available travel grants.  Although these grants were designed for medical professionals, Kate appealed to the conference organizers to attend as young cancer patient.  With persistence, Katie prevailed and attended the Breast Cancer Conference, honing her advocacy skills. 

While working for the U.S. Peace Corp in Washington DC, Kate committed to be an informed patient advocate for young women people with cancer.   Katie applied and was accepted to the advocacy training program created by the Young Survivor Coalition, a nonprofit serving young women diagnosed with breast cancer.  Through RISE, Katie took advantages of incredible opportunities including the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Project LEAD by National Breast Cancer Coalition, and breast cancer lobbying on Capitol Hill. For many years Katie lobbied for Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMPR) at the U.S. Department of Defense, an essential source of federally funding research that requires approval every year.   Also, Katie bravely used her voice to talk about the reality of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis in her mid-20s, authoring a series of articles in the Washington Post, Health & Science column. 

In January 2014, Kate relocated to Jersey City, New Jersey and in May 2018 married her longtime love, Brendan.  While honeymooning, Katie fell ill and was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC).  Katie’s advocacy efforts fortified as she joined as an advocate and fundraiser of Metavivor.org, the only organization in the U.S. to exclusively fund MBC research.  In the 2018 MetaVivor Galas, Katie and five other young women were honored.  Since her diagnosis of MBC, Kate has tried to remain involved in advocacy efforts to education other on MBC and for increased attention and research funding for this insidious disease.  In 2019 Kate and Brendan adopted a puppy, Finn, and together continued with their road-trip adventures.   

In 2022, in honor of Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Katie participated in an interview with the New Happy Death and Our MBC Life podcast, providing a personal and inspiring account of life with MBC opening up about her disease and how she is approaching her diagnosis, treatment and a lifespan that is not what she expected it to be.   By so doing, Katie provides her family, friends and colleagues such comfort knowing she is without fear.

Katie slipped away from this world on September 27, 2022.  She is survived by her husband, Brendan Trujillo; her parents, Ann and Andrew Petrides; her brother, Matthew Petrides.    Katie is also survived by loving family near and far including, her grandmother, Brenda Fallace, 8 aunts and uncles, 24 first and second cousins.   Katie is predeceased by her grandparents Henry Fallace, Bearl and Theodore Petrides and aunt, Mary Springer.

Donations in Kate's memory to https://donate.metavivor.org/KatePetrides would be greatly appreciated.