Story shared by her son, Franklin.
Jackie Bush was a fierce cancer warrior. She battled cancer for nearly twenty years, while simultaneously fighting and advocating for others.
When Jackie was first diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in 2003, she underwent surgery and chemotherapy. The treatments worked, and she continued on maintenance therapy for nearly 9 years – providing precious time with her family. In 2013, her cancer returned, and unfortunately, it had spread. She was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer and began a consistent chemotherapy routine. After a long and tenacious journey, Jackie passed in 2020. She is remembered as a strong advocate for cancer patients, and her son, Franklin, and other loved ones continue to advocate in her honor.
My mother’s advocacy inspired me to pick up the mantle she passed – so that no child has to live in fear and no parent should have to worry how much time they have left with their children just because they hear ‘you have cancer’.
As an ACS CAN volunteer, Jackie played a key role in campaigns to create smoke-free workplaces, raise the tobacco sales age, and ensure annual funding for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. She never said no to an advocacy opportunity, and elected officials had trouble saying no to her. Lawmakers had Jackie on speed dial, fellow volunteers were inspired by her relentless advocacy, and cancer patients across the state remain eternally grateful for the policies she helped to pass.
Franklin credits biomarker testing and subsequent targeted treatment with granting him many more years with his mother. Franklin has focused his advocacy on policies to support access to those innovative treatments so more families can have time with their loved ones.