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Breast Cancer Network of Strength
“You have breast cancer” may be among the most frightening words a patient can hear a doctor utter. Yet in the United States more than 194,000 men and women hear them each year. A diagnosis may leave someone feeling alone, afraid and hopeless. But having information and knowing where to turn for support can help patients regain a sense of hope and control.
“Am I going to die?”
“My wife was just diagnosed with breast cancer. What do we do?”
“How can I make decisions about my treatment when I’m so upset?”
These are common questions among the 47,000 calls and e-mails that Breast Cancer Network of Strength’s 24/7 YourShoes™ Breast Cancer Support Center receives each year.
When breast cancer is the diagnosis, patients, families and friends want to know everything possible about the disease and how it will affect their lives. They need emotional support and crave information about treatment options and details about the disease, but they also need deeper knowledge.
For the newly diagnosed, support is crucial and it helps to talk to someone who has been through the same experience, a “peer.” Peer support is the cornerstone of Breast Cancer Network of Strength® (formerly known as Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization®).
Callers feel immediate emotional relief when they talk to someone who has walked in their shoes--one of our peer counselors--because, as breast cancer survivors, they truly understand what someone may be going through. Since this is such a meaningful concept, we named our peer support services YourShoes™.
“Even though my family is a great support system, I needed to talk to someone who had been in my shoes.”
YourShoes includes the 24/7 breast cancer support center staffed by peer counselors who are breast cancer survivors. Calls are handled in more than 150 languages through real-time interpreters.
It also includes e-mail-based support, match programs, and survivor-facilitated support groups. All questions are answered by peer counselors who are rigorously screened, trained and certified to help callers by giving emotional support and information about breast cancer procedures and treatment options.
Here are actual comments from callers:
“I didn’t know who to call, I needed to talk, I was frightened and I needed information. Thank you for being there for me.”
“I was feeling very vulnerable, sad and in shock. It was late at night and I found support through your service.”
“Your counselor was most helpful—compassionate, soft spoke and got me through a difficult night.”
“You are wonderful. You have been there from the first day I was diagnosed ‘til now.”
Peer counselors coach callers on how to communicate effectively with their doctors, and encourage them to be the key players on their health care teams. In addition, callers can be paired with match peer counselors who share similar diagnoses, ages or experiences.
Breast Cancer Network of Strength does not endorse specific treatment options or protocols and peer counselors do not give medical advice. They do, however, replace fear with facts and help patients understand how to weigh their options to make more personalized treatment decisions.
Since breast cancer affects not just the patient but the whole family and circle of friends, anyone touched by breast cancer or who is concerned about breast health can use the Network of Strength’s confidential and free services.
For breast cancer support or information including publications and newsletters, visit Breast Cancer Network of Strength or call 1-800-221-2141 (English, with interpreters available in 150 languages).
NOTE: I did not write this article. The author of this article is not known. It was sent to me by E-mail.
(NAPS)—Thanks to medical advances, more women are surviving a breast cancer diagnosis than ever before. That’s one reason it’s important to support the emotional healing process by addressing a spectrum of “survivorship” concerns.
Every woman deals with a diagnosis of breast cancer in her own way. You may have concerns about your long-term health or your emotional well-being. You may fear breast cancer could return. You are finding a “new normal”—integrating a history with breast cancer into your life experience. For those who are making the transition into that “new normal” and starting to return to a regular routine, here are some tips from Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a national nonprofit organization for coping with the medical, emotional and practical concerns when treatment ends and the rest of life begins.
• Speak with your doctor to create a long-term followup plan. Whether you’re one year or 10 years out from your diagnosis, as a breast cancer survivor, it’s important to speak with your doctor to determine your
schedule for ongoing medical checkups to monitor your health. It may also be beneficial to ask your doctor about how to manage lingering side effects, such as fatigue, bone loss, hot flashes, weight gain or lymphedema.
• Keep your medical records and appointments organized. Request a printed copy and organize your medical reports so they will be easier to reference during your follow-up care. And keep a calendar updated with your upcoming checkups and any tests you may have. While you are in follow-up care, it’s very important to follow through with the medical visits your doctor has recommended for you.
• Understand that you may need to create a new “normal.” Breast cancer can be a defining experience. You may want your life to return to the way it was before your diagnosis. While that may be the case for some women, for many others, breast cancer changes their outlook and perspective. Take the time to sort out your emotions and priorities. Don’t feel pressured to “bounce back” immediately after treatment ends.
• Take care of your emotional health. Breast cancer survivors may experience various feelings and stages of anxiety, depression, anger or loneliness. For some women, the shock of diagnosis doesn’t take full affect until after treatment ends. First and foremost, you need to know that these emotions are normal. One way to ease your emotions is by staying connected to those who make you feel most comfortable sharing your feelings. You can reach out to breast cancer organizations, such as Living Beyond Breast Cancer, that offer telephone-matching services and can connect you to another woman in similar circumstances. Also, remember that trained therapists can help you along your journey. Regular exercise can be very helpful in improving your mood and outlook on life.
• Live beyond your breast cancer. Don’t let breast cancer define you or hinder future possibilities. Remember to live each day with hope and take time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. You may be physically and emotionally drained but remember, you have done everything you can to fight the cancer. Feel proud of your hard work and now take time to recapture and enjoy your life. At every stage of your breast cancer journey, Living Beyond Breast Cancer can help. For more information, visit www.lbbc.org to download or order free education resources that provide emotional comfort and support. Founded in 1991, Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. For more information, visit www.lbbc.org or call the organization’s toll-free Survivors’ Helpline at (888) 753-LBBC (5222).
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Healthy Ideas
Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a national nonprofit organization, has resources for coping with the medical, emotional and practical concerns of breast cancer at every stage of your journey. For more information, visit
www.lbbc.org or call (888) 753-5222.
You can put cancer into context and learn how to move forward and live beyond your diagnosis. Thanks to medical advances, more women are surviving a breast cancer diagnosis than ever before. /// Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Personal note from Dawn: LBBC has started a blog here: LBBC's Blog
Today's blog post will feature a breast cancer prevention organization in Puerto Rico called Ruta Pink. Here is some info:
Last year, Doral Bank in Puerto Rico teamed up with Susan G Komen for the Cure and launched “Ruta Pink” (or Pink Route). Ruta Pink consists of a pink mobile mammogram clinic that stops through various towns in Puerto Rico, offering women (and men) free mammograms, biopsies and referrals – with or without health insurance.
Since launching in June of 2008, Ruta Pink’s medical team has performed over 2,200 mammograms. In addition to offering mammograms, the Ruta Pink program also offers free cancer prevention seminars to the general public, and offers contributions to the Susan G Komen foundation.
You can read more about Ruta Pink at Ruta Pink (click English in upper right corner), or visit their new youtube page at www.youtube.com/rutapink
They’ve also recently been written about in Everyday Health, FastCompany, Brandweek, and more!
Every year, the national cosmetics retailer, Avon, Inc., creates specials and events to benefit breast cancer research and awareness. One of the things they are doing this year is offering the very nifty and pretty Avon Crusade Tote. Designed by Maimekko, this handy tote can be yours for only $10. So why not buy a new bag for a cause?
The new Avon Crusade Tote is only $10 and 100% of the net profits will be donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.
Check it out here: Avon Crusade Tote
The Web site Temptalia.com is holding a Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser for October. Last year, they were able to raise $1,180 to go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This year, they hope to raise $2,000, which will go to The Breast Cancer Research Fund.
To encourage donations from visitors, for every $5 donated, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a variety of make-up and beauty products. There will be eight winners total.
To find out more, visit their site:
Breast Cancer Awareness 2009 Fundraiser
Here are more events, opportunities and specials taking place during October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This list is not exhaustive. More will be added in future blog posts. Happy shopping and participating!
The radio station WRVQ Q94.5 (Richmond, Virginia) is partnering with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation for the 3rd Annual "Q94 Bras on Broad!" for the month of October. They are collecting bras and for every bra collected, they will donate $1 to the Foundation. On October 23rd, all bras donated will be stretched out along Broad Street.
The 3rd Annual Q94 Bras On Broad
In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Save-A-Lot has partnered with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and donated $100,000 towards the fight against breast cancer. In recognition of this and to promote the occasion, NASCAR has created a special pink race car with the Save-A-Lot brand. Additionally, you can purchase a special pink reusable bag at any Save-A-Lot store for only 99 cents.
Save-A-Lot joins fight for breast cancer awareness
Darphin, a skin care company, will donate $20 from each sale of Arovita C Energic Firming Cream to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Darphin.com
When you buy Boscia Rose Blotting Linens, a portion of the purchase will go towards breast cancer research.
"American Airlines and American Eagle employees are joining forces throughout October to do their part in the fight against breast cancer. Among the activities scheduled in celebration of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, American and American Eagle are encouraging their nearly 90,000 employees to "think pink" as they participate in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure(®) program Passionately Pink for the Cure(®) on Friday, Oct. 16." Among the ways the airlines are participating is by offering pink menus and any item purchased off of these menus will result in a 10% donation towards breast cancer research. "American kicked off its month-long observance last week with a special gift card offer: during October, when customers purchase an American Airlines Gift Card and specify Komen as the beneficiary, American will donate $5 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for every $50 of travel purchased via the gift card. To purchase gift cards and support Susan G. Komen for the Cure, consumers can go to AA.com/giftcard. When completing payment information, "Komen" must be entered in the tracking code box in order for the donation to be made. Gift cards must be purchased by Oct. 31 for the 10 percent donation to be made to Komen, and it applies only to online purchases." Read all about all of their specials and programs here: American Airlines Celebrates National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The Web site, ShopAtHome.com, is also participating in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Go to this page and click on a retailer to shop from. With every purchase made through that click, they will donate $1 to breast cancer charities.
In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the company, TeleBrands, has created a special Limited Edition Pink PedEgg decorated with the universally recognized pink ribbon. You can purchase it for $10 at this site and it is available only for a limited time. The company is donating $50,000 of sales of this PedEgg to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
The Breast Cancer Survivors organization was formed in 1998. They have recently changed their name to Breast Cancer Solutions.
They are a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting anyone who has been affected with breast cancer, either as a patient or as a survivor.
They have contributed more than $2,600,000 to support 1100 people affected by breast cancer. Unfortunately, they only assist people located in Southern California.
They not only assist patients on a financial level but they also become an advocate for that person to receive treatment and information during the course of the disease.
In order to continue their services and assistance to anyone affected by breast cancer seeking their help, they hold fundraisers, accept donations and offer volunteer positions.
Their Web site: Breast Cancer Solutions
Their contact information:
Breast Cancer Solutions
270 Bristol Street, #101-142
Costa Mesa , CA 92626-7940
866.960.9222 phone
866.781.6068 fax
info@bcsurvivors.org
Yesterday's blog post showed how just one click can help a woman receive a free mammogram this month. Now, all it takes is just one image!
The Web site Diets in Review.com is doing something in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For all of October, if you include the above image on your blog, they will donate $5 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in honor of your site.
I have included the image above for today's blog post. I am also including it on the side of my blog.
I am excited and grateful to see a web site being so generous and active in fighting for the cause. It's all in the power of your blog! So visit their site today, copy the image to your blog, and you will have just contributed to the fight against breast cancer.
Blogs Against Breast Cancer 2009
The Breast Cancer Site is partnered with the non-profit organization, the National Breast Cancer Foundation. For the month of October, they are holding a "click to give" program which will help women receive a free mammogram. For every click on their pink button, a sponsor will pay for a mammogram that will help a low-income woman who may not otherwise have been able to receive one.
The Breast Cancer Site is affiliated with CharityUSA.com, which also owns and operates sites such as The Hunger Site, The Child Health Site, The Literacy Site, The Rainforest Site and The Animal Rescue Site. All of these sites have a "click to give" program. One click will mean a sponsor contributes to the designated cause.
To help a woman receive a free mammogram, please visit The Breast Cancer Site today and "click to give."
The Breast Cancer Site
Do you have an artistic side?
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation is holding a contest! They are soliciting submissions of designs for their newest T-shirt, which will be worn by hundreds of participants in next year's Race For the Cure. The deadline to enter is November 8, 2009.
Read all about it here: It's All About the Shirt!
The following is a list of just some businesses and corporations which are taking steps to support breast cancer awareness and breast cancer research as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I will include more later.
For the entire month of October, Hungry Howie's Pizza will be using pink boxes for their pizzas, complete with a pink ribbon on each box. And for every pizza ordered, they will make a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. This will take place at every Hungry Howie's Pizza location. You can find a location of a Hungry Howie's Pizza at their Web site: Hungry Howie's Pizza
Breath of the Dragon, which creates unique and custom wood burning designs, has an inventory of breast cancer awareness items specifically created in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A portion of the sales will be donated to a local women's resource center. You can check it all out here: Breath of the Dragon
For the month of October, Target is selling pink ribbons in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For every ribbon sold, they are donating to breast cancer charities. Likewise, a New York-based Target is all pink for October, donating 100% of proceeds from sales to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. There are other merchandise available specifically for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can buy from them in stores or at their Web site: Breast Cancer Awareness items
Bornstein Seafoods is selling pink salmon decorated in pink cans and wrappings in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The seafood company's co-owner, Sharyn Bornstein, is a breast cancer survivor. For every can sold, they will donate $1 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Find a location on their Web site: Bornstein Seafoods
Olive Juice, a company that sells children's clothing, is also donating to the cause. The company's founder, Maryellen Kane, knows the pain associated with breast cancer: She watched her mother battle breast cancer for years. For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, they are donating $1 for every purchase made to Cuddle My Kids, a company that helps families affected by cancer. Visit them on the Web here: Olive Juice
The company Exygon Health and Fitness teamed up with CYBEX International by installing pink treadmills in their offices. for every mile ran on the treadmills, they are donating 10 cents to breast cancer research organizations. Here is their site: SETCHomepage.com
When you buy a Hobo International pink clutch bag, the company will donate 25% of proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Find out more here: Hobo International Jolie Cosmetics Bag
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