October 27 - Young Survival Coalition

I want to highlight one more Breast Cancer charity before the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Young women CAN and DO get breast cancer. While breast cancer in young women accounts for a small percentage of all breast cancer cases, the impact of this disease is widespread: There are more than 250,000 women living in the U.S. who were diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40 or under1, and approximately 10,000 young women will be diagnosed in the next year2. But, despite the fact that breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54.

Young Survival Coalition was founded by three young breast cancer survivors in 1998. All under the age of 35 at diagnosis, they were discouraged by the lack of information and resources available to young women, and concerned about the under-representation of young women in breast cancer studies.




Unlike their post-menopausal counterparts, young women diagnosed with breast cancer face higher mortality rates, fertility issues and the possibility and ramifications of early menopause. The YSC seeks to change the face of breast cancer by: advocating to increase the number of studies about young women and breast cancer; educating young women about the importance of breast self-examination and early detection; and being a point of contact for other young women with breast cancer.

"Young women don't get breast cancer' is a refrain we hear frequently," says Randi Rosenberg, past president of the YSC. "Yet, here we are, right in front of the medical and research communities representing the global voice of all young women living with breast cancer. If they begin studying breast cancer in young women, they may unlock the key to why all women are diagnosed with this deadly disease."




Today, YSC is a growing international group of thousands of survivors and supporters. Embracing the motto, "Action, Advocacy, Awareness," members attend conferences; lobby federal and state legislators; speak at universities, colleges, and health fairs; and run an annual awareness campaign targeted at the medical community - encouraging doctors and researchers to focus more resources on this underserved segment of the population. The YSC also strives to educate and support young women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer.



Young Survival Coalition is based in New York City and has 27 affiliates throughout the United States.



Get Involved:

Donate to Young Survival Coalition.

Find volunteer opportunities at a YSC affiliate location near you. 

Other ways to help YSC.

Shop YSC! 

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Sources:  Young Survival Coalition.

October 18 - Look Good...Feel Better®

In 1987, a physician asked former Personal Care Products Council President Ed Kavanaugh how he could organize a “makeover” for a woman in cancer treatment who was experiencing dramatic appearance side effects. The woman was so depressed and self-conscious she would not venture outside her hospital room. Kavanaugh made some calls and was able to provide cosmetics and a cosmetologist – and the makeover transformed not only the woman’s look, but her outlook as well. She felt happier, less burdened and laughed for the first time in weeks.


With such a profound result, the Personal Care Products Council recognized the opportunity for its industry to help more women maintainconfidence and self-esteem. Kavanaugh presented the idea to the Personal Care Products Council membership — the nation’s cosmetic industry leaders — who immediately offered funding and cosmetics. The American Cancer Society (ACS) enthusiastically joined the effort, providing a vital national network to assist women seeking information and access to the program. Finally, the Professional Beauty Association, National Cosmetology Association (PBANCA) signed on as the third collaborator, encouraging its member cosmetologists to volunteer their services. The program — dubbed “Look Good…Feel Better®” — launched with two groups workshops at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Georgetown University’s Lombardi Cancer Center in Washington, D.C., in 1989.


Today, Look Good…Feel Better® group programs are held in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico using products donated by Personal Care Products Council member companies. Teen and Spanish programs, self-help mailer kits, online support, and a 24-hour hotline are also offered — as well as numerous independent licensed international Look Good…Feel Better affiliate programs across the globe.



Look Good...Feel Better® is a free nationwide program helping women with appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. Workshops include instruction in skin care and makeup application; a complimentary makeup tool kit filled with donated products from the cosmetic industry; practical tips and instruction on wigs, head coverings, and nail care.


Look Good...Feel Better® is non-medical, brand-neutral public service program that teaches beauty techniques to cancer patients to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. Look Good…Feel Better® group programs are open to all women with cancer who are undergoing radiation, chemotherapy or other forms of treatment. In the United States alone, 700,000 women have participated in the program, which now offers 8,700 group workshops nationwide in more than 2,500 locations.

Thousands of volunteer beauty professionals support Look Good…Feel Better®. All are trained and certified by the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, ACS, and PBA/NCA at local, statewide and national workshops. Other volunteer healthcare professionals and individuals also give their time to the program


 
In the beauty guide, you will find a step-by-step guide to makeup, skin care, nail care, wigs, and head coverings.  Look Good…Feel Better® is a free, non-medical, brand-neutral program dedicated to helping you look as good as possible during chemotherapy, radiation, and other cancer treatments. Most changes in your appearance are temporary, but we believe it is important to provide you with tips and techniques that will help you look better today.


If you or someone you love needs assistance in this area, please use the program locator at the bottom of the webpage to find a program near you.



Get Involved:

Donate to Look Good... Feel Better®.

Volunteer with Look Good... Feel Better®.

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Sources: http://www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org/

October 1 (Day 214) Prevention and A Cure in Our Lifetime

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I hope you will indulge me as I will probably post multiple breast cancer charities this month.  Breast Cancer has unfortunately touched too many friends and family members. My mom is a 10 year survivor but we lost my sister to Inflammatory Breast Cancer in December of 2008. Sherry was 46 years old... way too young!  I have several aunts and cousins who have battled this horrible disease and thankfully they are all winning that battle.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation was established in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, a breast cancer survivor and senior corporate vice president of The Estee Lauder Companies, with the intention of bringing about a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is an independent 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime by providing critical funding for innovative clinical and translational research at leading medical centers worldwide and increasing public awareness about good breast health.

In 2002, BCRF expanded its mission to include prevention as well as cure, reflecting the direction of its research grants aimed at prevention as well as treatment. Since inception, BCRF has increased its annual funding level more than 200 times over, with grants now supporting more than 170 scientists based in 10 countries (and with projects extending to 28 countries)--a very long way from the $159,000 to eight researchers awarded in 1994.

Breast cancer is preventable and curable within our lifetime. The only thing that stands between today and a cure is funding. Private support of research is more crucial than ever before.



Meet a Breast Cancer Survivor.



Get Involved:

Donate to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Shop Pink and fight Breast Cancer.

Other Ways  you can get involved.

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Source:  http://www.bcrfcure.org/