Friday, November 2, 2012
Survivors are part of a sisterhood, whether they choose to be or not. And sharing stories – funny, sad, ironic – is what sisters do best.
- BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
- Ronni Newton
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Friday, November 2, 2012
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. Hearing the words, "I'm sorry, but it's cancer," comes as a shock to anyone, and I never thought I would hear them that day. I was in my mid-40s, a marathon runner, healthy eater, non-smoker, no family history. The only real risk factor I had was giving birth to my first child after age 30. I cried (hysterically), I went for a long run the next morning, I got a second opinion, I told only a handful of people and I went about my busy life trying not to think about it. I made a list of other women I knew who had fought – or were fighting – this awful disease. In a few moments, I came up with more than 15 names of women in my community, most of whom were right around my age. Clearly, I was not …
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Resources for women fighting breast cancer that your doctor doesn't offer.
- BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
By the nature of its side effects, cancer treatment can make a private battle a very public affair. For a woman with cancer, having a bald head, pale skin or a missing breast can make her feel like she's being targeted by a bright spotlight and a banner that says, "Cancer patient." But now more than ever, there are resources for women that will put the spotlight back on their work, their accomplishments and their life—and change that banner to simply read, "Woman." Girl on the Go provides private or in-home wig consultations for women with cancer, with locations in 12 states, including Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. …
Monday, October 22, 2012
Breast cancer isn't age specific. Here's how to cope with treatments and augmentations if you are diagnosed earlier in life.
- BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
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Monday, October 22, 2012
Generally speaking, the incidence of breast cancer among women in Massachusetts is 133 per 100,000, according to this breast cancer statistics chart from komen.org. An American woman in her 30s has a one in 232 chance of getting the disease, and a woman 20 years her senior has a one in 42 probability, according to the website. “Although we aren’t certain, the cause of breast cancer in younger women is likely caused by a genetic predisposition,” says Ann H. Partridge, M.D., M.P.H., the medical oncologist director of the Adult Survivorship Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. While breast cancer treatment in young women is often effective, the chance of recovery tends to be worse in women under 40. …
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill proclaiming the third week in October as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week.
Breast cancer: Guys get it too. That's the message of The Blue Wave, a group created to spread awareness about breast cancer in men, and the message that will be sent the week of Oct. 21-27 in Massachusetts after Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill proclaiming the third week in October as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week. Last month, Patrick signed the bill that says the week aims "to raise awareness of the occurrence of breast cancer in men and to encourage regular testing for breast cancer amongst all citizens of the Commonwealth." According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure, one of the most well-known breast cancer awareness groups, breast cancer in men is rare but still happens: The overall ratio of female to male breast …
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
"Uplift: Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors" shares the wisdom of breast cancer survivors with the newly diagnosed. What's your story?
- BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
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Wednesday, October 17, 2012
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One of the greatest challenges for those who have been newly diagnosed is finding sources of support. Patients are eager for information on everything from enduring surgery and chemotherapy to how to deal with hair loss. While there are many local resources and support groups available in Barnstable, women can also find comfort in a sisterhood of survivors who have already been in their shoes. Best selling author and breast cancer survivor Barbara Delinsky has gathered the wisdom of hundreds of breast cancer survivors who are eager to inspire those who are new to the “breast cancer sisterhood.” She shares all of the stories and tidbits she found in her book "Uplift: Secrets from the …
Monday, October 15, 2012
Cape Cod and the Islands has the highest breast cancer incidence rates in the state, according to the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition. But early detection of breast cancer through routine exams saves thousands of lives every year.
- BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
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Monday, October 15, 2012
Studies have shown that early detection of breast cancer improves the chances of a cure. That in itself is the most important reason to make an appointment today for a breast exam or mammogram. The Breast Cancer Center and Radiology and Cape Cod Hospital in Barnstable offers digital mammography, breast health services, and outpatient ultrasound services for men and women. Going for an exam can be nerve-wracking. To better understand the importance of exams, here's helpful information that explains the process, when you should go and why: Breast self-exams There has been a lot of heated debate in the research and medical communities about the usefulness of breast self-exams in detecting breast cancer in the early stages. One cancer research…
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which means a variety of pink products will be hitting the shelves. But, do your pink purchases always go towards the cause?
A wave of pink is flooding stores everywhere, as retailers participate in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For the savvy shopper, it's an opportunity to donate to a good cause while snagging unique, pink-hued items. But before you plunk down your green for some pink, the nonprofits behind Breast Cancer Awareness Month want you to check the label. Jenna Glazer, director of development for Young Survival Coalition (YSC), a global organization dedicated to helping young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, said that buyers should be on the lookout for a label or tag that tells where the money from the purchase goes. "If you walk into Bed Bath & Beyond and see something with a pink ribbon and no information about where the money is going…
Monday, October 8, 2012
In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here's a list of local breast cancer support groups.
One in 8 American women and 1 in 1,000 American men will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. It’s estimated that more than 2 million people are diagnosed with breast cancer and fight for their lives each year. Breast cancer is difficult to face alone—for both patients and their loved ones. To help in the battle, there are a number of local resources and support groups. In Barnstable, breast cancer support groups can be found at Cape Cod Hospital. “Support groups are really beneficial,” says Debra Somerrs Copit, MD, Director of Breast Imaging at Albert Einstein Medical Center, and a member of the medical advisory board for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. “When patients are told they’re sick, it can be an out of body experience …
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9:38 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
What do you do when you don't have insurance and can't afford a mammogram? more ›